NATCHEZ — The floor at the Natchez Convention Center has a rough weekend ahead of it.

An estimated 10,000 pairs of feet will tromp in and out, around and around, and some will surely stomp on dropped sausages, crunched chips and spilled milk.

Refrigerators, whirlpools and stage equipment will be hauled into place.

And table and chair legs will scratch nearly constantly.

But the floor can’t talk, and the convention center’s top management couldn’t be happier about the plans.

The Markets Food & Lifestyle Show is easily the biggest local event of the year at the convention center, Director Walter Tipton said.

No other event draws as many locals onto the convention center floor, he said.

“It’s such a win-win-win situation,” Tipton said. “You’ve got Natchez Market, which is a locally-owned, community-minded business sponsoring something at the convention center that’s bringing national food vendors to introduce new products to our area for local people to experience.”

Vendors for at least 60 booths will be staying at local hotels and visiting local attractions.

Their booths will provide information, goodies, food and more to thousands of Miss-Lou residents Saturday and Sunday.

The doors will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Customers at any of The Markets who purchase $25 in groceries will receive two free tickets while supplies last.

Tickets will also be sold at the convention center doors for $3.

The show is in its 10th year and continues to be a great success, said Barry Loy, retail operations manager for Supermarket Operations, the company that owns The Markets.

“Before we started handing out tickets last week, (customers) were already asking for them,” Loy said. “We hear from a lot of people all through the year who say how much they appreciate (the show.)”

Vendors include Frito Lay, Kraft Foods, Borden Milk, Sara Lee and Blue Bell Creameries, among others.

Though many of the vendors are national food product providers, several local businesses will also set up booths.

Trippe’s Western Auto of Natchez will be on site with Whirlpool and Maytag products. Passersby can register to win a microwave.

“We are just trying to get (our) name out there a little bit,” manager Chris Trippe said.

Ernst Pharmacy of Natchez will also be manning a booth, aiming mainly to provide information.

“We are a little different than most pharmacies,” Pharmacist Frank Ernst said. “We have a very large diabetic supply business and we focus on diabetic education.

“(The show provides) exposure to people and good publicity.”

In addition to the food, home and health vendors, local youth and other entertainers will be performing throughout the weekend.

Raffles and door prizes throughout the weekend will culminate with a grand prize drawing Sunday. The grand prize is a year’s worth of groceries from The Markets.

And even after it’s over, the food show keeps on giving, Tipton said.

“It increases exposure to the convention center,” he said. “When 10,000 people come through here they see the center and it greatly increases our foot traffic.”

Those folks are then more likely to recommend the convention center for their company’s next big function, he said.