NATCHEZ — Whether it’s the new trail system, outdoor-friendly weather or breakfast pastries, Miss-Lou residents said they have many reasons to give thanks this season.

After catching another blood orange sunset on the bluff with her family Sunday evening, Betty Overstreet said she is grateful for the completed Natchez Trails Project.

“I’m sure thankful for the new beautiful sidewalk,” she said.

Overstreet’s daughter, Carmen Adcock noted how the new fence was recently dressed up with garland for the holidays.

Adcock said the warm winter weather in Natchez lately — which makes their walks even better — gives her reason to give thanks.

Sela Adcock, who strolled with her mother, baby sister and grandparents, also had something for which to be thankful.

“Cinnamon rolls,” Sela said.

Of course, that’s in addition to Sela’s family and health, she nodded at her mother’s urging.

Jonathan Wood, the director of the Old South Trading Post, was thankful Natchez was able to offer good weather for all of its major events this year.

“We had wonderful weather, not only for Fall Pilgrimage, but (for) balloon race and Angels on the Bluff,” he said.

And good weather means good business from locals and tourists alike at the trading post, he said.

“We are certainly thankful for our customers, both in Natchez, around the state and nation,” Wood said.

Debra Salvo, a Natchez native who now lives in Milwaukee, Wis., said she was grateful for the new informational panels that allowed her to be a tourist in her own hometown.

“I’m thankful for all of this historical stuff that has been documented,” Salvo said.

“I never knew (the history), but now that I’m old, I come back as a tourist.”

Salvo’s husband, Norm Stewart, said in addition to the new trail features, he was thankful for all that has remained the same in Natchez.

“And the Green Bay Packers won,” he added.

Local leaders said this year ushered in plenty reasons to give thanks.

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said he is grateful for a number of recent economic development announcements.

“Elevance and Enersteel came on board, and I’m looking forward to having them in this community,” Grennell said.

Natchez Regional Medical Center’s progress in coming out of bankruptcy is another reason to be thankful, Grennell said.

“We’re going to be on an upswing here in the community,” he said.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said he is a thankful for a number of new projects coming to fruition and for dodging a natural disaster this year.

Copeland said construction of a new municipal project, the port and a recreation complex will provide reasons to give thanks for decades to come.

And he is thankful the community on both sides of the river came together and narrowly escaped disaster early this summer during the Great Mississippi River Flood of 2011.

“Without that prayer and those relationships working together, I don’t think we would have survived,” Copeland said.

“The good Lord blessed us; things could have been a whole lot worse.”