Natchez &8212; Natchez&8217;s downtown Christmas tree is bought and paid for, but the Downtown Development Association is hoping to raise money for more holiday decorations downtown.

This is the second year that the artificial tree has stood in the traditional spot at the Main and Franklin intersections downtown.

Natchez Public Works crews put the tree up this week, and Entergy workers hooked up the electricity that will make it sparkle.

The official lighting of the tree will be Friday, Dec. 2, but on the day before, volunteers will be collecting funds at a roadblock at the tree site from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

&8220;We have more plans for the lighting of the bluff, and we want to wrap all the historic light poles downtown with lighted garland,&8221; NDDA Director Tammi Gardner said.

Money collected at the roadblock will fund those kinds of projects, Gardner said.

NDDA is also encouraging property owners to decorate their own buildings downtown for the season.

Next month&8217;s Christmas tree lighting is one of many holiday events planned for downtown Natchez.

The Christmas tree lighting officially begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 2, but two school choirs will be singing beginning around 4:45 p.m.

On Dec. 10, Santa Claus himself will visit the Marketplace Caf/ at Main Street Market Place for a Breakfast with Santa event.

The downtown Christmas parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 11.

The annual Friends of the Library Christmas Tour of Homes is Dec. 4.

And the Natchez Garden Club&8217;s Victorian Christmas luncheon at Magnolia Hall is scheduled for Dec. 1.