Today begins the first of what we hope is annual event: Spring Pilgrimage in Vicksburg.

Organized by the Vicksburg Bed and Breakfast Association, eight of Vicksburg’s historic homes will be open for tour beginning today and continuing through April 9.

In the past, Vicksburg has held spring home tours, but for one reason or another, those have fizzled out.

However, Corey and Patricia Rickrode, owners of Baer House Inn Bed and Breakfast, think Vicksburg’s Spring Pilgrimage could grow to become just as well known and attended as the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage.

They said visitors have asked about a pilgrimage, so the bed and breakfast group decided to try again.

Homes on tour include the Baer-Williams House, 1117 Grove St.; Duff Green Mansion, 1114 First East St.; McRaven Tour Home, 1145 Harrison St.; McNutt House, 815 First East St.; George Washington Ball House, 921 Main St.; Mary Harwood House, 600 Fort Hill Drive; Steele Cottage, 1201 Adams St.; and The Loft at Keystone Building, 1106 Washington St.

Home tours are divided among three different packages.

Package A offers an afternoon tour for $45 per person and includes three homes and a guided city tour via a van shuttle. That tour is limited to 12 people.

Package B, also in the afternoon, is $30 per person and is a self-driving tour of three homes.

Package C is a morning tour, also $30 and self-driving to three homes.

The group has planned other events coordinating with Spring Pilgrimage in Vicksburg, like the “19th Century Narratives: I Varina” at Duff Green Mansion. Morgan Gates will offer cemetery tours in the mornings and ghost tours in the evenings during Spring Pilgrimage except on April 6. McRaven House will offer haunted tours every evening during Pilgrimage.

Tickets may be purchased online by going to vicksburgpilgrimage.com. For more information, call 601-456-0420.

We’re hoping this first Spring Pilgrimage is a success and the first of many more to come.