The Natchez Festival of Music invites you to enjoy a very exciting and special event, Mozart and Mint Juleps at Longwood, at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Following refreshments, a silent auction and an informal tour of Longwood, the largest octagonal home in the United States, The Havana String Quartet, will play a concert featuring two elegant string quartets by Mozart and Haydn.

The Havana String Quartet was started in Havana, Cuba, as the Havana Chamber Orchestra’s official quartet.

After participating in major chamber music festivals in Cuba, the members of this group  formed their own independent quartet.

As a result of their superb musical reputation, they were invited to come to the United States to play a series of concerts.

Now located in Hattiesburg, they are the official graduate string quartet in residence at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Shortly after arriving in the United States in May, they played in Natchez as part of the beautiful and popular Tango Rendezvous program held at the Prentiss Club.

We are excited to have them return for a full concert in the outstanding setting of Longwood.

Admission is $25, which includes the concert, informal touring of the first two floors of the six story home, a complimentary mint julep, a silent auction and hors-d’oeuvre.

A cash bar for additional drinks will be available.  Longwood is located at 140 Lower Woodville Road in Natchez.

Tickets are available at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours at the Natchez Visitor Center, 601-446-6631, 1-800-647-6742, www.natchezpilgrimge.com, or at the door.

What a wonderful evening this will be — a great party in fabulous Longwood with this fantastic group of musicians!

See you there!

Rena Jean Schmieg is the president of the Natchez Festival of Music Guild.