The arrival of spring heralds the return of warmer weather, beautiful floral blooms, and Columbus’ premier event, the annual Spring Pilgrimage. This year’s celebration takes place over 10 days – from April 5th-14th – and will feature tours of resplendent antebellum mansions and gardens, as well as recreated activities of the 1800s and exquisite period costumes, inspiring events, heart-pumping races, and culinary delights. “Initiated in 1940 and now in its 78th year, the Columbus Spring Pilgrimage has been recognized as one of the best and most authentic home tours in the South and has again been named a ‘Top 20 Event in the Southeast’ for 2018”, said Nancy Carpenter, Executive Director of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation and CEO of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are proud to welcome thousands of local, national and international guests to experience our exemplary historic home tours and unparalleled hospitality.”
In addition to tours of 15 beautiful homes and gardens, the Columbus Spring Pilgrimage will feature traditional programs and activities, including a garden party, carriage rides, and Tales From the Crypt, as well as new favorites, such as a Half Marathon Race and 5K Run, Art ‘N Antiques Show and Sale, and the Buttahatchee Barn Quilt Trail.
The 10th Annual “Catfish in the Alley®” event, returns on Saturday, April 7th. This event – named ‘Editors’ Choice’ by Garden and Gun Magazine – features a day of fun for the whole family, including vendors, fabulous food, cold beverages, and some of the best blues musicians in the South, including the Big Joe Shelton and The Black Prairie Blues Ambassadors from Columbus, Terry “Harmonica” Bean from Pontotoc, Grady Champion and his Blues Band from Canton, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram from the Mississippi Delta. All of the musicians have performed throughout Mississippi, the South, and in several European countries. Whether you’re interested in architecture, history, the arts, culinary traditions – or all of the above, Pilgrimage has something for everyone! View a complete listing of special events below. 2018 COLUMBUS SPRING PILGRIMAGE SPECIAL EVENTS
Kickoff Party Thursday, April 5th | 5-8 p.m. Crawfish and shrimp boil, live music featuring Mustache the Band Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center Lawn, 300 Main Street Carriage Rides April 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 13th and 14th | 9 a.m.-until Sunday | 12 p.m.-until Tales from the Crypt April 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th | 7-10 p.m. Graveyard tour that re-creates the lives of noted personalities interred at the historic cemetery Friendship Cemetery, 1400 Fourth Street South Half Marathon and 5K Run Saturday, April 7th | 7 and 7:15 a.m. Additional information and registration available at www.columbushalfmarathon5k.com Starting at the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center, 300 Main Street Catfish in the Alley® Saturday, April 7th | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy fresh fried catfish and live blues music in Columbus’ historic Catfish Alley Catfish Alley, Downtown Columbus Artisan’s Alley Saturday, April 7th | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Handcrafted period articles and homemade food items Catfish Alley, Downtown Columbus Buttahatchee Barn Quilt Trail Tea Cakes & Tea Tuesday, April 10th | 4-6 p.m. Afternoon highlighting unique folk artistry steeped in Americana Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Caledonia, MS Art ‘N Antiques April 12th | Opening Reception, 7-9 p.m. April 13th-14th | Show & Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy the finest in decorative arts and antiques Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main Street Garden Party Saturday, April 14th | 3-6 p.m. Stroll through Colonnade Garden with mint juleps and cheese straws ($15 admission) Colonnade Garden, 620 Second Street South About the Columbus Spring Pilgrimage The Columbus Spring Pilgrimage is an annual project of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau and is made possible by the gracious hospitality of participating homeowners and the generous support of local businesses that serve as “Friends of the Foundation.”