Welcome to Natchez, Vintage Chevrolet Club members.

If you haven’t seen the vintage Chevrolet cars and pickup trucks driving around town this week, you need to get out more.

Some 100 members of the club brought their classic vehicles to town this week for the 21st Annual Southern Spring Tour to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet trucks.

Club Vice President Franklin L. Gage, who drove his 1966 original red Chevrolet Bel Air all the way from Maryland, said this is the club’s first time to bring the tour to Natchez.

The club he said had been to other Southern states over the years, but that they are enjoying the warm welcome they have received so far in Natchez.

Indeed, Natchez has plenty of great backdrops including historic antebellum houses and the bluffs along the Mississippi River perfect for hosting the vintage cars.

The back roads and highways around town also are impressive, but not more so than the friendly and hospitable people of Natchez in the eyes of one of the club’s leaders and that friendliness says much about Natchez.

Such an event also is a boon to the area’s economy, which could use the boost now that the Spring Pilgrimage is over.

So, get out and enjoy looking at the vintage Chevrolets, visit with the club’s members and spread some of that famous Southern hospitality. We also hope Visit Natchez will consider organizing more frequent spring and fall car gatherings into downtown. The Natchez bluff is the perfect location and when gorgeous cars come together, they have a way of attracting a crowd, which could benefit downtown Natchez greatly.

Thanks to Great River Chevrolet for bringing the tour to town. What a great way to celebrate 100 years of Chevrolet trucks.

Happy anniversary!