NATCHEZ — Miss-Lou residents have the opportunity to help raise money for cancer research or hear the greatest songs of Hollywood at various events this weekend.

Sunny skies are forecast from today throughout the weekend with temperatures expected to reach the 80s Saturday and Sunday.

National Day of Prayer

The Miss-Lou will commemorate the National Day of Prayer today at various events on both sides of the river.

The Natchez Ministerial Alliance will host a National Day of Prayer event from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in the Natchez City Council Chambers on Pearl Street

Residents are invited to come and go all day to participate in the prayer journey.

A community prayer vigil is planned from noon to 1 p.m.

In Vidalia, city officials, pastors and others will gather at noon at Vidalia City Hall at the Vidalia Municipal Complex on U.S. 84.

Refreshments will be served.

Charboneau book signing

Natchez chef and author Regina Charboneau will sign copies of her new book from 5 to 7 p.m. today at King’s Tavern.

“Mississippi Current Cookbook: A Culinary Journey down America’s Greatest River,” explores the diverse food and culinary traditions of the 10 states that border the Mississippi River.

Amy Thielen, host of a Food Network show, praised the book’s various recipes.

“A gifted American cook, her recipes — from smoked oyster chowder (with both smoked and fresh oysters) to blueberry pie with a lemon drop candy crust — have a knack for being just the kind of thing you want to eat,” Thielen said.

The book contains 200 contemporary recipes for 30 meals with more than 150 photographs.

Books can be purchased at the signing for $35.

Charboneau is the culinary director of the American Queen and owns Kings Tavern and Twin Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

Relay for Life

The 18th annual Miss-Lou Relay for Life will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday at the Vidalia Riverfront.

Nearly 44 teams are signed up to participate in the annual event to help raise money for cancer research.

Following survivor registration at 4:30 p.m. and a reception for survivors at 5:15 p.m., which will lead into the survivor lap at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The Miss-Lou Relay for Life’s lofty fundraising work has garnered several awards for the event in recent years, including being ranked fifth nationally in fundraising per capita and regularly placing in the top five for total fundraising in the event’s district.

For more information about the Miss-Lou’s Relay event, visit relayforlife.org and search for “Relay For Life of Adams County-Miss-Lou.”

Kitchen and garden tour

The Natchez Garden Club will host a kitchen and garden tour from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.

The tour offers residents a chance to visit and tour four local houses, including:

4415 S. Commerce St.

4704 State St.

44305 Creek Bend Road

443 Bingham Lane

Cost for the tour is $15 and tickets can be purchased at any of the houses on tour.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, call 601-443-9065.

Festival of Music

Opening night for the Natchez Festival of Music will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, located at 400 State St.

The event, titled “A Night at the Oscars I — The Greatest Songs of Hollywood!” will transform the church into a concert hall where the Natchez Festival Orchestra and vocalists are set to captivate audiences.

Music from the 1970s to the present will be showcased at the event.

Admission is $34 for adults and $10 for students kindergarten through 12th grade.

A red carpet reception will be hosted at the Historic Natchez Foundation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will include cash bar refreshments one hour before curtain time.

Hollywood’s Gary Grubbs will emcee the event.

On Sunday, pianist Jonathan Levin will perform at Trinity Episcopal Church at 3 p.m.

Later that evening from 7 to 10 p.m., Rossini, Puccini and martinis will be available in the lobby of the Natchez Eola Hotel for an evening of live entertainment.

The performance is free and cash bar martinis will be available.

Belles on Bikes

Belles on Bikes is a ladies only bicycle ride throughout Natchez. The women of the Natchez Bicycle Club will host the event, and the route includes a view of the Mississippi River, downtown Natchez historic sites and the southern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Registration for the event is Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bowie’s Barrel Room, and 7:30 a.m. Saturday before the 8:30 a.m. ride. The cost is $40 per rider.

All rides start on the Mississippi River Bluff at the corner of Main and Broadway streets. The 8:30 a.m. mass start will have a police escort out of town and riders will have the choice of choosing several well-marked routes.

There are four routes to choose from, the first is the 16-mile Girls’ School, which rides out to the historic site of the Elizabeth Female Academy on the Natchez trace. The second route is the 28-mile Taste of the Trace, which will take riders to Emerald Mound, one of the largest Indian mounds in North America.

The third route is the 48-mile Church Hill Loop, which rides past antebellum mansions and the historic Christ Church. The fourth and longest rout is the 57-mile Natchez State Park, and it includes the Church Hill Loop route, but turns into the park.

For more information, contact Allen Richard at 601-597-5744.

Tennis instruction and fun

The LaMiss Tennis Association will host tennis instruction and fun from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Vidalia Municipal Complex.

The event is free and open to all those who are interested in learning more about the sport, said Nancy McLemore, who is president of the association’s board of directors.

All equipment will be provided at the event, and those interested in participating are encourage to bring plenty of water.