NATCHEZ — Cool temperatures and falling leaves welcome a slightly slower pre-holiday weekend, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do.

The Nutcracker

The Natchez Ballet Academy’s production of “The Nutcracker: A Christmas Ballet” begins at 7 tonight at the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center and continues through Saturday.

Admission is $10, and tickets are available at One of a Kind Gifts and at Natchez Ballet Academy.

For more information, go to www.natchezballet.com.

EXPLORE! Stained Glass Paper

Historic Jefferson College is hosting EXPLORE!: Stained Glass Paper beginning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the college.

Children ages 6 to 10 will learn the art of making stained glass paper artwork. A $10 fee and pre-registration is required. For more information, call 601-442-2901.

Trinity bake sale

Trinity Episcopal Church is having its annual bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the church parish hall.

All proceeds will go to benefit community outreach projects.

Downtown walking tour

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday a ranger from the Natchez National Historical Park is giving a downtown walking tour of William Johnson House.

The tour is free and open to the public.

Ferriday fall festival

The Ferriday Lower Elementary School is hosting a fall festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the old seventh-grade Florida Street gym.

The festival will have food, games and prizes and is open to the public.

Friday Forum

This week’s topics are the status on the Natchez Regional Trauma Center, the SANE program, National Nurse Educator week and the Natchez Trace Parkway Association.

The weekly forum begins at 8 a.m. at the Natchez Coffee Company and is sponsored by Alcorn State University and the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce.

Prep football

Wilkinson County Christian Academy will host Newton County Academy in the MAIS class A south state championship game, and Block High School is hosting Westminster Christian in the regional round of the LHSAA class 1A playoffs.

Both games begin at 7 p.m.