John Pritchard book-signing

“The Yazoo Blues”; 4 p.m. Saturday; Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington St.; sequel to “Junior Ray” by Memphis resident Pritchard; www.loreleibooks.com, loreleibooks@wave2lan.com, 601-634-8624.

Wyatt Waters calendar-signing

Clinton watercolor artist to sign 2009 calendar; 1-5 p.m. Nov. 30; part of Downtown Vicksburg’s Open House; Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington St.; www.loreleibooks.com, loreleibooks@wave2lan.com, 601-634-8624.

Downtown Vicksburg’s Open House

Washington Street merchants will kick off holiday shopping season; 1-5 p.m. Nov. 30.

Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express

Santa Claus and his elves will arrive on lighted train at Levee Street Depot at 4 p.m. Dec. 4; tours of train free; www.kcsouthern.com.

Writers Conference

Led by Michael Garrett, thriller author Stephen King’s first editor; March 7-8; Southern Cultural Heritage Center; $60 SCHC and Mississippi Writers Guild members, $65 nonmembers; info and registration: 601-631-2997, info@southernculture.org.

New Works in Mixed Media

Exhibit of works by Hinds Community College, Raymond campus, instructors Melanie Atkinson, Paula Duren, Randy Minton, Jimmy Tillotson; on display through Dec. 10 at Marie Hull Gallery in Katherine Denton Art Building; free; for hours, info: 601-857-3275.

Experimental Watermedia Group Exhibit

Show on display through Dec. 31 at Mississippi Library Commission, 3381 Eastwood Drive, Jackson; free; can be viewed 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; www.mlc.lib.ms.us.

Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

Create a silk centerpiece of either antique magnolia or red poinsettia for the Christmas holidays; 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2; sponsored by Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation; led by Beau Lutz of Belvedere & Company; $55 SCHF members, $60 nonmembers; materials provided, but participants encouraged to bring glue gun; 601-631-2997 or  info@southernculture.org.

Speak Up! A Communication Class for Kids

Day camp sponsored by Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation; 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Jan. 6-8 (during Vicksburg Warren School District intercession week); for children in fourth-sixth grade; fee: $135 per child, includes supplies, snacks; students must bring lunch; space limited to 30, registration required; led by professional motivational speakers Sharonda Medina and Kim Stribling; info: www.saylegacy.com, 601-631-2997 or info@southernculture.org.

32nd annual Chimneyville Crafts Festival

2008 Caterpillar lift truck, valued at $50,000, to be auctioned; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 6, noon-5 p.m. Dec. 7; Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson; 601-856-7546, julia@mscrafts.org.

Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show

Southern Cultural Heritage Center auditorium; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 6; admission: $1; will feature at least 35 vendors; 601-631-2997, info@southernculture.org.

‘Stalag 17’

Vicksburg Theatre Guild performance; 2 p.m. today; tickets: $12 adults, $10 senior citizens 55 and older, $7 students 13 and older, $5 students 12 and younger; tense, yet funny drama about Allied prisoners in a World War II German POW camp; Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave.; 601-636-0741, www.e-vtg.com.

ORAG November artist

Bastrop, La., native Joy Copeland; show called Little Bits of Me will be on display through Nov. 30; Ouachita River Art Gallery, 308 Trenton St., West Monroe; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; free; 318-322-2380.

Backyards & Beyond: Mississippians and Their Stories

Traveling exhibit of post-Hurricane Katrina-themed works by Vicksburg artist and gallery owner H.C. Porter; on display through Nov. 30 at Katrina Research Center at University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach; book also available; info: 601-661-9444, www.backyardsandbeyond.org or www.hcporter.com.

Crossroads Christmas Marketplace

Dec. 11-13 in Port Gibson; sponsored by Mississippi Cultural Crossroads; 601-437-8095, tara@msculturalcrossroads.org or www.msculturalcrossroads.org.

Biedenharn Museum & Gardens Trip

Monroe museum taking reservations for May 15-22, 2009, trip to Chelsea Flower Show in London; Biedenharn Executive Director Ralph Calhoun, 318-387-5281; www.bmuseum.org.

Grand National Watercolor Exhibition

Will feature “Expectation” by Vicksburg Art Association member Elke Briuer; Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 S. Lamar St., Jackson; through Jan. 4; hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday; $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for students ages 6 through college, free for ages younger than 5 and museum members; group rates for 20 or more: $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $1 for students; 601-960-1515, www.msmuseumofart.org.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

Mike Zito

Variety; Ameristar Casino’s Bottleneck Blues Bar, 4116 Washington St.; Friday-Saturday free; 601-638-1000.

Memphis All Stars

Variety; Ameristar Casino’s Bottleneck Blues Bar, 4116 Washington St.; Friday-Saturday; free; 601-638-1000.

Broxton

Variety; Ameristar’s Casino Cabaret, 4116 Washington St.; tonight; free; 601-638-1000.

Area Code

R&B, variety; Ameristar’s Casino Cabaret, 4116 Washington St.; Tuesday-Nov. 30; free; 601-638-1000.

John Michael Montgomery

Country; The Showroom at DiamondJacks Casino, 3990 Washington St.; 8 p.m. Dec. 6; to purchase tickets: 877-711-0677.

New Year’s Eve Party

The Showroom at DiamondJacks Casino, 3990 Washington St.; 10 p.m. Dec. 31; 877-711-0677.