Vicksburg naysayers have said, and will continue to say, that there is nothing to do in the city. They will say that the answer is to go to Jackson or Monroe, larger cities with perceived larger activities.

We say hogwash.

From now through the end of the year, Vicksburg will be a hotbed of activities spanning the arts, outdoor festivals, exhibits and health expos. We encourage everyone in the city to take advantage of the opportunities the city has to offer. A complete list of events appeared in the Sept. 9 Topic section of The Vicksburg Post. Clip the story and keep it handy. Events are listed from today through the annual New Year’s Eve gala. The stroke of midnight on Dec. 31 will take us into 2013 and the grand extravaganza planned here as part of the Civil War Sesquicentennial observances.

All those activities are in addition to the pristine National Military Park, where a walk or bike ride is as good as it gets. Two new downtown museums will be a boon to the area. The list goes on and on.

Events are too numerous to list, but rest assured that there will not be a weekend in Vicksburg with “nothing to do.”

If you hear someone with similar sentiments, correct him or her. Get the word out that Vicksburg is a place to be this autumn. With gasoline prices showing few signs of substantially decreasing, wouldn’t it be wise to drive a few miles, or even walk, rather than hauling 50 miles to Jackson or 80 miles to Monroe.

Nothing to do in Vicksburg? Only if you are hiding under a rock.