The Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club takes great pride in presenting Historic Jefferson Pilgrimage 75th Diamond Jubilee April 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2022.
Home and Garden Tours.
Four beautiful historic homes, The Beard House, The Homestead House, The House of the Seasons and Singleton’s Virginia Cross Home, will be open for visitors between the hours of 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. Docents, dressed in period costumes, will greet visitors to the homes, giving the history of the homes and the Jefferson families who built and have lived in them through the years.
Garden Tours
Four lovely gardens, The Blair Garden, Lisa’s Garden, Wise Manor Garden and the Jones Garden will be open for visitors to enjoy between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.
Home and Garden Tour Tickets may be purchased at Pilgrimage Headquarters in front of the Excelsior House, 211 W. Austin Street, beginning at 9:30 a.m. each day of Pilgrimage weekend. Cost is $25 each. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.jeffersonpilgrimage.com for a discounted price of $24 each. Tickets are non-refundable.
Parade
At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, an array of floats, old cars, buggies, bands and horses will make its way through town. Mike and Carla Riordan will be the Grand Marshal.
Pilgrimage Grand Ballroom & Courtyard Luncheon
After the parade, lunch will be served in the Grand Ballroom and Courtyard of the Excelsior House. The delicious salad luncheon is provided and served by Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club members from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at a cost of $15. Reservations for this luncheon are encouraged; visit www.jeffersonpilgrimage.com. Online Luncheon ticket sales will end April 22. Tickets are non-refundable.
Plant Sale
The Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club’s plant sale is located on the porch of the Excelsior House. The Plant Sale committee has some surprise additions to the sale for 2022. The sale contains many reasonably priced plants, some of which have been started from cuttings of local heirloom plants by the members of the club. Take time to browse from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.
Craft Fair and Sale
Stroll through and shop the Craft Fair and Sale set up in William Perry Park adjacent to the Excelsior House. The Craft Fair and Sale will be open 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 and on Sunday, May 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Quilt Exhibit
The quilt exhibit will be held in the beautifully restored Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 501 East Jefferson Street. This outstanding collection of quilts is free and open to the public Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Jay Gould Railroad Car
Located on bustling Austin Street across the street from the Excelsior Hotel is the Atalanta, the private rail car of notorious railroad baron, Jay Gould, of New York City. Visit this uniquely furnished car built in 1886 and discover how it came to Jefferson. Tour tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased at the Excelsior House or online at jeffersonpilgrimage.com or theexcelsiorhouse.com.
For more information, visit our website: jeffersonpilgrimage.com. Email jeffersonpilgrimage@gmail.com, or call 903-452-3836. Visit the Excelsior House web site: theexcelsiorhouse.com. Email excelsiorhousehotel@gmail.com or call 903 665-2513.