Perched on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, charming and historic Natchez offers planners numerous unique event destinations without sacrificing amenities and 21st-century necessities. The compact city also means easy accessibility to restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels, and one-of-a-kind meeting spaces.
Natchez Convention Center, located in the heart of the historic downtown district, features 32,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including 18,000 square feet of exhibit area that accommodates 1,800 and also divides into three spaces for smaller gatherings of 340 to 1,020 people seated. The facility is scheduled to begin upgrades and renovations later this summer. The recently renovated Civic Center—located across the street and part of the convention center—contains 5,000 square feet of additional space for overflow activities, including receptions, banquets, small trade shows, and theater- and classroom-style seating.
Just across the street from the convention center and civic center, the 119-room Natchez Grand Hotel boasts 5,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space. Components include a 2,168-square-foot conference area divisible into four spaces, accommodating 230 for receptions and 135 for banquets in its largest configuration. The hotel’s 2,162-square-foot ballroom, also available in two smaller layouts, can host 215 for receptions and 175 seated theater style.
Hotels with event space include Magnolia Bluffs BW Signature Collection—a separate lodging component of nearby Magnolia Bluffs Casino, easily accessible via a free four-minute shuttle—with 141 guest rooms and 3,300 square feet of event space, including five meeting rooms. Conference attendees staying at the hotel can also take the shuttle to and from the convention center during meetings. Other hotels in Natchez include Hampton Inn, which has completed an exterior renovation and is working on interior enhancements. The adjacent “sister” property, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, will soon be renovated as well.
For many, the real Natchez experience involves staying at one of the city’s numerous historic 19th-century bed-and-breakfast properties. A short walk from the convention center is the circa-1836 Choctaw Hall, which offers elegant guest accommodations and event space for luncheons, receptions, and other activities. Devereaux Shields Bed and Breakfast includes three Victorian homes—the main house and two smaller houses—and can accommodate up to 30 guests. Other historic homes with lodging and meeting space include Brandon Hall Plantation, which has overnight accommodations for 20 people and can host 175 to 600 guests in indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Dunleith Historic Inn offers 22 guest rooms and can host 700 people for events on its South Lawn. Monmouth Historic Inn features 30 guest rooms and can host groups of 150 or more for meetings, seminars, and conferences. Onsite catering through Monmouth’s two restaurants is available.
Visitors who want to smoothly transition from meeting to vacation mode will not be disappointed in Natchez. Families can participate in soft adventure excursions with OutsideIN MS as they kayak at Natchez State Park. Popular with the kids, Southern Carriage Tours offers horse-drawn carriage rides through the historic downtown. Visitors can also jump on the bright red double-
decker buses for a guided tour of more than 40 historic city sights and attractions.
Planners are encouraged to inquire about blackout dates for popular events, including the Natchez Balloon Festival in October and Angels on the Bluff, a popular tour of selected local gravesites, usually held in November.
