Integral parts of Vicksburg’s rich history are its beautiful homes and churches, and during the annual Vicksburg Fall Pilgrimage, visitors will have the opportunity to get a glimpse inside some of the city’s most beautiful structures.

Sponsored by Promote Vicksburg, the pilgrimage will be offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from Sept. 20 through Oct. 6.

“Houses that have already signed up are McRaven, Duff Green, Cedar Grove and Belle of the Bends,” Promote Vicksburg committee member and McRaven House owner Kendra Reed said.

Parts of the Pilgrimage will include homes that have never been shown in Vicksburg before, Reed said.

Through the years, different groups have sponsored the Vicksburg Pilgrimage tour of homes, most recently the Bed and Breakfast Association.

It has now been turned over to Promote Vicksburg, and the new group’s committee members include Reed, Morgan Gates, Ashley Jennings, Bethany Crocker and Harley Caldwell.

“Some of the committee members have been working on the pilgrimage for the last four years, and this is just a changing of the guard in an effort not to burn out anyone who has been involved,” Reed said.

It is also a way to bring in some new ideas and expound on what has been done in the past, she said, with one of the additions including a historical tour of the city.

“The mayor and the city of Vicksburg have graciously provided us the use of the trolley again this year, and it will be picking people up at the Old Depot Museum,” Reed said.

Once on board, a licensed guide will share facts about Vicksburg as guests travel from venue to venue, she said.

Also new with this year’s pilgrimage, Reed said, is the committee’s collaborative promotional effort with several of the city’s already scheduled events, which includes the Old Courthouse Museum’s Night at the Museum, art receptions, book signings and a living history at McRaven.

This year there will also be a collectors market, Reed said.

“During the Old Courthouse Museum flea market, we are going to have access to the Vicksburg Auditorium and people can come in and see collections,” Reed said.

Describing the free event as a “show and tell expo,” Reed said, visitors can either sell or “just display” their collections.

“We are focused on recruiting Coca-Cola memorabilia collectors, teddy bear and doll collectors and even Kermit the Frog collectors to include the Delta,” she said. “We are trying to appeal to more than just people who enjoy looking at the beautiful old homes, we also want to have events that appeal to young people, so they would enjoy coming, while also sharing the character and heritage of Vicksburg.”

The Vicksburg Fall Pilgrimage tours will run from 1 to 4 p.m. each Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Each home tour will last between 30 and 45 minutes and some homes will offer refreshments.

Tickets are $15 for a single home, $30 for three homes, $50 for six homes and $75 for an unlimited seasonal pass.

For more information, which includes a complete listing of homes, scheduled events and ticket information, visit vicksburgpilgrimage.net.