Are you looking for a magical evening of romance and elegance? Would you like to experience Christmas in the 1800s?

Have you ever wanted to see dazzling tiaras, crowns and exquisite antique jewelry?

Do you enjoy the special atmosphere of antebellum mansions in the Christmas season?

If you want to have one very special evening during the Christmas season, “Carriages, Candlelight and Christmas, Magnolia Hall and The Towers” on Friday is the event for you.

It combines elegant traditional decorations at Magnolia Hall and the romantic glamour of at the Jeweled Christmas at The Towers.

Magnolia Hall has traditional evergreen garlands on the mantel pieces and an exquisite garland of Magnolia leaves wrapped around the staircase banister.

The Towers sparkles with thousands of lights and glamorous costume jewelry. At Magnolia Hall, characters in period dress will portray a Victorian family as they prepare for Christmas. Guests will visit as the family prepares Christmas cards, decorates the Christmas tree, enjoys Christmas Eve supper and as the father reads “The Night before Christmas” to the children.

Guests will enjoy light refreshments as the family finishes Christmas Eve supper and neighbors sing Christmas carols.

Guests will then board carriages for a romantic ride through the streets of historic downtown Natchez neighborhoods, decorated for Christmas with lights, wreaths and garlands to The Towers to enjoy the magic of the elegant Jeweled Christmas.

As the carriages pull up to the front, this lavish home will be ablaze with light. Guests will see thousands of pieces of fabulous vintage costume jewelry dating from 1860 to 1950 from the unique and unmatched collection of necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, rings, tiaras and crowns.

Each room features a different display of extraordinary decorations. Following refreshments, guests will again board the carriages to return to Magnolia Hall.

All tours start at Magnolia Hall. There are two tours.

The first starts at 4:15 p.m. and the second at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. for the 4:15 performance. Guests attending the 4:15 performance can expect to return to Magnolia Hall around 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. performance. Guests attending the second performance can expect to return to Magnolia Hall at around 8 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours — 601-446-6631 or 1-800-847-6742 or www.natchezpilgrimage.com — at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center, 640 South Canal St.

Prices are adults: $75, students ages 8-12 $35 and students ages 13-17 $50.

No children under 8 will be admitted.

 

Anne MacNeil is a member of the Natchez Pilgrimage Homeowners Association.