NATCHEZ — While balloons will draw the most attention to the sky this weekend, a few other are events happening in the Miss-Lou that will appeal to families as well.

Battle of the Bands

Natchez High School will host a multi-school battle of the bands at 7 p.m. Saturday on the football field.

Fred Butcher, NHS athletic director and coordinator of the event, said the second annual melodic fray promises to be fun for the whole family.

“Children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles — we had a big crowd last year,” Butcher said.

High schools competing this year include Natchez, Ferriday, Jefferson County, Lake Providence, Jim Hill and Wilkinson County.

Featured performers at the intermission will be the Robert Lewis Middle School Band and the Vidalia High Steppin’ Jewels. The Alcorn State University marching band will close the show.

“We’re expecting more people this year, because we’re featuring the Alcorn State band,” Butcher said. “It’s the first time they are involved. They have a good band and do a great job.”

Admission is $5, and concessions will be for sale.

Bands will line up at 6:15 p.m. at the football field, and battle for 15 minutes each for the crowd.

Explore Beadmaking

As part of its ongoing EXPLORE! Programs, Historic Jefferson College will host two beadmaking workshops Saturday for children ages 6 to 8.

The first workshop will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and the second from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Kay McNeil, historian and educator at HJC, and workshop instructor, said beads will be made from colorful, slick paper advertisements.

“We’ll cut them in strips, roll them and make the beads,” McNeil said. “When we roll them, they are nice and messy with glue, and kids love that.”

McNeil said beads will also be constructed from air-dry clay.

“It’s a natural, earth clay,” McNeil said. “When you leave it out, it dries with the clay.”

McNeil said since the beads will still be a little wet, jewelry will not be made.

“But they can be taken home to dry, so (the children) can make whatever they want.”

Parents and grandparents are welcome to stay and learn. Pre-registration and $10 fee is required. Call 601-442-2901 for information.

Mississippi Medicine Show

Natchez Little Theatre’s ongoing performances of the original music review, the Civil War Sesquicentennial Mississippi Medicine Show, will continue through the weekend.

The show is set in Natchez of the mid-19th century — a recreation of old steamboat times when traveling shows pedaled their cures up and down the Mississippi River with the top talent of the day. Dr. Morphineus Codeine Shingles touts his elixir, and brings with him his hilarious sidekick, Miss Scarlette, Mark Twain and a group of comics, clowns and performers singing the popular music of the 1800s and about the river.

Shows will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $15. For reservations, call 601-442-223, 1-877-440-2233 or visit www.natcheztheatre.org.

Fall Pilgrimage

Annual Fall Pilgrimage comes to a close Friday. Today’s tours include the red tour, featuring Sweet Auburn, Selma and Brandon Hall, open from 9 a.m. to 12:30; and the pink tour, showing Pleasant Hill, Rip-Rap and Oak Hill from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Friday’s pilgrimage houses open with the orange tour at Magnolia Hall and Auburn from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the yellow tour, featuring The Towers, Wigwam and The Gardens from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. Call 601-446-6631 for more information.