After two years’ hiatus, the volunteer planning committee for the 2022 N.C. Pecan Harvest Festival is reviving the popular Pecan Festival Tour of Homes. The self-guided home tour will follow the midday Queen’s Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 4. Armbands serving as combination tickets to the luncheon and home tour are available for $25 now, Joan McPherson, chair of the volunteer planning committee, said Friday. Tour-only tickets will be available for $15 the day of the tour.
How to get your meal and tour, or just tour
Home tours will run from 1–4 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. on Nov. 4. Combination luncheon/tour armbands are by advance purchase only. The last day to purchase a combination armband is Monday, Oct. 31.
There are two places to buy the combination admission, McPherson said. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism (601 S. Madison St.) is open Monday–Friday from 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The Columbus County Arts Council, 822 S. Madison St., is open Tuesday–Thursday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. For more information, phone 910-642-3171 or 910-770-1991.
After the luncheon, tour-only arm bands will be available at the chamber office, from 1–4:30 p.m. for $15, McPherson said.
The Oct. 27 issue of The News Reporter will include the annual free N.C. Pecan Harvest Festival special section. It will provide photos and descriptions of the tour homes and the 2022 festival schedule of events.
Queen's reign continuesÂ
Nov. 4 activities will begin inside Vineland Station at 11:30 a.m. Master of ceremonies Bill Thompson will present the Pecan Festival Queen and her court of Pecan Belles before the luncheon.
After this year’s selectee bowed out due to a family medical concern, the volunteer planning committee asked Pamela Young-Jacobs, 2021 Pecan Festival Queen, to remain in place for a second year. “Pamela is a great ambassador,” McPherson said. “We feel really good about having her in the role of queen again.”
The six Pecan Belles, all of whom are students at Central Middle School, will attend festival events garbed in traditional belle dresses, McPherson said. They are Ila Simpson, Montayza McCullough, Maddalyn Williamson, Caroline Palmer, Jubilee Baldwin and Dennisha Richardson.
The traditional catered luncheon and home tours are the only ticketed activities of the N.C. Pecan Harvest Festival, McPherson said. The Queen’s Reception on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the arts council gallery is free, as are the parade and entertainment for all ages on Saturday, Nov. 5.