Natchez Spring Pilgrimage

The past comes to life in Natchez

There's nothing quite like spring along the Mississippi: a singing bird in every tree, a balmy promise on every breeze, and a hoop-skirted hostess in every doorway. Of course, that last part might only be true if you're venturing towards Natchez, Mississippi during its annual Spring Pilgrimage, which in 2019 runs from March 16 to April 19.

History is never far from the surface in Natchez, but in Spring Pilgrimage season it truly bursts into bloom. Visitors come from around the world to witness tours, theatre performances, expert lectures, and other programs throughout the month, delving into the over three hundred years of history that tell the tale of the oldest settlement on the Mississippi. And of course, there's a generous helping of events featuring the food and music that give the Delta its reputation for having such a delectable soul.

The Pilgrimage was built on the opening up to the public of some twenty-four famous antebellum homes around Natchez, and while the elegantly appointed, thematically narrated tours are certainly still a major fascination for pilgrims, there are far more stories vying to be told. Deborah Cosey, owner of Concord Quarters, for instance, gives voice not only to the walls of her house but to the enslaved people who once lived and toiled there, describing their lives not in euphemisms but in simple, unavoidable, human terms. These tours, along with stellar reenactments of African American stories by the Miss Lou Heritage Group and other presentations on the nitty-gritty of life in Natchez back-in-the-day, help to dispel the romanticism that can linger around history and forge instead a sense of connection, one that might illuminate a bridge between the events of past and present and make both more real in the process.

There's something new (which is rather often quite old) to learn about Natchez around every corner, especially during the Spring Pilgrimage. Whether you're interested in haunted houses, ragtime antics, or Southern birding, you're sure to find a thread to capture your imagination. And when you start to unspool the tapestry of Natchez, dense with small town connection and long with centuries of history, you'll most likely find a picture even richer than you imagined.

See history come alive in Natchez this spring! Find out more at natchezpilgrimage.com and visitnatchez.org, and don't forget to ask about tour and accommodation packages to get the most out of your Spring Pilgrimage.