Events of interest in the area this weekend:

Tonight

8 p.m. — Miss Mississippi preliminary competition; Vicksburg Convention Center; $40; 601-638-6746.

Saturday

8-11 a.m. — Vicksburg Farmers’ Market; includes live music, cooking demonstration and activities for children; Washington and Jackson streets.

8:30 a.m.-noon — Shape Up! Junior Ranger Fitness event; Visitor Center, Vicksburg National Military Park; free; 601-636-0583.

9 a.m.-noon — Ladies Car Maintenance Day; Vicksburg Mall; free; 601-218-2193, 601-218-2383.

10 a.m. — Judges workshop; Vicksburg Convention Center; free.

8 p.m. — Miss Mississippi crowning; Vicksburg Convention Center; $50; after crowning, Miss Mississippi Awards Ball; $20; Vicksburg Auditorium; 601-638-6746

Sunday

2-4 p.m. — Earl Simmons Benefit; Firehouse Gallery, 1204 Main St.; music and silent auction; 601-638-9221.

3-10 p.m.— Blues and Jazz D.J.; Monsour’s at the Biscuit Company, 1100 Washington St.

4 p.m. — Vicksburg Orchestral Society with Chorus; First Baptist Church, 1607 Cherry St.; patriotic selections conducted by Dr. Darcy Bishop and featuring soloist Dr. Clarissa Davis.

4-7 p.m — Willie Dixon Birthday Memorial; Subway Revue Band; Ameristar Bottleneck Blues Bar, 4116 Washington St.; free.

Tuesday

8 p.m. — Blues at LD’s, 1111 Mulberry St.; Sounds Unlimited.

Wednesday

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. hourly — Cannon demonstrations and history programs; $8 per vehicle; Vicksburg National Military Park, VNMP Tour Stop 1; 601-636-0583.

7 p.m.— 4th of July concert; near the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Depot, “Star Spangled Banner,” by New Orleans vocalist Frank Washington followed by music by Compozitionz.

9 p.m. — July 4th Fireworks display; near the Y&MV Railroad Depot

Vicksburg National

Military Park

Living History Program

$8 per car; 601-636-0583

• Cannon firing: 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. on Friday and Sunday; 8:30 and 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday

• Weapons demonstration: 9 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

• Pemberton’s Headquarters: 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.; 1018 Crawford St.; open to public.

• Shirley House: 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

USS Cairo ranger talks — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. hourly, 15 minutes; daily; 601-636-2199.