NATCHEZ — Local chef Regina Charboneau believes there is an easy way to create a scene.

As an organizer of the Christmas in Natchez campaign, Charboneau plans to put that trick to work Friday afternoon with 1,000 Styrofoam cups, plastic spoons and 10 tables of scrumptious turkey gumbo.

“I’m a firm believer, if you have food you can get people to come,” Charboneau said.

It worked last year, and the Christmas in Natchez organizers have every reason to believe it will work again.

The annual lighting of the downtown Christmas tree had become a non-event in 2008. Perhaps 25 people watched the lights come on that year.

But last year, the entire affair became more of a production, gumbo was added, and organizers estimate 600 people watched the tree lights come on.

This year, Charboneau wants more people.

“We sold 800 (gumbo) tastes in an hour and a half last year,” she said. “We are shooting for 1,000 tastes this year.”

The afternoon kicks off at 3:30, when D.J. Arthur “Big Man” Washington will start playing Christmas tunes.

Gumbo sales will start at 4 p.m.

A tasting bowl — roughly three ounces — can be purchased for $1. Money raised will fuel the Christmas in Natchez fund, and a new bowl must be purchased for each new scoop of gumbo.

At 5:30 p.m., the Rev. Joe Pickett will offer an invocation and the choir from his church, Zion Hill No. 1, will perform.

At 6 p.m., gumbo winners will be announced and the ceremony leading up to the tree lighting will begin.

The ceremony will include the presentation of colors by the U.S. Marines, the national anthem sung by Tony Fields and a round of group Christmas carols.

“Natchez Thanksgiving is when everyone comes home,” Charboneau said. “It’s like nostalgia.”

Friday’s tree lighting will serve at the official kick off to Christmas in Natchez: City of Lights. Events continue Saturday with the Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk and the Lighting of Longwood.