The Carrollton Pilgrimage is set for tomorrow and Saturday, with home tours beginning at 9 a.m. both days and ending at 5 p.m. The Pioneer Day Festival will begin at 9 a.m. on the Carrollton Courthouse Square Saturday with activities planned throughout the day.
This year, the home tour features two houses that have not been open in previous years – the Bole House and Campbell Cottage, both located outside Carrollton town proper, but they are just a short car ride away. The Bole House was built in 1899, and Campbell Cottage, which was at once a log cabin, was built in 1849. Both homes have great histories.
As you read this, most of the families opening their homes for the tour are likely frantically finishing those last minute tasks in preparation for opening their homes. It takes a lot of work to get these family homes tour ready. It is easy to forget that people actually live inside these old houses, but isn’t that what makes Carrollton’s pilgrimage so special? It is charming to see little glimpses of the people who call those old houses home.
For those of us who live in Carrollton proper, pilgrimage season is heralded in with brightly colored mums and fall displays on most every porch, sidewalk, and in front of every commercial building. The whole town is manicured and swept and clipped to put the town’s best foot forward as it welcomes guests to the event.
This year’s Carrollton Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day is also celebrating Carroll County’s place on the silver screen, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of “The Reivers,” the very first movie filmed in Carroll County. “The Reivers” star Mitch Vogel will be this year’s special guest, and the famous “Winton Flyer” car featured in the movie is being transported here all the way from Michigan for the celebration.
When “The Reivers” was filmed, dozens of locals were featured as extras in the movie, and many of those extras will be in Carrollton this weekend for a special screening of “The Reivers” Saturday night at the Tabernacle. Admission is free, so don’t miss it!
The annual Pioneer Day Festival will kick off Saturday morning around the historic Carrollton square, with dozens of vendors and educational activities set up as well as musicians entertaining guests on the courthouse lawn. There is truly something for everyone at the festival.
If you have never been to the Carrollton Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day festival, I can’t urge you enough to check it out. It is definitely a wonderful way to spend a beautiful fall day.
For more information, visit www.tourcarrolltonms.com or call 662-237-4600.
