NATCHEZ — Nothing signals the start of fall like the beginning of the pilgrimage season. With cooling temperatures and a slight chance of rain, it should be a good weekend to enjoy all of the sights.

Jim Bowie Festival

The Jim Bowie Festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Vidalia Amphitheater with the Little Mr. and Miss Bowie Pageant. Admission is free.

Gates at the Vidalia Riverfront will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Vendors will stay open until 6 p.m. Beginning at noon, Honey Brake Experience is offering a free skeet shoot over the Mississippi River. From 12:30-1:30 p.m., Jack Edmondson will present “Sandbar Duel” narrative. Master of impressions, Kevin Curtis, will perform from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Louisiana Roadhouse Band takes the stage from 4-6 p.m. The Jim Bowie Buck Off contest begins at 9 p.m.

Winners of the Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown will be announced at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $3 for children ages 3 to 12 and $10 for adults on Saturday and free on Sunday.

Fall Pilgrimage

The official start to Fall Pilgrimage is today. Tours will continue through Oct. 14. Daily tours begin at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The Carriage House Restaurant will host Amos Polk’s Voices of Hope from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For ticket and group tour information, call 1-800-647-6742 or go to www.natchezpilgrimage.com.

USM Symphony Orchestra

The Natchez Festival of Music is hosting the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra at 7 tonight at the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

They will perform works from “Romantic Giants,” featuring music from Wagner: Prelude to Act III from “Lohengrin, Brahms: Symphony No. 4” and “Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor.”

In addition, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra violist Marta Szlubowska will be the featured soloist.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com or by calling 601-445-2210.

NLT “Sordid Lives”

Natchez Little Theatre’s production of “Sordid Lives” begins a benefit performance at 7 tonight. Proceeds will go the Mayweather Hall restoration fund.

The adult comedy runs every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. through Oct. 13, with a 2 p.m. showing on Oct. 14.

Tickets are $15. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 601-442-2233 or 1-877-440-2233. Tickets can also be purchased at www.natcheztheatre.org.

“Sordid Lives” has strong language and adult content.

Great strides 5K

Registration for the fourth annual Great Strides 5K walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez.

All proceeds will go to the Mississippi Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

For more information, contact Walt Wilson at 601-446-1277 or e-mail walt.wilson@colin.edu.

Natchez Gun Show

The Natchez Convention Center is hosting a gun show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $7 for adults and $1 for children ages 6 to 11.

Gun show organizer David Chancellor said more than 200 tables will be on display, and door prizes will be given though out the day.

Licensed dealers will have ammo, gun accessories and all types of firearms on display for buy, sell or trade, Chancellor said.

“It’s important people bringing in firearms abide by all state and federal laws,” Chancellor said. “No loaded guns are allowed.”

For more information, call Chancellor at 601-498-4235.

Park volunteer day

The Natchez National Historical Park is celebrating National Public Lands Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Melrose.

Natchez National Historical Park employees and volunteers will assist in cleaning up invasive plant species and the pond.

Volunteers need to check in at the Melrose visitor center and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes or work boots.

The first 55 volunteers will receive a coupon for free entry to any participating public lands.

For more information, contact Melissa Tynes at 601-446-8601 or go to www.nps.gov/natc or www.publiclandsday.org.

Friday Forum

David Carter will speak on what to plant and eat this fall at this week’s Friday Forum.

The weekly forum begins at 8 a.m. at the Natchez Coffee Company and is sponsored by Alcorn State University and the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce.

Friday Night football

Beginning at 7 p.m., Centreville Academy hosts Adams County Christian School, and Vidalia High School will host Baker High School.

Franklin County High School will host Wilkinson County High School, and Jefferson County High School will host Crystal Springs at 7:30 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Day School travels to Central Private, Ferriday High School travels to Jennings and Wilkinson County Christian Academy goes to Heidelberg Academy. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Cathedral High School travels to St. Aloysius, and Natchez High School travels to Terry for 7:30 p.m. games.