The Natchez Festival of Music is planning some real Natchez-style fun, so grab your friends, festoon yourselves and join the new Krewe of Jesters’ first Natchez Festival of Music Second Line March led by the fabulous “Bayou Brass Band.” The Second Line will be the last group in the Krewe of Phoenix parade on Friday, Feb. 9. (That is only two weeks away!)

Prizes will be awarded for Best Umbrella, Best Hat, Best Pet (bring the “well-behaved” pooch!), Best Group and Best Strut. As we march, onlookers will be encouraged to join in.

A children’s group for grades 3-6 called “The Wild Cards” is being co-chaired by Ainsley Dupre’ and Alston Doyle, third graders at Cathedral School. They are inviting your children to sign up to join in! (Each Children’s Group must be accompanied by a responsible adult…after all, they are called “The Wild Cards!”).

The festival will be tossing out a limited number of “Golden Tickets” for free admission to some of our May shows including our opening gala act, Mac McAnally, nine-time Country Music Awards Musician of the Year!  The Second Line will cut through on Commerce Street to Franklin and summon the crowd usually outside of Natchez Coffee Company and then conclude with a bit of street revelry on Commerce. (F.Y.I., that means we’re not marching all the way back down Franklin to the Bluff.)

If you wish to march with or organize your owned themed group, just sign up online at www.natchezfestivalofmusic/2ndline. We will have your contact information and group name at the pre-parade registration on Friday when you check in. Registration cut off is midnight Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Second Line Marchers and themed groups should sign it at the Canal Street Depot patio from 5:30 to 5:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. Prizes will be awarded at 6:15 p.m.

But wait — there is more! A VIP members-only post party at Rolling River Bistro, featuring the amazing trumpeter Kimble Funchess, follows the march. Members of the Natchez Festival of Music’s social ambassadors’ group, the “Jesters’ Circle,” are invited to attend. The Circle’s mission is to host, attend, and invite friends to parties and events in conjunction with festival performances.  To become a member of the “Jesters’ Circle,” simply purchase two tickets for our “Benefit Dinner and Show”( $75 per person x 2 =$150) to be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Stanton Hall Carriage House. The event includes dinner, a preview show of our upcoming “Sound Waves!” season starring the ever-talented Maryann Kyle and Corey Trahan, a live auction, a silent art auction and cash bar.

If you cannot attend this event, another option is to purchase a Main Stage Event Package ($125) or four individual Main Stage Event tickets of your choice. Shows include Mac McAnally, Faust, A Little Night Music, British Invasion of Natchez II, Havana Nights and A Night in the Big Easy (a free event compliments of the National Park Service!)

Go to: www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com/tickets to buy tickets. Please email us at NatchezFestivalofMuscInfo@gmail.com so we may add you and your guests’ names to the Rolling River Bistro VIP Post Party list.

If you have questions or enthusiastic comments, email: NatchezFestivalofMusicinfo@gmail.com, or call or text a committee member: T.J. Baggett 912-695-6907, Fran Trappey at 601-807-2593 or Vidal Blankenstein at 601-573-2715.

Remember: Feb. 9 will soon be here, so sign up now to march in the Krewe of Jesters Second Line. There’s no fee, just fun!  We hope you will sign up and march on with the Natchez Festival of Music.
Diana Glaze is the chairman of the Natchez Festival of Music.