Tracy Lawrence to entertain at DeltaFest on April 14-18

It's festival time in Louisiana! Actually Louisiana is home to so many festivals that on any given weekend there is a party somewhere. The party is happening in Monroe, Louisiana at the DeltaFest on April 14-18 at the Monroe Civic Center.

This year's DeltaFest promises to be a crowd pleaser with musical entertainment by Tracy Lawrence, LC Smoove, Rachet and more. DeltaFest a family-friendly festival that has a little something for everyone -- carnival rides, food, shopping, entertainment and more.

2010 DELTAFEST EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Gates are open from 5 - 11 p.m.
Stone Cold Country from 6-10 p.m.
Family Night Wristband Special 5:00 p.m. - close

Thursday, April 15, 2010
Gates are open from 5pm - 11pm
LC Smoove: 6 - 10 p.m.
Family Night Wristband Night Special 5:00 p.m. - close

Friday, April 16th, 2010
Gates are open from 5 p.m. - 12 midnight
Ratchet: 7 - 7:45 p.m.
Tracy Lawrence: 8:15 p.m.

Saturday, April 17, 2010
Gates are open from 10 a.m. - 12 midnight
Crawfish Scramble at Chennault Golf Course: 8 a.m.
Little Miss & Mister DeltaFest Crowning in Kid's World: 11a.m.
Kids Day: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Delta Kids Community Stage: 12 noon - 3 p.m.
Mason Creek Band: 2 - 7 p.m.
Frankie Beeze
Mike Epps, Comedian
Monica

Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Gates are open from 11a.m. until 10 p.m.
Rockin Dopsie: 2:00 p.m.
Keith Franks: 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Last Blast: 12 noon - close

Source: Information from DeltaFest Festival

24th annual Franklin Parish Catfish Festival

Wanna have some fun and sample some great food too? Then head out to Historic Downtown Winnsboro, Louisiana to the 24th annual Franklin Parish Catfish Festival on Saturday, April 10 in.

Enjoy the sounds of the Christian Contemporary group 33 Miles, featuring Gilbert native Jason Barton; the Bluz Boys; festival newcomer, Janice Bell; and Christian rap artist, B. Reith.

Also performing are Mason Granade, Blues artist YZ Ealey, local favorite Mike McKenzie, local rapper Big Al, Lil Nate, and the Franklin Parish High School Band.

There will be thousands of pounds of fried, pond-raised catfish, as well as vendors with different products, an antique car show, flower show, and more.

The festival is sponsored by Franklin Parish Tourism along with Delta Glass and Trim and Verizon, as well as the Louisiana Department of Tourism.

Admission to the festival is $3 per person.

Bluegrass Festival in Minden

The Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the Annual Blue Grass Festival, Saturday, September 26.

Load up your lawn chairs and get ready for the best in Bluegrass music, from 10 a.m. until 4 pm. at the Germantown Colony Museum in Minden. Minden's very own celebrity, Dawn Glass Stewart will MC the event.

This year's festival offers the best Bluegrass music in the area including Mountain View Connection, Sweet Tea, Tuning South, Brand New Strings, Greysful and much more. Enjoy live music, crafts and food. Admission is $3 for adults; free for children under 12. For more information call 318-377-2508.

Source: Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau

Christmas in Claiborne Parish

November 3rd-8th Claiborne Parish merchants want folks to shop local first. A Holiday Open House in Homer and Haynesville featuring great sales and a $250 shopping spree giveaway will be held Saturday, November 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the open house, folks can get "A Taste of Homer" all you can eat for $10.00.

Claiborne Christmas Festival, Saturday, November 29th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Homer Square. Parade begins at 1 p.m. Enjoy games for kids, over 40 food and craft vendors, Christmas music, and a day of fun for the entire family.

The 3rd Annual "Hills of Homer" Christmas Run will be on November 29th with 10K and 5K Runs beginning at 8 a.m. in downtown Homer. Entry fee is $15 ($20 after November 16th). There will also be a 1 Mile Fun Walk/Run. Contact Wayne Hatfield at 318-927-2961 for more information.

If you have any questions about the Claiborne Christmas Festival or would like to participate in the Parade or as a vendor, contact City Hall at 318-927-1312.

Claiborne Parish Christmas Festival Cookbooks are available at several local merchants for $13.00 each. To reserve your copy, call 318-927-9009.

Merry Christmas Claiborne Parish from Louisiana Trekker!

Celebrate Pecans in Colfax, Louisiana

Pecans enjoy them roasted, toasted, raw, in a pie or praline; sprinkled with cinnamon, covered in chocolate. If you like pecans then there's a place for you in the Town of Colfax, located in Grant Parish in Louisiana.

There are over 600 festivals in Louisiana. There's a party somewhere in Louisiana all the time. Celebrate, eat, drink, shop, and above all have fun, that's what makes life worth living. In Louisiana it's about sharing traditions, culture, history and heritage with each other.

