The temperatures are rising, the flowers are beginning to bloom and the phones are ringing off the hook at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours.

All signs are pointing to a good start to this year’s Spring Pilgrimage.

“The planets are lining up,” Director of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours Jim Coy said Friday.

That was not the only thing lining up Friday afternoon. Tourists from across the country filled the lobby of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center inquiring about this year’s events.

With group tours up 15 percent from last year and beautiful weather predicted for the event’s first week, Pilgrimage officials are cautiously optimistic.

“The weather looks like it will be good tomorrow,” Natchez Tourism Director Walter Tipton said. “That’s key. If we start with a great day, the word gets out and more people plan.”

“And I am beginning to notice a lot of azaleas coming into full bloom,” Tipton said.

And if that weren’t enough, Natchez Under-the-Hill will once again hear the sounds of calliopes this year.

“The riverboats, they are coming back,” Coy said. “They did not come back last year at all.”

Under a bright blue sky, residents across town were making final arrangements Thursday for the 75th anniversary of Natchez’s Spring Pilgrimage.

Tourism officials made final arrangements, planting spring flowers, washing windows and stacking pageant commemorative brochures and souveniers.

“The 75th anniversary was the catalyst for us to push this year’s Pilgrimage and get the word out,” Coy said.

Travel articles about this year’s celebration have made their way to the pages of newspapers from California to Oklahoma.

And those stories have paid off in the form of phone calls and reservations at the Natchez Pilgrimage Tours headquarters.

“We need two or three more phones in the office,” Pilgrimage Tours receptionist Artie Catania said Friday morning.

Like the Pilgrimage Tour office, the visitor center has been busy answering questions and catering to tourists.

“It’s a good omen. No doubt about it,” Tipton said.