Vicksburg is playing host this week to approximately 400 elected officials from throughout Mississippi for the Mississippi Municipal League’s Small Town Conference.

“We are so excited to welcome city councils and other city officials from around the state,” Annette Kirklin, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention Center, said.

Kirklin said attracting such a convention to Vicksburg has been a team effort with most of the convention goers staying at the new Margaritaville.

“This is one of those events we booked because we now have Margaritaville,” Kirklin said. “Now people can’t say ‘You don’t have a hotel within walking distance’ (of the convention center).”

Kirklin said the MML Small Town Conference is one of the larger conventions being hosted in Vicksburg, “but we have some more major ones coming next year, also because of next door (Margaritaville).”

The Small Town Conference kicked off Tuesday with several convention attendees taking a guided tour of Vicksburg on the city’s tour bus “Vicky.”

The convention, which includes meetings and guest speakers, wraps up Thursday.