Summer is heating up and locals have much to get excited about in addition to fireworks and barbeque.

The first Downtown at Dusk concert of the year was held Thursday evening from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at River Stage Plaza on the corner of Crawford and Washington streets.

The City of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Main Street Program sponsored the event that is set to continue once a month through October.

“It’s just a fun night for everybody to come out,” Vicksburg Main Street assistant director Rebecca Sigh said. “It’s a good variety of music too.”

On Sunday, a free concert was held at the Catfish Row Art Park.

The Vicksburg National Military Park along with the Vicksburg Main Street Program and the City of Vicksburg welcomed the National Park Centennial Band, which is made up of musicians from New Orleans and park rangers from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

The band focuses on the historical roots of jazz, ranger David Slay said, adding the performers are accomplished musicians.

Other positives for Vicksburg this week included:

4 As one of the only local firework distributors, Mitchell Distributing has been in the business for more than 70 years.

“From 1939 until now there’s been a Mitchell associated with selling fireworks in and around Vicksburg every year,” Ricky Mitchell said. “It’s something I’ve been associated with and dealing with since I was 9 years old. No matter what we did, when it came around to Christmas and New Year’s and the Fourth of July, we sold fireworks.”

Mitchell and his wife, Melba, said they begin preparing for the next holiday as soon as the last one ends.

4 Ashley Jarratt, a soon to be eighth-grade student at St. Aloysius won the 14-and-under girls’ singles championship in the Pepsi Open in Jackson on June 25 and 26 for her first individual tournament title.

4 Local Terence “Terry” Easterling acts in the movie “The Free State of Jones,” starring Matthew McConaughey.