September 27, 2008

Enjoy a day in the fresh country air

Bienville Parish: Arcadia

Grab your friends and family for a fun-filled day in the country at PaPa Simpson's Farm in Arcadia, Louisiana on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 and November 15th, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at MiMi's Country Cupboard.

PaPa Simpson's Farm is a working dairy farm. Six generations have called the farm home. Agriculture is their way of life and they want to share it with everyone. The tour allows visitors to experience daily life on a farm. Visitors are educated on the animals, crops, vegetable garden, fruit trees and berries. There is also a lesson in history and geography. The most important that the family wants to share with others is the beauty of the rolling hills, trees, pastures and their way of life.

MiMi's Country Cupboard offers several items for sale. Purchase your very own PaPa Simpson's Farm t-shirt, or one of these farm fresh foods: cheddar cheese, jelly, sweet pickles, dill pickles, cinnamon pickles, pickled okra, salsa, candied jalapenos, pepper sauce, seasonal flowers, sugarcane stalks, herbs and fresh eggs.

PaPa Simpson's Farm is available for birthday parties, company picnics, fishing at the catfish pond, educational tours and family tours. The farm is also open for day care centers, nursing homes, church groups, clubs, companies, reunions, individuals, or families.

The cost of the family tour is $8.00 per person; children one and under are free. Reservations may be made by calling 318-263-2383 or 318-278-0883. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some fishing in the catfish pond after the tour.

Fall Festivities:
Pick-a-Pumpkin Patch: In the months of October and November, we will have a pick your own pumpkin patch for educational tours. Price is $8 per person and everyone gets a pumpkin.

Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 6-9 p.m.*Purchase tickets for activities such as horseback riding, face painting, painting a pumpkin, carnival games, baby animal petting area, corn dig for prizes, hayride with storytelling, bonfire and roasting of marshmallows.*Large pumpkins available for purchase*Costume contest*Concessions available

Winter Festivities: Christmas with the Critters, December 12th and 13th, 2008, from 6-9 p.m.*Christmas light display*Baby animal petting area*Horseback riding*Snow dig for prizes*Pictures with Santa Claus*Hayride with bonfire, roasting of marshmallows, reading Christmas Story of Jesus’ Birth from Luke*Concessions available

Directions to PaPa Simpson’s Farm: Take Interstate 20 Exit 69 in Arcadia, travel Highway 151 North for 2 ½ miles; Turn left at Alabama Baptist Church onto Rich Road and follow the signs to MiMi’s Country Cottage. Please do not turn in at the gate that says “PaPa Simpson’s Farm.” Drive to the top of the hill and you will see MiMi’s Country Cottage. This is where the tour will start. The farm is located approximately 4 ½ miles from exit 69.

Source: PaPa Simpson's website

September 25, 2008

33rd Red River Revel Arts Festival


Arts, education, music, food, fun, and children. What do all of these words have in common? They are all part of one of the largest arts festivals in North Louisiana, the 33rd Red River Revel, which is to be held October 4th-11th. This arts celebration has it all. Every year this celebration gets bigger and better.


When the Red River Revel began 33 years ago, the primary goal, according to the Revel website, was arts education for children. That goal is evident in all of the events slated for this festival.
There is so much to do and see at the Revel.


Children's events include: SciPort activity area, Shreve Memorial Library Book Walk & Storytelling, Northwest Louisiana Food Bank clay pot painting, kid fish, mock geological dig, architecture alive, Brookshire's grocery store, tot tent, Christus Schumpert Sutton Children's mini medical center, climbing wall, sand art, creation station and more. This is a hands-on festival where children are able to get their hands dirty and be free to use their imaginations to create one-of-a-kind art in a creative atmosphere. This festival teaches children that an arts education is valuable and that the world around them is full of art.


Other children's events include three time Grammy nominee, Trout Fishing in America; a student art exhibit "All things....India" at the Barnwell Gardens and Arts Center; and Children's Sewing Day, Saturday, October 11th, at Riverview Hall, sponsored by Red River Quilters.

Musical entertainment includes live music in a variety of styles. There are artists playing jazz, funk, rock n' roll, zydeco, country, R&B, and more. Enjoy the live performances of Edgar Winter, Lakeside, Brick, Bucky Covington, Stephen Cochran, Futureman and the Black Mozart Ensemble, and Grammy Award Nominee Lisa Haley & the Zydekats. Also local and regional favorites: Dirtfoot, Outlaw Nation, The Roscoes, Frank Ott & Hell Yeah, Todd O'Neill, The NOIDS, Trini Triggs, Star de Azlan, Dixie Tradition, and Cody Jinks.

The Red River Revel has fantastic food that is not your typical fair food. Some of the dishes are more foods you would find in a restaurant such as fajitas, dirty rice, gumbo, turkey legs, blakened catfish, Natchitoches meat pies, chicken fried rice and more. But for the diehard festival lover the Revel does have funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers and other yummy festival fare. North Louisiana offers a variety of dishes with many different cultural tastes. And many of these scrumptious dishes can be sampled at the Revel. Bring your appetite and a sense of adventure and enjoy the flavors that Louisiana has to offer.


In addition to the children's activities, live music and great food, there will be over 100 visual artists selling all types of artwork--jewelry, watercolor, painting, wood, photography, glass, metal, ceramics, pottery, drawing and more.

The Revel is open daily at 11:00 a.m. Admission is free: all day on Monday, and until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Admission is $5.00 on Saturday until 6:00 p.m., all day Sunday, and after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday. On Saturday after 6:00 p.m. admission is $10.00. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

The Revel is located at Festival Plaza in Downtown Shreveport.

September 14, 2008

It's Cotton picking and ginning time at Frogmore Cotton Plantation and Gins

I received this information from Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins located in Frogmore, Louisiana. A visit to Frogmore Plantation offers and educational experience as one can explore this area's rich agricultural and industrial history. According to the Frogmore Plantation website, there is no other tour of this kind offered in the South.

Cotton picking and ginning begins in mid-September through October. Frogmore Plantation was selected by Rand McNally as a “MUST SEE SITE.” Contrast 1800's historical methods with computerized, technical methods of today. Home to the only completely computerized gin in U.S. Rare, historical steam cotton gin, slave cabins, plantation store, and out buildings.

Frogmore Plantation, which is named for Frogmore, England, is located 20 minutes west of Vidalia/Natchez on U.S. Hwy. 84. 45 minutes east of Pineville, Louisiana - take La. 28 to U.S. 84 East.

Fall Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. -3 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (arrive 1 ½ hours prior to closing) Admission $12 adults, $5 students 6–18 yrs. There are several historic tours available. The gift shop is full of local flavors, historical books, jewelry and other items depicting cotton and a variety of souvenirs. For more information call 318-757-2453.