Last week, the two non-profits that have long worked together to provide nightly entertainment for tourists during Natchez Spring Pilgrimage decided to go a different direction.

For many decades, the Natchez Garden Club and the Pilgrimage Garden Clubs have worked together — with almost entirely volunteer talent — to produce the Historic Natchez Tableaux.

This year, the Pilgrimage Garden Club decided to go in a different direction.

The NGC plans to produce a somewhat scaled back version of the tableaux.

PGC members plan to produce a new event at Longwood, though the details have not been publicized yet.

The tradition and history of the tableaux spans many generations, thus any change to it can be akin to changing a high school’s long-time mascot or other such long-held tradition.

But in the end, changes are inevitable. We continue to appreciate the hard work the two clubs put in to maintain and preserve their respective properties that continue to delight tourists.

We wish both groups success.

We believe wholeheartedly that the many volunteers within the two organizations will make each of their respective plans for nightly tourist entertainment successful for the betterment of Natchez.

Regardless of what any naysayer may suggest, tourism is and continues to be a critical piece of Natchez’s economy.

Natchez needs the retooled nighttime pilgrimage entertainment options — along with the rest of our city’s tourism offering — to resonate with tourists so more will come and more will spend money here.