The 45th annual Audubon Pilgrimage in St. Francisville, Louisiana celebrates beautiful plantation country each spring. It is a wonderful event that allows you inside private homes and lets you explore plantations, churches and gardens. This year’s pilgrimage is March 18th-20th.
The annual pilgrimage is sponsored by the West Feliciana Historical Society where the participants don authentic 1820’s costumes to celebrate artist-naturalist John James Audubon. Audubon painted a number of his famous bird folios in the area while tutoring Eliza, the daughter of Oakley Plantation’s Pirrie family.
While the homes, plantations, churches and gardens are spread throughout St. Francisville, they are so easy to find with the provided map and ample signage.
Why should you attend the Audubon Pilgrimage?
1. Tour Four Private Houses
How fun is that! You get to go inside private historical homes in St. Francisville and learn about their significance to the city, parish and/or state. I am excited because this year a house that I’ve always loved (from the outside) is on tour and I cannot wait to see what it looks like on the inside!
2. Tour 2 Historic Plantations
Two of my favorite plantations: Rosedown, which I wrote about here, and Oakley House are included in the daytime tour ticket. Both offer wonderful home tours and have beautiful grounds with multiple outbuildings. The gardens at Rosedown Plantation in the spring are spectacular!
3. Tour Four 19th Century Churches
Four churches, three in town and one in the country, are open for visits. I always find historic churches to be absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite moments from the pilgrimage was when S was 3 and we visited the United Methodist church. She pulled down the bible from the back of the pew and would not stop “reading” it. After that every church we visited she would immediately go to the back of the pew and start reading the bible.
4. Explore Afton Villa Gardens
Afton Villa Gardens is what is left after the French Gothic-Victorian mansion built by Bartholomew Barrow burned in 1963. The gardens were inspired by Rosedown Plantation’s in 1948 and now consist of a series of terraces, bricked pathways that lead through boxwood mazes, overhung oak trees, beautiful azaleas, marble statues, and flowering bulbs. In 1972, the property was purchased by horticulturist Genevieve Munson Trimble who brought the gardens back to life. You can still see ruins from the mansion intermixed with the gardens. Afton Villa Gardens is so beautiful with all the flowers in bloom. Last year when we turned the corner and saw the tree below in bloom, we all stopped – it was magnificent!
5. Take in Live Demonstrations at the Rural Homestead
The Rural Homestead has lively demonstrations of the rustic skills of daily pioneer life. They also sell cornbread that is amazing and made fresh right in front of you.
6. Daytime Tour Tickets are Good for the Whole Weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
All 4 private homes, 2 plantations, 4 churches, Afton Villa gardens, and rural homestead are included in your daytime tour ticket for the Audubon Pilgrimage. And the best part is you do not have to hit all the sites in one day. Your daytime tour ticket is valid for the whole weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This way you have plenty of time to see all the homes, plantations, gardens, and churches without being rushed.
My mom, S and I usually visit a couple of the sites on Friday. Then we split the remaining sites between Saturday and Sunday to visit with the whole family.
7. Children under the age of 7 are free
Always a positive when I am planning a trip when S is free!
8. Evening Activities
The Audubon Pilgrimage also offers a variety of evening events too, at an extra cost. Friday’s evening actitivies include a wine and cheese reception, cemetery tour, hymn singing, and vintage dancers. Saturday night soiree includes live music, food, drinks and dancing. We have never attended these events but they sound like a lot of fun!
Spring is a wonderful time for events and festivals in the south! For more information about the Audubon Pilgrimage or to purchase tickets visit their website.
*Photos are from 2015 and 2013
