Video: Numbers Are Up For 2016 Spring Pilgrimage

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — The 2016 Columbus Spring Pilgrimage numbers are out and the city saw a collective increase all over the board from the year before.

Visit Columbus CEO Nancy Carpenter said overall revenue is up twenty percent from2015, and hotel revenue on the first day of the two week event saw a 69 percent increase.

Carpenter said visitors from 44 states and 12 countries came through the Friendly City, and 90 percent of people who came to the city over the two weeks visited solely for Pilgrimage.

Carpenter also reported that revenue from the 5K and the half marathon runs increased $24,000 and that numbers jumped from around 200 runners in 2015, to around 380 in 2016.

Carpenter said “Catfish in the Alley” is also an event that has seen big growth.

“It has grown in just a couple of years to having maybe 500 people to 1,800 people enjoying some of the best Blues artists in the state…”, said Carpenter.

Events pick right back up for Columbus, with Steve Gardner and the Jericho Road Show performing at the Rosenzweig Arts Center tomorrow at 6 P.M.

Contact Visit Columbus for information.

The city is also preparing for Market Street, as well as hosting the 2016 Presidents Cup Soccer Tournament in May.