Repeating a series of noon concerts wasn’t a hard decision for the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. It’s second annual Classics in the Courtyard series kicks off at noon Friday. The 2008 debut series drew more than 800 people during its five-week run.

Organizers are hoping the weather will cooperate long enough for about 50 guests already registered. Lunch will be catered by the Juke Joint Restaurant & Blues Exhibit and Celtic and folk music will be performed by Reed Bishop and Nicholas and Julia Blake.

The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 83 degrees with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms Friday afternoon.

“We’re hoping the rain will stay away, but if it doesn’t, we’re moving everything inside the auditorium,” SCHC Executive Director Annette Kirklin said. “That will take away from the outside feel of the event, but we’ll still have it.”

Kirklin said there was publlic demand for a second series.

“I have received a lot of good feedback from people,” she said. “A lot more different people, who have never been to a concert, and had heard about us last year, will come.”

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com

If you go

The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s second annual Classics in the Courtyard will kick off at noon Friday with Celtic and folk music by Reed Bishop and Nicholas and Julia Blake.

Lunch will be catered by Juke Joint Restaurant & Blues Exhibit for $9.

Reservations are required and must be made by 5 p.m. Thursday.

In case of rain, the concert and lunch will be moved into the auditorium. Call 601-631-2997 or visit www.southernculture.org.

Other weeks:

• Oct. 16 — Classic country and pop favorites by Jim Robinson and Maria Adona; lunch by Martin’s at Midtown.

• Oct. 23 — Classics pop and originals by Lee H. Abraham and the Boone Brothers; lunch by Goldie’s Express.

• Oct. 30 — Blues, rock, pop and originals by Patrick Smith; lunch by Palmertree Catering.