NATCHEZ — A Family Christmas Festival — originally scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday — has been postponed until Dec. 14, due to expected rain.

The Natchez Visitor Reception Center and the Christmas in Natchez committee will celebrating Christmas from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 with a Family Christmas Festival that is free and open to the public.

Visitor center manager and event organizer, Anna Byrne Jones, said the festivities at the visitor center, 640 S. Canal St., Natchez, would include an inflatable bounce house for children, food and snack vendors and a hayride through the center’s Christmas decoration display.

“I wanted to do something family oriented and fun,” Jones said. “This is really our second year to host this event.”

Last year, Jones said the center wanted to display the newly refurbished decorations from the former International Paper Company facility that had more recently been displayed on the Natchez bluff.

“The IP decorations are old,” Jones said. “Those have been refurbished. We added them with our own decorations and made an event out of it. … Last year, we did the festival to showcase these decorations, but this year we just wanted to have fun.”

Jones said people of all ages can enjoy these decorations again on a hayride and take pictures with Santa while different charities and organizations sell hot and cold refreshments, baked goods and treats, chilidogs and more.

Jones said a drawing would be held for a cash prize and hand-crafted birdhouses for sale from the Adams County Master Gardeners that adults can enjoy.

“It’s a family event,” Jones said. “Come and let your kids enjoy a hayride and have a chilidog dinner. … I just love Christmas, and I want everyone to be happy.”

Don’t miss these events also happening this weekend:

4The Vidalia Beautification Committee is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes from 4:30 to 7 p.m. this Sunday. The tour showcases Christmas décor at three different venues. Tickets are available in advance for $15 per individual, $25 per couple or $20 each the night of the event.

4The annual Natchez Garden Club Christmas Luncheon is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Magnolia Hall, accompanied by a soup and casserole sale. All proceeds will contribute to the historic preservation of Magnolia Hall. Tickets to the luncheon are $20 each. Large casseroles are $20, small casseroles are $12, a quart of soup is $10 and a pint of soup is $5.

4The Natchez Little Theatre premieres a “Very Merry Christmas Show” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show features the Cratchit family from “A Christmas Carol,” elves, numerous Christmas Carols and Christmas stories read by Santa himself. Tickets are $10 each.