On April 9, Natchez will showcase European engineering mixed with a bit of Southern hospitality.

From Ferrari and Lamborghini to Rolls Royce and Bentley, the Natchez Euro Fest will feature more than 100 European automobiles and motorcycles from collectors across the country.

“We have cars coming from as far away as Chicago, Little Rock, Pensacola and of course several coming from Louisiana and Mississippi,” said Mike Marsh, event organizer and president of Mississippi’s Mercedes-Benz Club of America.

The auto fest was an idea Marsh and friend Debbie Hudson, president of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, dreamed up several years ago.

“We never got it going, and then all of the sudden, we roll around to the 300th anniversary year, and what better way to celebrate the European heritage of Natchez?” Marsh said. “Debbie got a couple of private citizens involved, and they were able to help us make it happen.”

Marsh, who lives in Brandon, also helps organize the Renaissance Euro Fest in Ridgeland, which he said has attracted approximately 15,000 people in a single day.

Marsh hopes the auto fest will become an annual event in Natchez.

“Natchez is a great location to draw automobiles from along the I-10 corridor from Lake Charles to Pensacola,” he said. “There’s a ton of exotic cars. People like to come to Natchez because they get the bonus of coming to a historical city to see the cars.”

Marsh said he has talked to a few folks who are coming to Natchez for the car show and spending an extra day to see the city.

“That’s ultimately what it’s about,” he said.

Hudson said she is optimistic the auto fest can be a boon to tourism.

“It is bringing other people in to see the cars, and it’s also great for our community to have something like this as a free event,” she said.

Marsh is displaying European flags downtown in Natchez to attract early attention to the auto fest and hopes for a good turnout.

With support, Marsh said he thinks the Natchez Euro Fest can become a staple in Natchez’s annual event calendar.

“I think in time, it can be just as important as the balloon festival you have in Natchez,” he said. “You can have a major event in the fall and a major event in the spring.”

The Natchez Euro Fest is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. April 9 on the bluff at Rosalie.

The awards presentation is to begin at 4 p.m.

In addition to the automobiles and motorcycles, the auto fest will feature a flyover by private planes and music from a Bavarian band.

Southern belles in hoopskirts will also be on hand for photographs with the cars.

The auto fest is a free event open to the public and will have vendors on site selling food and drinks.

For more information, visit euro-fest.net/natchez.