A festive party at Elms Court on Friday will recall candlelight galas held at the historic house 75 years ago.

The party, beginning at 7 p.m., will continue the retrospective theme of the Natchez Garden Club midwinter garden seminar, “Gardens and Gardeners Then and Now, 1932-2007,” which begins at 1 p.m. Friday and continues through Saturday.

“The party is open to all, even if they can’t come to the garden seminar,” said Anne MacNeil, Elms Court owner.

The tradition of candlelight parties at Elms Court began even before Natchez Pilgrimage began in 1932, MacNeil said.

“The first candlelight ball associated with Pilgrimage was held in 1933, the second year of Pilgrimage,” she said. “It was an old-fashioned costume ball with supper.”

By the next year, the party became known as Ball of a Thousand Candles. MacNeil’s grandfather David McKittrick orchestrated the ball. Her sister, Elizabeth Boggess, will also be a hostess at the party.

“The best that I can tell is that the last ball was held in 1941 during Pilgrimage,” MacNeil said.

Other family parties in the years following followed the candlelight theme, however — debutante parties, anniversaries and birthdays.

“My grandfather started the balls in the 1930s,” MacNeil said. “He really adored entertaining people, and people adored him. That tradition of hospitality has stayed with us.”

Opening her home for parties, receptions and meetings has become routine for MacNeil. Her generosity has included functions for Historic Natchez Foundation, Trinity Episcopal Church, Natchez Festival of Music, Natchez Garden Club and others.

“I regard it as one way to give back to the community,” she said.

Because both the Natchez and Pilgrimage garden clubs are celebrating 75 years of Natchez history, the idea of recreating the ball seemed appropriate, MacNeil said.

Like some of the 1930s balls, costumes will be encouraged but not required. “We’re suggesting 1930s or 1860s for those who want to dress in costumes,” she said.

Family tradition is that the house was decorated with greenery and flowers from the yard and from friends’ yards. Some of the same types of foods served in the 1930s will be served at the Friday gala.

Tickets to the gala only are $25 per person. The entire seminar, including Friday and Saturday activities and the Friday party, is $100 per person.

Tickets for Friday educational sessions are $35 each; for Saturday workshops, including materials needed, are $65 per person.

A separate mother-daughter workshop will be 4:15 to 6 p.m. Friday at $25 per mother-daughter team.

Send checks for registration to Midwinter Garden Seminar, P.O. Box 1756, Natchez, MS 39121. Or call 601-445-3770.