Redwood Elementary School third-graders Hannah Krapac, left, and Ryan Latiolais paint paper fish Wednesday for the school’s float that will ride Saturday on Washington Street during the Christmas parade.(Melanie Duncan Thortis The Vicksburg Post)

[12/4/03]This weekend will be one of celebration and tributes as events downtown kick off the Christmas season and remember victims of the 1953 tornado that destroyed much of downtown Vicksburg before moving northeast to residential areas.

At 11:30 a.m. Friday, the Leadership Vicksburg Class will dedicate two plaques at the River City Plaza Stage. One lists the 38 killed by the storm, and the other is a replica of the front page of The Vicksburg Evening Post from the day following the tornado. The newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for its efforts.

“This is an opportunity for the community to come and witness this historical event,” said Annette Kirklin, a member of the leadership class. “No one has ever memorialized what happened that day, and this is a tribute to those who died.”

Beginning at 5 p.m., downtown church bells will be tolled in tribute to the tornado victims.

The Crawford Street Methodist Church carillon will play “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Precious Lord Take My Hand” and “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.”

At 5:10 p.m., churches will participate in the “Ringing of the Bells.”

“The churches will ring the bells 38 times because that’s how many lost their lives during the tornado,” said Mary Frances Terry, who helped organized the event.

The Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce leadership program enrolls rising executives and others for a one-year program of community studies. Each class takes on a project, and this is the 50th anniversary of the community’s worst storm.

Participating in the bell-ringing are Christ Episcopal Church, Crawford Street Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Paul Catholic Church.

Also planned for Friday is the unveiling of the sixth riverfront mural. The ceremony is set for 2 p.m.

The mural, sponsored by Ray and Nancy Neilsen, is the first to be funded by individuals. It features a depiction of early exploration of Vicksburg.

The design includes Spanish soldiers, Indians and gardens at Fort Nogales and was painted by Louisiana artist Robert Dafford of Robert Dafford Murals.

“The community seems to be really interested and appreciative of the murals,” said Nellie Caldwell, chairman of the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals Committee. “And that’s a very good thing.”

The seventh mural, which is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is set to be unveiled Jan. 17. That mural will complete half of the first phase of the murals. Organizers hope to eventually have seven more along the floodwall at a cost of $15,000 each.

Up the hill, a festive atmosphere will brighten the Old Constitution Firehouse as the Vicksburg Art Association hosts its Christmas party along with a silent auction Friday night, beginning at 8. Proceeds from tickets, which are $25 per person at the door, will benefit the continuing restoration of the building.

And on Saturday, the newly bricked streets of Washington Street will be filled with floats and marching bands as the annual Christmas parade begins at 11 a.m.

Students at Redwood Elementary School were busy this week preparing decorations for their float, which is top secret. The school is one of 42 businesses, groups and schools participating in the parade, sponsored by the Vicksburg Main Street Program and the Vicksburg Jaycees.

“The parade kicks off the holiday season downtown,” said Rosalie Theobald, director of the Main Street Program. “Children of all ages, from the little ones to the senior citizens, all seem to love the parade.”

“It’s a time for the community to come together.”

The parade will begin at Washington and Belmont streets and officially end at Jackson Street. Organizers are asking that cars not park along Washington Street to allow more room for spectators.