If you aren’t interested in the progress of Natchez and wondering how you can help with the growth of our city, then this is not the column for you to read today.

If you are interested, then here is your reminder that spring is here and that means Spring Pilgrimage has started.

It’s hard to believe that this is the 75th anniversary of the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage and for that many years we in Natchez have been opening our doors to visitors from every state and other countries. Many people barely notice the influx of visitors and often think they are a nuisance.

But the people who are reading this because they are interested in our city growing are the same people who realize that every visitor to our city impacts every single one of us in some way.

Whether they buy gas, eat a meal, spend the night or make a purchase in a gift shop, every little bit helps. What is even better is if they leave with a positive view of their visit, our town and the people who live here.

A happy tourist leaving town is one that will probably come back and will tell their friends to come and visit, also.

And it is the little things that can make a difference in their visit here with us. Speak to visitors on the street, in a restaurant or in a store.

When you see people standing on the street with a map in their hands, that’s a big blinking light that you should stop and offer to help them. When they drive down the one-way street (and someone always does) don’t yell and make a face at them, just get their attention and get them back on the right track.

Tell a visitor what your favorite restaurant is and how they can get there.

Things have changed a lot in Natchez over the span of 75 years. Once only houses and gardens were open to visitors, but we now also have The Historic Natchez Pageant in the evening along with Southern Exposure and Southern Road to Freedom.

Many of us take these productions for granted and never even think of the volunteer hours that go into making these annual events come off without a hitch. The truth is all of us should have been to each and every one of these productions ourselves.

I am embarrassed to admit that I have not but I am going to rectify that situation this year. I want to be able to make entertainment suggestions to our visitors and tell them what each of them are about.

Given the low numbers for Pilgrimage since Hurricane Katrina, it is wonderful to hear that this years numbers are projected to be higher.

Slowly but surely the Gulf Coast and New Orleans are coming back and tourists are returning to those areas and ours.

Let’s all welcome them back and show them what real southern hospitality is all about.

Christina Hall writes a weekly column for The Democrat. She is also Pilgrimage Garden Club pageant chairman this year. She can be reached at christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com.