NATCHEZ — Pilgrimage is no longer just a house tour, its interactive in many cases.

That, coupled with pleasant weather, has resulted in a jump in ticket sales and group tours Marsha Colson, director of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours said.

Colson said many of the houses have added extras to the tours to help entertain and lure visitors to Natchez.

“Each day I get a report of the previous days sales and how that compares to the same day last year,” Colson said. “On most days this year, sales were considerably higher than the same day last year.”

Single ticket sales, sales to individuals for home tours, are up 30 percent over last year and group sales are up 27 percent over last year.

Colson said not only are the number of groups booked for tours of Natchez larger, but the number of people each tour is bringing is also higher.

“What we saw during the Spring Pilgrimage was the number of group tours wasn’t significantly lower the number of group tours but the number of people in the tours was lower,” Colson said. “Fall has been just the opposite.”

Colson said during the first week of Fall Pilgrimage several things combined to make it a success. The pleasant weather has been one factor, but Colson said the hard work of the homeowners shouldn’t go unnoticed.

“Every year we try to add things to the tour to enhance the experience and to help make Pilgrimage a longstanding success,” Colson said. “This year many of the houses have taken the opportunity to add things to the tour. Yes, people are still interested in the history and the antiques but there is a great interest in the human stories behind these houses.”

The House on Ellicott Hill has had craft demonstrations during their tours. They have hosted a weaver and a staff member at the house is displaying handmade walking canes made from salvaged wood.

Mary Baugh, artist in residence at Natchez Clay will be on hand during house tours on Oct. 9.

Auburn has added music to their tours by having a violinist on the porch at the house while it is open for tours.

“The homeowners recognize the benefit of adding fun, informative things to their tours,” Colson said.

At Green Leaves, Colson said Joie Morrison is making dreams come true, by allowing tourists to try on hoop skirts at the end of the tour.

“That is just a neat thing that gives tourists an idea of what it was really life to live during that time,” Colson said. “It is a lovely thing.”

Colson said a when tourists come to Natchez they are interested in seeing what life was like in the early days. To get an accurate look, Colson said they only need to visit the old Spanish district during tour days.

“On the blue tour, I noticed last year that the homeowners and hosts and hostess, in costume, would stand on the sidewalks or porches and socialize,” Colson said. “That really gives you a sense of what it would realy be like to live in that early Spanish section.

“This year two of the young ladies have had babies and they often are pushing them in prams in front of the houses, so that is just a bonus.”

Pilgrimage continues through Oct. 10 with morning and afternoon tours daily.