The Towers is open for tours year-round, but if you want to see Natchez at its fullest — historic homes open one after another, gardens in bloom, the town genuinely dressed up for visitors — you plan around Pilgrimage.
What "Pilgrimage" actually is
Pilgrimage is Natchez's signature tradition of opening its historic homes and gardens to the public for guided tours, organized by the city's garden clubs. The Natchez Garden Club has run these events since it was founded in 1927 — nearly a century of hosting pilgrimage and preserving the town's historic properties.
Fall Pilgrimage 2026
Two garden clubs run overlapping Fall Pilgrimage events in 2026:
| Organizer | Dates |
|---|---|
| Natchez Garden Club | September 26 – October 17, 2026 |
| Pilgrimage Garden Club | September 26 – October 3, 2026 (Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays) |
During Pilgrimage, visitors can book private home tours and museum home tours, with individual home tickets typically running $20–$25, or package pricing around $130 per person for a set of private home tours. Tickets are available online in advance or at the door.
Visiting outside Pilgrimage season
The Towers runs its own tour schedule independent of Pilgrimage, including seasonal offerings like decorative arts tours, the Haunting of the Towers, and the Jeweled Christmas — so there's no wrong time of year to come. Pilgrimage just means the rest of Natchez's historic homes are open alongside it, which makes it easy to build a full day (or weekend) around a visit.