Free event to feature children’s activities, music, fireworks and more
Enjoy an old fashioned country fair family day at Celebration on the Cane, Natchitoches’ Fourth of July celebration.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with the Cane River Green Market, Natchitoches’ only local farmers market. Besides fresh produce, customers can choose from a selection of “value-added products” including farm fresh eggs, breads, jams, honey and much more. Craft vendors will have handmade items such as woodwork, jewelry and art.
A children’s patriotic parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center parking lot, located at 750 Second St. The parade will take place throughout the Historic District, ending at Bank of Montgomery. There is no fee to enter the parade and prizes will be awarded for best costume and best decorated.
Children’s activities will take place throughout the day including water activities, arts and crafts, fair games, a karaoke contest, dunking booth and cake walk. Other activities include a BBQ contest, Blue-Ribbon Bakeoff and hot dog and pie eating contests.
Food vendors will be selling fair type foods throughout the day and picnic blankets will be provided for families to enjoy lunch on the downtown riverbank. Green Market vendors will have hot dogs, pies, tamales, watermelons and beverages.
Beauregard’s Courtesy will provide live musical entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the downtown riverbank followed by the Detention Center Choir from 1 to 3 p.m. Later that day, Kim Brasso and LA Boogie will perform on the Fleur de Lis from 6 to 9 p.m.
The evening will culminate with a fireworks show over Cane River Lake that will take place at approximately 9 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.natchitoches.net or call the Natchitoches Main Street Office at 866-941-6246 or the Natchitoches Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-259-1714.
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The Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival will celebrate its 34th annual event on June 13 and 14, 2009 at historic Melrose Plantation.
More than 100 craftsmen from at least eight states will be on hand displaying and selling wooden sculptures, ironwork, handcrafted jewelry, unique yard art and handmade candles. Returning to the Festival this year will be okra-pod artist, Kathy Tate Davis, who specializes in carving roosters, Santas, witches and many other figures from dried okra pods.
Children’s book author Kathy Whitehead will make an appearance at the Festival this year. Whitehead’s picture book, Art From the Heart, was inspired by a trip to Melrose Plantation and examines the life and art of African-American artist Clementine Hunter who lived on the plantation.
And of course there will be famous Natchitoches meat pies and other regional foods. There is a $5 admission fee for adults, $2 for children age’s six to 12, and under age six is free. Tours of the main house and the African House will be available for $5.
The Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival is sponsored by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches. Visit their site at www.preservenatchitoches.org.
Melrose Plantation is located 18 miles south of Natchitoches at 3533 Hwy. 119. For vendor information, contact 318-352-5640.
For information about Natchitoches, accommodations or more upcoming events, visit www.natchitoches.net or call 800-259-1714.
Photo Credit: Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
