The annual Carrollton Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day Festival had record attendance this year, according to Mayor Pam Lee.
“I think it was a good weekend,” Lee said. I believe we had more people than we’ve had before.”
This year, the Pilgrimage spotlighted Carroll County on the silver screen with a 50th celebration of “The Reivers,” a 1969 film starring Steve McQueen that was filmed in Carroll County. By using social media and old photographs, Pilgrimage committee member Kenny Downs sparked the interest of the local community.
“The Reivers” star Mitch Vogel and the famous “Winton Flyer” car were the highlight of the event, with guests seeking autographs from Vogel and a close-up view of the custom-made car, graciously on loan from the Stahls Automotive Museum in Chesterfield, Mich.
It had been 50 years since Vogel had stepped foot in Carroll County. He was only 12 years old when he filmed “The Reivers.”
“Mitch could not believe how little the town had changed,” Lee said. “He remembered some of the people who were in the movie that were here, and he enjoyed renewing those acquaintances again.”
And the Pilgrimage Committee rolled out the red carpet for Vogel and his wife, Christine, who traveled to Carrollton from their home in Santa Maria, California. The couple was treated to dinner at the Crystal Grill in Greenwood Friday night after a day of reconnecting with the community. On Saturday, after meeting and greeting people throughout the day at the Pioneer Day Festival, they were the guests of honor at an outdoor showing of “The Reivers” at the Tabernacle in North Carrollton.
“There were around 250 people who came out to see the movie,” Lee said. “They thought it was neat when [the audience] would cheer at various points in the movie.”
Lee said two dozen or so locals who played extras in “The Reivers” were recognized during the showing, which was really special.
With six homes on tour this year – Lum Reek, Helm House, Shadesrest, Cotesworth, Bole House, and Campbell Cottage – along with the historic churches and historic points of interest around town, more than 130 tour tickets were sold, but final totals are not yet known, Lee said.
Lee thanked all the sponsors and volunteers for all their hard work in making this year’s Pilgrimage especially memorable.
“There is no way we could have done this with one or two people,” Lee said. “This was definitely a team effort.”
Sponsors for this year’s Pilgrimage are ADSI, Bank of Commerce, Bill Lord Family, Carroll County Board of Supervisors, Carroll County Farm Bureau, David and Lou O’Bryan, Debbie Tackett, Delta Electric, Grisham Oil, L B McGregor, Peoples Bank & Trust, Snooky and Pam Lee, Staplcoton, Sugar Mullins - Chancery Clerk. The Conservative, Town of Carrollton, Trustmark Bank, Upchurch Telecom & Data, Viking, the Mississippi Tourism Development, and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
