The 78th Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, featuring tours of 14 antebellum homes and multiple arts events, kicks off tonight with the annual crawfish boil and live music at the old Elks Lodge on Main Street across from the Tennessee Williams Home.
Every year, the 10-day celebration of Columbus’ history, art and architecture brings visitors from all over the country and the world, said Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Nancy Carpenter, who called Pilgrimage the opportunity to “showcase” the city.
“I expect this weekend to really be busy,” she said.
Carriage rides and tours of antebellum homes in both north and south Columbus began today, and the crawfish boil kickoff party will begin at 5 p.m. at 309 Main St. The celebration includes live entertainment by Oxford group Mustache the Band and $10 crawfish and shrimp plates provided by Huck’s Place.
“That is where a lot of local people seem to come out and enjoy that event and that’s always nice to see,” Carpenter said.
But various other events — which include everything from a half marathon and 5K Saturday morning to performances as local figures from history by students from Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, as well as multiple new attractions — bring plenty of visitors to Mississippi. Last year, Carpenter estimates about 10,000 people enjoyed various events around Columbus and she said hotel stays this year are already up 20 percent from this time last year.
“These are people that are not coming for the day,” Carpenter said. “… For the most part, they’re people that are coming and spending a lot of money in Mississippi and in Columbus, Mississippi. They’re spending their money and they’re staying in the hotels and eating in the restaurants and shopping and spending money on gas.”
New attractions
New homes on the trail include the George A. Hazard home at 1006 College St., now owned by his great-nephew George S. Hazard. The home, which was built about 1858 and features unique Italiante architecture, is available for touring Sunday, along with Primrose, a circa 1850 home located at 419 Third St. S.
“We’re going to try to explain a little bit about the architecture of the house and (talk) about the family connections,” Hazard said.
He said he and his wife Marian have lived in the house for years but never put it on the Pilgrimage tour because they were busy with jobs and children. This year, he said, Marian took the time to prepare the home and the garden for visitors.
“Pilgrimage is a major Columbus event and it showcases something that we have that a lot of towns have,” George Hazard said. “Beautiful homes, and it’s grown so wonderfully to have other events like Tales of the Crypt and runs and things like that. I’ve seen it grow a good bit.”
Carpenter said part of the success of Pilgrimage is that Columbus has added to the home tours with parties and arts markets.
“We’ve diversified,” Carpenter said. “We’ve realized that we needed to bring in some additional activities for afternoons, for weekends.”
This year, Pilgrimage includes several new attractions like Art ‘n Antiques Show and Sale and the Buttahatchee Barn Quilt Trail Tea Cakes and Tea.
“We thought it was a wonderful opportunity to combine some of the area’s favorite activities that we have presented for many years,” Carpenter said. “We have done Art ‘n Antiques … for over 35 or 40 years, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great for us to combine that with Pilgrimage?’ So it gives Pilgrimage-goers, people that are here from all over the world, another opportunity to take home a piece of either Mississippi or a lovely antique piece.”
Art ‘n Antiques runs April 12-14 and allows shoppers to browse art by dealers from around the Southeast at the Rosenzweig Arts Center.
“I believe for sure people are going to these kind of events (are) interested in art,” said local artist Faye Asadi, whose watercolors and other designs will be featured in the market. “It doesn’t matter if it’s new or if it’s antique. They’re just looking for beauty. That’s important. I believe the environment should be good.”
Likewise the Barn Quilt Trail is new and allows visitors a chance to visit the historic Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church near Caledonia on Tuesday.
“They will open that beautiful church sanctuary for tea cakes and Delta mint tea,” Carpenter said. “So that’s something that’s brand new.”
2018 Spring Pilgrimage Schedule
Starting 9 a.m. April 5-7; Starting noon April 8; Starting 9 a.m. April 12-14
9 a.m.-noon: Green Tour
2-5 p.m.: Blue Tour
5-8 p.m.: Kickoff Party
9 a.m.-noon: Yellow Tour
2 p.m.-5 p.m.: Orange Tour
7 p.m.-10 p.m.: Tales from the Crypt
7 a.m.: Half Marathon
7:15 a.m.: 5K Run
9 a.m.-noon: Blue Tour
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Artisans Alley/Catfish in the Alley
2-5 p.m.: Green Tour
4 p.m.: Mayor’s Unity Picnic
noon-3 p.m.: Yellow Tour
2-4 p.m.: One-Day Tour
3-6 p.m.: Orange Tour
9 a.m.-noon: Green Tour
2-5 p.m.: Blue Tour
7-10 p.m.: Tales from the Crypt
9 a.m.-noon: Orange Tour
2-5 p.m.: Yellow Tour
4-6 p.m.: Historic Barn Quilt Tour
9 a.m.-noon: Green Tour
2-5 p.m.: Blue Tour
7-10 p.m.: Tales from the Crypt
9 a.m.-noon: Orange Tour
2-5 p.m.: Yellow Tour
7-9 p.m.: Art’n Antiques Opening Reception
9 a.m.-noon: Green Tour
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Art ‘n Antiques Show and Sale
2-5 p.m.: Blue Tour
7-10 p.m.: Tales from the Crypt
9 a.m.-noon: Orange Tour
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Art ‘n Antiques Show and Sale
2-5 p.m.: Yellow Tour
3-6 p.m.: Garden Party
For ticket information, call the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau at 662-329-1191.
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