A time for food, fun, family and fireworks can always describe the Fourth of July weekend. In the area, two events are open to the public.

Friday night, the Isle of Capri Casino along with United Mississippi Bank will sponsor their 10th annual fireworks show.

The show will start just past dusk, around 9 p.m., but no exact time is set, according to Baxter Lee, marketing manager of Isle of Capri. Pyrotechnico, a company from Newcastle, Penn., will launch the fireworks from a barge in the Mississippi River.

Lee said the fireworks show is a company-wide event and something &uot;we look forward to.&uot;

&uot;We are proud to live in a country where we can celebrate our freedom for everyone to see,&uot; Lee said.

The show should last about 25 minutes.

Also Friday night, the flotilla will crown its royalty at the dock at Lake St. John.

Saturday, Lake St. John residents will host the 11th annual flotilla. It starts at 2 p.m., and the public can view the flotilla from the dock, Duck’s Nest II Restaurant and Spokane Resort.

The fireworks abound this weekend with a second fireworks show in the area. After the flotilla on Lake St. John there will be a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

To round out this holiday weekend, city leaders from Vidalia, Ferriday, Clayton, Ridgecrest and Natchez have come together to promote a day of prayer and fasting Sunday. The fast should begin at midnight Saturday night and end at sundown Sunday night.

They are urging the community to pray for blessings to come to the area, especially in this time of economic need. They outline specific prayer requests such as pray for the leadership in the area, for jobs and for other needs in the community.