It is expected to be the largest celebration to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Carroll County.

The Carroll County Pilgrimage, once an annual highlight event for the County, is scheduled to begin on October 2-4 and the anticipation of its return to the county is colossal.

According to Pam Lee, secretary for the Carroll County Development Association and pilgrimage committee member, the pilgrimage will give people, both inside and outside the county, a chance to see the old homes and to learn about the county's history.

"This will be our largest event of the year," Lee said. "We have 12 homes committed to being opened, as well as five churches and other structures in the town."

Throughout the weekend, the festival continues with a Pioneer Day, where several educational exhibits are scheduled to give people, especially children, and idea of what Carroll County was like in yesteryear.

According to Lee, educational exhibits that consists of farming techniques by Ernie Flint, the county's extension agent, and a look at the old forestry industry and shape logs by the Carroll County Forestry Association. The Homemaker Volunteers of Vaiden will educate the crowd on quilting and Mary Hurt-Wright will give a presentation about her grandfather the blues legend Mississippi John Hurt. Even the Boys Scouts will give a presentation on open fire cooking. Current talks are also being made with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, according to Lee.

"When the committee planed the event, they wanted to share the past with the younger generations and we wanted to teach them about the past," Lee said.

Another of the highlights of the even twill be the wild game cookout where cookers will show case their talents on catches they've made like deer, rabbits and other game.

"Many of the hunters have stored their meat in the freezer," Lee said. "The meat will be judged and the winners will be handed ribbons."

Lee said with the county's anniversary celebration, she hopes a new and renewed appreciation for the county. The cost of the weekend event will be $25.

Lee said with a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, several publications are expected to be released about the pilgrimage.

"This is going to be big," Lee said. "The grant will be for brochures and update on our website. We are really excited about this."

For more information about the Carroll County Pilgrimage, contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 237-6926