Video: Thousands Flock to Aberdeen for 40th Annual Pilgrimage

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) -Spring is officially here and April showers haven’t stopped visitors from making their way to Aberdeen for a big weekend.
It’s the 40th annual Aberdeen Pilgrimage, where guests can tour the town and historic homes. WCBI’s Alyssa Martin made a stop at some of the homes on the tour and has more.

” Spring Into Aberdeen” is the theme for the 40th Annual Southern Heritage Pilgrimage and it’s now in full swing.

The most popular attraction for visitors is the historic home tours, which showcase original Antebellum and Victorian architecture.

The Magnolias has been apart of the Pilgrimage for many years and it’s now operated by a group of local volunteers called the Day Commission.

Volunteers say the weekend is always exciting as it brings something new.

” This year has been special because we love the encampment outside, we love having the people come over and tour but the ladies of the community have been super in wanting to volunteer.”

Visitors touring the homes get a first-hand look at years of rich history.

This year, there are 9 homes open for pilgrimage tours.

For Polly Watkins, President of the Day Commission, the weekend is all about show casing homes frozen in time.

” It’s not going to happen again, that’s one thing. We’re not going to have this kind of structures again. That was just a unique time of history.”

Visitors come from all over MISS and ALA to Aberdeen.

Two sisters that love exploring history together, came to see these homes for the first time.

” We try to do a tour at least once a year and we’ve never been to Aberdeen. I was looking through a magazine and I saw it and said ‘ Diane, we got to go,’ so, here we are.”‘

The two say restoring a historical home is a lot of work but it’s more than worth it.

” You have to love and old house because they’re not convenient but the love of it, the history. To think this house was built and cherished and children grew up here, it’s just something I love.”

The Pilgrimage runs through Sunday .

In Aberdeen AM WCBI News