NATCHEZ — After a year celebrating 300 years of Natchez history, the tricentennial will close out the year on New Year’s Eve the same way local residents rang in 2016.

The Natchez Tricentennial’s Faith and Religion Committee will conclude the year with a non-denominational community celebration filled with prayers, scripture readings and a concert of prayer. Local singers and choirs will perform religious music.

Tricentennial Director Jennifer Ogden Combs said the celebration is a “bookend” to the year and complements the tricentennial’s Unity, Prayer and Praise Celebration that began the year.

“The focus of this event is bringing out the community to end the year as we started — with a program that celebrates our community and unity of who we all are, people of all different walks of life,” Combs said.

While residents likely have church services, balls or parties planned for New Year’s Eve, Combs said the program is scheduled for early in the evening so residents can stop by before their planned festivities.

Combs said she hopes the event would not only mark the end of an incredible year in Natchez, but also set a positive tone for 2017 and beyond.

“We really wanted to offer this not only to end the tricentennial, but to set a positive message going into 2017 — a message of unity, of peacefulness and a message of thankfulness of what this year has been all about,” she said. “We’ve had some incredible things come out of this year, whether it was the birthday celebration, the Legends and Lore talks, the Natchez History Minutes and other great things that came together. We want everyone to come together to say thanks and to set a positive tone going forward.

“This has never been just about this year. We hope the broad reach we have had … will have a long-term impact.”

Unity, Prayer and Peace is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Natchez City Auditorium Saturday.

The event is free and open to all.