Southern women are known for their penchant for setting an elegant table, but ladies below the Mason-Dixon Line are not the only ones who enjoy a beautiful table setting.

This is evidenced by the Beautiful Table Settings Facebook group May Eason started in 2019. The group started out with 35,000 members, but now exceeds 200,000 members who are from not only across the U.S., but the globe.

Eason has also been instrumental in holding what she calls BTS Bashes. These events include guest speakers and vendor offerings — which is a favorite of BTS participants.

Two BTS Bashes have been held in Eason’s hometown of Wetumpka, Ala. with a third scheduled for this spring.

But before the BTS creator hosts the spring event, her first ever BTS Bash in Vicksburg kicked off Thursday. And along with locals who are attending, more than 400 BTS goers have made their way to the River City.

Last year, Eason was invited to  Vicksburg by Harley Caldwell, with hopes she would consider holding a Bash here.

Vicksburg relies on the tourism industry and as a bed and breakfast owner, Caldwell thought an event such as the BTS Bash would be good way to showcase all Vicksburg has to offer.

After touring the River City and enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the historic town, Eason concurred with Caldwell —Vicksburg would be a great spot to hold a Bash.

Caldwell said she has been excited by the response shown to the BTS Bash.

“We are filled to capacity,” Caldwell said of all the local bed and breakfasts being full, with the overflow staying in local hotels.

And while this weekend is expected to also benefit others in the tourism business — restaurants and tourist attractions — Caldwell said there could also be residual gain.

“With the visitors coming in for the Bash, they will be taking pictures and posting them to the Facebook group,” Caldwell said, which, in essence, serves as free marketing that will reach the hundreds of thousands of Beautiful Table Setting members.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said he is also excited about the event and its potential for showing off all Vicksburg has to offer.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to showcase the city and it’s great economic news to know our bed and breakfasts and hotels are full,” Flaggs said. “I’m told it’s over 400 people down there. Any time we can showcase Vicksburg around the world, we want to do that and keep us on the map. This helps us economically and helps us with sales tax and that’s what we need. I’ll be going to check it all out and I’m excited about it.”

This year’s event will run through Saturday at the Levee Street Warehouse.