NATCHEZ — The holiday weekend is projected to be hot, but area residents can cool off at a floating parade or just spend their day inside before going out to watch patriotic fireworks displays.

Other Miss-Lou residents may want to reconnect with old classmates or take in an art exhibit.

High temperatures for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to reach 95, while July 4’s high is expected to be 94. The low temperatures for all four days are expected to be in the mid-70s.

Friday is expected to be sunny, while Saturday through Monday a few clouds are expected.

Sadie V. Thompson Era

Reunion

The Sadie V. Thompson Era reunion — for students from the Sadie V. Thompson and St. Francis schools and Natchez College — will kick off today, with registration at the Natchez Convention Center from noon to 5 p.m.

A motorcade from the Sadie V. Thompson school site will leave at 4:30 p.m. Friday, ending at the convention center, and will be followed by a picnic for invited friends and guests on the Natchez Bluff at 5 p.m.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the group will meet at the former Thompson School building to unveil a historic marker, and the Black and White Ball will follow a morning of golfing.

The reunion will close out following what has been styled as an evening of unity at Pilgrim Baptist Church, starting at 3 p.m.

Art exhibits

Natchez artist Joseph W. Johnson will open a showing of historic pointillism images at the Historic Natchez Foundation on Commerce Street Friday.

At the same time, Washington, D.C., artist Roy Lewis will host an exhibit of still images and videos of historic moments at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture on Main Street.

Both galleries will be available for viewing until Aug. 31.

Lake St. John Flotilla and fireworks

The Lake St. John Flotilla, a floating parade that also doubles as the blessing of the fleet for the area’s boaters, will be 2 p.m. Saturday, with lineup starting at the north end of the lake.

Those who want to enter the flotilla contest — in which participants are judged on who has the best decorated float — can enter their floating vessels under two categories, patriotic or non-patriotic.

Registration will be 9 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Resort.

Fireworks will follow the flotilla Saturday evening approximately 30 minutes after dark, and the show will be shot from across from the Duck’s Nest Restaurant.

Natchez fireworks

Fireworks marking the Independence Day holiday will be between 9 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday, with fireworks going up from the middle of the Mississippi River, coming from the area of Vidalia Dock and Storage.

During the 20-minute show, refreshments, grilled items and other goodies will be for sale on the Natchez side of the river to benefit the Natchez Christmas efforts.