Just when you thought it was going to be another boring weekend, Natchez Downtown Development throws a First Friday weekend your way.

As First Friday continues to build, this Friday’s lineup is one of the best ever.

As always, participating merchants will have balloons and blinking lights outside their shops to indicate that refreshments, bargains, artist displays or something else special is going on inside.

Several downtown shops will feature live music, book signings and taste tests of some of the best food in the South.

If that’s not enough for you, we will also be lining the streets as one of Natchez’s great Mardi Gras parades brings a party to downtown.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The evening will be filled with a diverse group of people all enjoying the great food, great music and the great atmosphere.

Although the holiday season is over, you can still feel the spirit of our downtown cheer.

We’d like to thank our First Friday sponsors, The Natchez Democrat, the First Natchez Radio Group, Natchez Markets and Natchez Historic Foundation.

For further information about First Friday, call 601-442-2929. And come join us Friday night for fun Downtown Natchez!

Mease Banks is the director of the Natchez Downtown Development Association.