Weekend ticket: Pilgrimage, veterans commemoration, community market on tap

Published 12:01 am Thursday, March 31, 2016

NATCHEZ — The final weekend of Spring Pilgrimage should hold nice weather and lots to do.

Today is expected to be stormy, but the weather should clear up for the rest of the weekend, bringing clear skies and comfortable conditions.

Temperatures should be in the low 70s Friday and Sunday, and in the upper 60s Saturday.

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Spring Pilgrimage

Until Tuesday, two-dozen antebellum mansions will open their doors to visitors for the annual Natchez Spring Pilgrimage.

Tickets for pilgrimage house tours can be purchased at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center or at shopnatchezpilgrimage.com.

Community-Wide Market

The fourth annual CommunityWide Market will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

More than 40 vendors will sell everything from handmade crafts to rummage sale items, both inside the church and outdoors.

A concession stand will be on site with grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks available for purchase.

This event is sponsored by the Jefferson Street United Methodist Women and the proceeds will help fund their mission projects.

Catholic Heritage Walking Tour

Tours begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, beginning with an introduction at the Family Life Center on Main Street and moving to the grounds of St. Mary Minor Basilica. The tours are under one hour and are free.  At the conclusion of the tour, each person will be given a brochure to continue on their own to additional pilgrimage sites.

Vietnam War Commemoration Ceremony

A ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Natchez National Cemetery pavilion to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War. Guest speaker will be retired U.S. Navy Capt. Virgil Jackson.

Historic Natchez Tableaux

A stage production honoring important points in Natchez history will show from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Natchez City Auditorium.

Regular tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children, and president’s box tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children.

Southern Road to Freedom

A musical tribute to the African-American experience in Natchez by the award-winning Holy Family choir will be offered at 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Tickets are $15.

Southern Exposure

The comedy play will be showing at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Natchez Little Theatre.

“Southern Exposure” tells the story of Penelope, an owner of an antebellum house in Natchez, and the hilarious troubles that befall her during a Pilgrimage event in the 1950s.