NATCHEZ — A variety of events — from blues and country music overlooking the Mississippi River to crawfish boils — are planned throughout the community this weekend.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Friday, but sunny skies should return Saturday in the Miss-Lou.

Alley Cats concert

Tunes of the 50s and 60s will be be heard overlooking the Mississippi River when the “Alley Cats” take the stage at 7 p.m. today at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center.

The group, which has its roots in California, will perform the doo-wop genre showcased from 1953 to 1963 in a fun a cappella style.

The conference center will offer van/trolley service from the parking lot to the concert.

Friday forum

This week’s topic is financial planning.

The weekly forum begins at 8 a.m. at Natchez Coffee Company.

Boiling on the bluff

The Natchez Young Professionals will host its sixth annual “Boiling on the Bluff” crawfish boil from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday on the Natchez Bluff in front of Bowie’s Tavern.

A ticket for $10 includes a flat of crawfish with all the trimmings. Beer will be available on site. Music will be provided by Natchez native Charlie Hugg.

A bouncy castle will be available for children.

Tickets are available in advance at the Chamber of Commerce on Main Street and the Natchez Children’s Home Services as well as at the gate on the day of the event.

All proceeds will benefit the Natchez Young Professionals of the Natchez Adams County Chamber of Commerce and the Natchez Children’s Home Services.

Jefferson Street dinner theater

Members of the Jefferson Street United Methodist youth group will present “The Skin of Our Teeth,” during the group’s annual dinner theater.

The play is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama written by Thornton Wilder, and is a three-part production about the life of mankind, centering around the Antrobus family of the fictional town of Excelsior, N.J.

The dinner theater will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the family life center at the church, which is located at 511 Jefferson St.

Tickets are $16 for adults; $12 for youth ages 10 through 18 and $5 for children.

Along with the production, a dinner of pork loin, wild rice medley, sweet green beans, parker house rolls and apple crisp will be served.

Nursery care is provided.

For tickets, contact a Jefferson Street youth member, call 601-442-3795 or email requests to jeffersonstreetdinnertheater@gmail.com.

Natchez Bluff Blues Fest

The 19th-annual, two-day celebration of the “Sound of Natchez” begins Friday at the Natchez Bluff Blues Fest.

Festival organizer Eric Glatzer said the festival hopes to bring people together across all lines to experience the influence of one of Mississippi’s most valuable natural resources — the blues.

“I love the blues because of its message and its ability to pull in people from all backgrounds of life,” Glatzer said. “Being able to bring this event to Natchez, which has such a significant history with the blues, is just amazing.”

Performances will kick off at 8 p.m. Friday at five different venues downtown, including The Corner Bar, Biscuits & Blues, Under-the-Hill Saloon, Club 601 and the Eola Hotel.

Artists playing at those venues include Ronnie Cox and Blue Bayou, the Court Jesters, Brandon McCranie and others.

Some venues, Glatzer said, will charge cover at the door.

Performances will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday on Broadway Street overlooking the Mississippi River, with free admission.

Artists playing Saturday include “YZ” Ealey, Hezekiah Early, Little Poochie and Castro Coleman, among others.

The performances will continue Saturday night at the other venues.

Rhythm Night Club commemoration

A commemoration ceremony will be hosted at noon Saturday in honor of the 209 people who died, and those who survived, the 1940 fire at the Rhythm Night Club.

The ceremony will be hosted at the Rhythm Night Club Museum, which is located at the site of the fire at 5 St. Catherine St., in Natchez.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.

For more information, call 601-597-0557.

RiverStock 2014

A day-long festival including a 5K fun run, carnival rides, pet show, food-eating contest, flea market, food vendors and musical entertainment will be all Saturday at RiverStock 2014.

Food vendor booths will set up on the grounds of the esplanade area at the corner of Broadway and High streets.

Headlining the afternoon musical acts will be country singer Deana Carter, known for such hits as “Did I Shave My Legs for This?” and “Strawberry Wine.”

Other acts include Steve Azar, Erik Dylan, Debbie Landry and Pocket Change.

The Relay for Life team, Team Tatas, will work the 5K run, which will begin at 9 a.m., with portions of the proceeds going to the group.

The pet show will also benefit the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

The day events, which are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., have no cost beyond the admission at the gate, which is free to those under 4, $5 for those ages 5 to 12 and $10 for those ages 13 and older.

Admission for the festival and concert, which begins at 4 p.m., is $20 for those 13 and older, while those ages 5 to 12 will be charged $5 and children 4 and younger will be free.

Tickets and more information are available at the Natchez Visitor’s Reception Center.

Spectrum of Light

The Pilgrimage Garden Club and guests will present the Spectrum of Light from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Longwood.

Exhibitors are encouraged to obtain and read a schedule handbook before entering design or horticulture.

Stop the violence march

Members of the community will host a “Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace Walk and Rally” at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The walk will begin from the Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church parking lot, located at 228 N. Martin Luther King Jr. St., at the corner of Jefferson Street.

The walk will continue down Martin Luther King Jr. Street to the lot across from the Brick House.

For more information, call 601-443-3630.

Cathedral Crawfish Countdown

Cathedral School will host the 30th annual Crawfish Countdown from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the school’s cafeteria and center drive.

Fresh, boiled crawfish with trimmings will be served along with hot jambalaya and homemade desserts.

A draw-down for the $5,000 grand prize will also be hosted.

Tickets for this event are available through Cathedral School’s Development Office in advance or at the door the night of the event.

The cost of the ticket is $100.

Participants must be 21 and older to attend.

Takeout options are also available for $40 per person.

For more information, call 601-445-9844.

Willie Farrell and Tucka

Magnolia Bluffs Casino will host performing artists Willie Farrell and Tucka at 9 p.m. Saturday at the top of the parking lot garage.

The event is free and open to those 21 and older.

Serenade in the cemetery

The third annual Serenade in the Cemetery will be from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Natchez City Cemetery.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Natchez Visitor and Reception Center or at the cemetery gate.

Attendees can park at the cemetery or at Natchez Little Theatre, where a shuttle will transport patrons to the event.

Complimentary refreshments will be offered.

Angels on the Bluff and Serenade in the Cemetery are the cemetery association’s two biggest fundraisers of the year, organizer Annette Holder said.

“This event has really grown, and it’s surprised us,” Holder said. “We thought it was a good idea, but we didn’t really expect it to turn into what it’s become.

“We’ve got a lot of good characters and music planned.”

Alcorn State University choir

The Natchez Festival of Music will host a free community concert to benefit the Alcorn State University choirs at 7 p.m. Sunday at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

The event will feature the concert choir with pit band performing Leonard Bernstein’s, “MASS” under the direction of Donna Schaffer with Tony Gordon, accompanist.

Also performing will be the women’s chorale directed by Schaffer and the men’s chorale directed by Charles Wesley.

A love offering to support the choirs and Natchez Festival of Music will be available.