Mississippi Gulf Coast Spring Pilgrimage Welcomes Visitors to Its Diamond Jubilee

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss., Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beautiful homes, gardens, and historic locations are being prepared for visitors as the Gulf Coast Council of Garden Clubs organizes its 60th Spring Pilgrimage. This year's "Diamond Jubilee - 60 Years of Pilgrimages" is an eight-day event that will feature approximately 40 elegant homes, gardens, and historic landmarks along the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Moss Point to Bay St. Louis. All venues are free of charge, thanks to the individual garden clubs and Gulf Coast business sponsors.

The Diamond Jubilee Spring Pilgrimage will officially open at 9am, Saturday, March 24, with a ceremony and refreshments at the Moss Point Presbyterian Church, 3707 Dantzler Street, Moss Point. The closing ceremony will be held 3:30-5:30pm at the Jensen home, "Many Oaks," 315 Front Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, on Sunday, April 1.

Saturday will include visits to three homes and a church in Moss Point, Pascagoula, and Gautier. In Gulf Hills of Ocean Springs, two homes as well as the historic Gulf Hills Hotel will be open to visitors on Sunday. On Monday in Gulfport, visitors may tour two homes and a church in the morning and one home in the afternoon. The afternoon will include four homes in Florence Gardens. Tuesday visitors will be invited to Bay St. Louis locations: the Hancock County Library, Annunciation Catholic Church and the Trent Favre home in nearby Kiln and the 100 Men Hall. The afternoon is shared with Long Beach's Town Green, City Hall and four unique homes.

Wednesday, March 28, will find visitors in Diamondhead where four homes will be open. A luncheon and fashion show will be held at the Diamondhead Country Club. After the luncheon, visitors can view the Community Church and Maluhea Gardens. Two Biloxi homes will open their doors on Thursday morning and the afternoon will feature three historic homes.

Friday, March 30, will be a special day featuring "Gems of the Coast" with all normal entrance fees waived for the Pilgrimage. Destinations will include the Audubon Center in Moss Point, the Train Depot and M&M Bank's Gazebo and Garden in Pascagoula, the Walter Anderson Museum and Marble Springs in Ocean Springs, the Lighthouse and Visitor Center in Biloxi, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport and the Nature Walk at Florence Gardens, the Friendship Oak on the USM Campus in Long Beach, and the County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis.

Saturday will bring visitors to Pass Christian where they can visit three homes and Pineville Presbyterian Church as well as Oak Crest Mansion Inn later in the afternoon where refreshments will be served. Visitors will also be able to attend Art in the Pass, an annual juried art show in War Memorial Park. Sunday's closing ceremony will follow the tour of three homes in Ocean Springs.

For more information see http://www.springpilgrimage.webs.com or call 228.627.0910.

Media contact:

Anita Giani
650.743.0870

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SOURCE Gulf Coast Council of Garden Clubs