It’s that time of year again, time think about Thanksgiving, the lighting of the tree and Gumbo Cook-Off in downtown Natchez.

This year we have some great news to celebrate — Taco Bell has donated a brand new Christmas tree.

Not only will we have delicious gumbo and action-packed rides, we get to celebrate a fabulous new tree. We are changing the event from Friday to Saturday Nov. 24.

Home Bank is proud to be the lead sponsor for the event again this year, and we are looking for some gumbo chefs to bring their best.

You can make your gumbo at home and bring it downtown to warm up and serve to the hungry crowd. There will be a panel of judges to choose the Top 3; there is no fee to enter and you can win $200 for the top prize. There is also a prize for best booth. Pick up an entry form at any Home Bank location or visit www.christmasinnatchez.com or www.listenupyall.com. Your entry form is due no later than Friday.

On Nov. 24, all you gumbo chefs come show us what you are made of. At 3:45 p.m. Santa will arrive in style and he and Mrs. Claus will be inside Home Bank handing out cookies and hot chocolate.

Gumbo will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. and for $10 you can purchase your tasting kit. From 3:30 to 7 p.m. North Pole Playground will be open for the children and includes a bungee trampoline for the adults. For $5 you can buy unlimited rides for the children and $5 per jump for the adults.

We will have the lighted Christmas Coke Truck playing all your favorite holiday music, downtown stores will have open house specials and, of course, we will have pyrotechnics and snow as we light the new Christmas tree.

This event always draws a huge crowd to the center of town; come be part of the fun.

Home Bank is proud to be a part of the community and the lead sponsor of this family loved event. We want to say a special Thank You to Taco Bell for graciously donating a new Christmas tree to the community.

We also appreciate our fellow sponsors, The Markets, First Natchez Radio Group, Natchez Ford, Good Hope Land and Timber Management, Core Civic, our local friends at Coca-Cola as well as the many volunteers who help with the event.

Thanks for everyone’s help and generosity that makes this family-fun event possible. Please enter to bring your gumbo and come help celebrate our new tree and make this the best gumbo cook-off ever.

Deanna L. Kimbro is Mississippi market president of Home Bank and a member of the Christmas in Natchez committee.