�Coming Home� on Mississippi Gulf Coast

The Spring Pilgrimage is "Coming Home�. When March 26 � April 3 arrives, it will be six years since the Gulf Coast Council of Garden Clubs held its last Spring Pilgrimage. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 destroyed homes and gardens, many of which have only recently been completely restored. "Coming Home" will be the very appropriate theme of the return of this 58-year tradition of hospitality.

From Pascagoula to Pass Christian, the eight-day event will feature approximately 50 elegant homes, gardens and historic landmarks, all free of charge to visit, thanks to the individual garden clubs and Gulf Coast business sponsors.

The "Coming Home" Spring Pilgrimage will officially open at 9am, Saturday, March 26 with ceremonies and refreshments at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center of Arts and Education, 1600 Government Street, Ocean Springs, Miss. The closing ceremonies will be on the grounds of the Michael and Janet McElroy home (pictured here), 533 E. Scenic Drive, Pass Christian, Miss, at 5pm, Sunday, April 3.

The first day, Saturday, March 26, will include visits to six homes in Ocean Springs hosted by the Ocean Springs Garden Club. On Sunday, Gautier Garden Club will present exhibits, displays and local artistic wares as well as a period flower show at "The Old Place�.

Monday morning visitors may tour four historic buildings in Bay St. Louis. In the afternoon, the tour will start at the new Town Green and City Hall in Long Beach with additional stops at the new Catholic church and two homes.

Tuesday will include tours of historic Beauvoir and the Biloxi Lighthouse in the morning followed by three homes in the afternoon, hosted by the Biloxi Garden Club.

The Beach Garden Society will show two homes Wednesday morning. This will be followed by a Gulf Hills (Ocean Springs) tour of the Gulf Hills Hotel and two homes on Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday, visitors will visit homes as well as have the opportunity to attend a landscaping seminar present by the Florence Gardens Garden Club, followed by nature walk in the morning, followed by visits to three residences in the afternoon.

Friday morning the Gulfport Garden Club will host visits to three homes and the historical courthouse, followed by two churches and a residence in the afternoon. Saturday morning will find visitors a walking tour in historic Pascagoula, followed by visits to two homes. In the afternoon, the Moss Point Garden Club will have three homes available for viewing, including a display by Gulf Coast Traditional Rug Hookers.

Sunday will bring visitors to Pass Christian, where they can visit three homes and see the concluding ceremonies in the afternoon at the home of Michael and Janet McElroy. Concurrently, they will be able to attend Art in the Pass, an annual juried art show in War Memorial Park.

For more information about top events in Mississippi take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Mississippi.

For more information on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Spring Pilgrimage visit www.springpilgrimage.webs.com