Southern hospitality will be on display during the Vicksburg Spring Pilgrimage.

Fifteen locations including homes and churches will open their doors for visitors beginning March 21 and running through April 7.

In past years, Vicksburg offered a pilgrimage, but it wasn’t until three years ago that the Bed and Breakfast Association brought the event back.

Patricia Rickroad, who serves as pilgrimage coordinator, said the group, which has worked in conjunction with the city of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, set the dates for the spring pilgrimage to coincide with the pilgrimage held in Natchez.

“We do the same time as Natchez because we figure people are already either traveling to Natchez or from Natchez, so we are just piggybacking on to that. This just makes sense,” Rickroad said.

This year there will be some new offerings on the tours, Rickroad said, in an effort to not only attract tourists, but also locals.

“We have some new private homes, which is what I think the local people will come out to see,” Rickroad said.

“You know, some of these homes that you drive by that you think that’s a cool old house or maybe don’t even pay attention to it because you have lived here your whole life and now you realize you can go in that house,” she said.

And for visitors, Rickroad said, tours are being organized so that out-of-town guests get to see a mix of historical buildings.

“They will get to see a house, a church and another historical building instead of just three houses or three churches.”

The Vicksburg Spring Pilgrimage will also offer guided city tours.

“This is not something people get in Natchez, so we are kind of stepping it up a little bit, and we will be using the city trolley to get people to the venues.”

A licensed Vicksburg National Military guide will be on board to give the city tour, Rickroad said.

And while it is not required that one ride the trolley, it is encouraged since the city tour is included in the ticket price of $45.

New historical buildings that will be added to the tour this year include The Magnolias, Corey’s Place, The Vicksburg and the Nurses Quarters.

Other buildings on tour are Ahern’s Belle of the Bends, Duff Green, McNutt House, Featherston-Magruder House, McRaven, Christ Episcopal Church, St. George Orthodox Church, Baer House Inn, Cedar Grove, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and the Mary Harwood House.

Tours will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Those riding the trolley will meet at the Old Depot Museum, 1010 Levee St., with morning tours beginning at 8:45 a.m. and noon tours beginning at 12:45 p.m.

Ticket holders will also be offered perks for other events that will coincide with the Vicksburg Spring Pilgrimage, Rickroad said.

For more information and a complete listing of times, groupings and events, visit vicksburgpilgrimage.com.