NATCHEZ — This weekend has great opportunities to dry off from the wet weather and soak up the first days of springtime.

Natchez Powwow

For $5 for adults and $3 for children, families can picnic, mingle and be a spectator of cultural traditions older to these parts than hoop skirts.

The 24th annual Natchez Powwow will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and at noon Sunday at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

Residents and visitors should pack their own chairs or blankets as they visit a variety of food and craft booths that will surround the dance circle.

On Saturday, craft and food booths will open at 10 a.m., with gourd dancing at 1 p.m. followed by the grand entry and intertribal dancing at 2 p.m.

Saturday evening dancing begins at 7 p.m.

Sunday’s activities begin at noon with craft and food booths open. Gourd dancing begins at 1 p.m. followed by the grand entry and intertribal dancing at 2 p.m.

Though the forcast looks sunny, in the case of rain, the dancing and booths will relocate to the Trinity School gymnasium on U.S. 61 South.

The Natchez Powwow is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and Dr. Charles Borum, who heads the Natchez Powwow Committee.

The admission charge helps to offset powwow expenses and benefits the Natchez Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Grand Village is located at 400 Jefferson Davis Blvd.

From around A.D. 1200 until 1729, the site at Grand Village served as a ceremonial center for the Natchez Indians and their ancestors.

Call 601-446-6502 for more information.

Alcorn national piano competition

Alcorn State University will host the fifth-annual ASU National Piano Competition this weekend.

To kick off the competition, Theresa Sanchez will perform at 7 p.m. today at Trinity Episcoal Church at 305 State St.

Sanchez is a recognized solo and collaborative pianist who has presented recitals in the United States, Canada and Europe.

The concert performance is themed “Piano Gems from Europe and America” and will feature music by Mozart, Chopin, Robert Schumann and Amy Beach.

All proceeds from a suggested $10 donation will go to support the piano competition.

The public can attend the student competition for free at 10 a.m. Saturday, also at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Competitors of all ages and levels will be performing classical solo piano music selections.

Students under 17 will compete in the morning, and performances for college students, graduate students and amateur adults will begin in the afternoon.

To register as a contestant for the competition, go to www.alcornstatepianocompetition.com.

Southern Exposure

Southern Exposure will also run every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. starting this Saturday until April 14. The final performance, on April 15, will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15.

For reservations call 601-442-2233, 877-440-2233 or purchase online at www.natcheztheatre.org

Southern Road to Freedom

The History of African-Americans in Natchez will be told through the songs and narration of Holy Family Catholic Church Gospel Choir starting Saturday and throughout Spring Pilgrimage.

Shows will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays this weekend until April 14.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours online at www.natchezpilgrimage.com or by calling 601-446-6631.

Historic Natchez Tableaux

The Natchez Tableaux is at 8 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the Natchez City Auditorium through April 7.