On November 7th, 8th, and 9th in Colfax, Louisiana the festival is all about the Pecan. The 40th annual Louisiana Pecan Festival will bring over 60,000 people to the town of Colfax for a celebration like no other. Each festival is different but they all share common threads such as food, entertainment, arts and crafts, parades, pageants, and fun. There's something for everyone to enjoy at this year's Louisiana Pecan Festival.

On Friday, November 7th the festivities begin at 8:00 a.m. with the Blessing of the Crops on the Coca Cola Stage. The vendors open at 8:30 a.m. on Front Street. Friday is a busy day, the cooking contest begins, children's day begins, the Country Store opens, the Pecan House opens, the Carnival starts, the Antique Tractor Show Opens, and there is entertainment by Southern Heart, Pecanettes, and the Bernie Alan Band. Friday night at 8:00 p.m. is the Queen's Ball.

The Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8th, followed by the presentation of the Queen and her Court. Entertainment provided by Pecanettes, Cole Bruce and Amy Patience and Avery Michaels. The pie eating contest is at 4:30 p.m. Don't miss the fireworks at 8:00 p.m.

On Sunday, November 9th, the festival winds down with perfomances by The Classics and Michael Hataway. The party ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9th.

The Louisiana Pecan Festival celebrates a crop that is native to the area and that has been a part of Louisiana for a very long time. There are arts and crafts booths, cooking contest, carnival rides, musical entertainment, fireworks, games and more. The Country Store has homemade pecan pies and pralines, afghans and soaps, and jams and jellies.

Directions:
From I-49, take the 99 exit 10 miles into Colfax via Hwy. 8; from U.S. Hwy. 71, exit at LA. 158 or Hwy. 8 and follow the signs. Colfax is approximately 30 miles from Alexandria/Pineville, and 45 miles from Natchitoches.

Source and artwork: Louisiana Pecan Festival Website

2008 Pecan Festival Poster designed by: KJA Communications group of Alexandria, LA.

Celebrate Art, Indian Traditions, Haunted History and Meat Pies

Natchitoches Parish is bustling with activities this fall.


Cane River Creole Legacy Exhibit

The Old Courthouse Museum, a branch of the Louisiana State System, presents their newest exhibit: Cane River Creole Legacy. This exhibit is a collection of colorful oil paintings by artist Gilbert D. Fletcher, documenting the historic structures, culture and community of Cane River. To compliment the paintings, the gallery will also have the works of master craftsman John Allen Leblanc. The exhibit is open until October 25. The Museum is open Monday – Saturday. For more information call 318-357-2270.

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

Enjoy meat pies, music and more at the 6th Annual Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival on Friday, October 17th and Saturday, October 18th on the downtown riverbank. The festival will feature food and beverage vendors including the famous “Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant,” well-known for their famous Natchitoches Meat Pie and Cane River Mud Pie. Vendors will setup on the downtown riverbank selling their special versions of this legendary meat pie along with other festival cuisine.

This is a free event and the public is asked to bring their lawn chairs. No ice chests will be allowed into the festival area. For a complete schedule of events visit the Festival website at http://www.meatpiefestival.com/.

Adai Indian Pow Wow

The Adai Indian Community on Hwy. 485 will host their 18th Annual Pow Wow on Saturday, October 18th. This event is held on the grounds of the Adai Indian Cultural Center located near Robeline, La. Festivities include arts and crafts, food, traditional Indian Dances and more! Special guests include visitors from tribes in Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico. Free admission. Remember to bring a lawn chair. For more information please call 318-472-1007.

Haunted History Tour

The Natchitoches Historic Foundation invites you to be terrifically entertained on Saturday as it resurrects some of the most colorful characters in the history of Natchitoches. The Haunted History Tour will feature live portrayals of area personalities buried in the American Cemetery on Second Street, believed to be the oldest cemetery in the Louisiana Purchase. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the Natchitoches Information Center, 781 Front Street, or at the Cemetery during the tour. For more information, including the tour's cast of characters, visit http://www.historicfoundation.org/ or call 800-259-1714.

For more festival listings in Natchitoches Parish, call 800-259-1714 for a yearly schedule.

Source: Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tamales! Tamales! Tamales!

In Louisiana food is not just for nourishment; it's art, history, heritage, culture, and flavor all rolled together. Each community has special dishes which tie the present to the past. Zwolle is known for their great tasting tamales.

The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta which is a celebration of Spanish and Native American Heritage will be held Thursday, October 9th through Saturday, October 12th at the Festival Grounds in Zwolle.

The festival features a tamale making demonstration, tamale eating contest, treasure hunt, street dance, arts and crafts, and a parade. Other activities include pageants, arm wrestling contests, Spanish costume contests, rides, food, and the Fiesta Mud Bog for trucks.

For more information: 800-358-7802.

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.