Mardi Gras Magic set for Feb. 13 Krewe of Wag-uns parade seeking participants

The City of Natchitoches will celebrate the Mardi Gras holiday with Mardi Gras Magic on Saturday, Feb. 13. The Natchitoches Historic District will be converted to an array of Mardi Gras celebrations similar to the scenes of New Orleans.

The Krewe of Wag-uns Parade, featuring pets, children, Mardi Gras music, costumed characters and other community entities, will take place at 2 p.m.

Any school club, civic organization spirit group or neighborhood is invited to participate. Participants may bring throws and candy, but they are not required, and there is no entry fee for the parade. Decorations will not be provided for the parade.

Pets should be on a leash and owners must be present at all times. No ATVs are permitted. Golf carts are permissible if driven by an adult. Children can ride scooters, bicycles, wagons, battery operated toys, etc. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Line up for the parade begins at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church located at 411 Second Street.

The parade will leave the church parking lot and head north on Second Street, turn right on Touline and then travel north on Front Street. The parade will disband at the Bank of Montgomery parking lot, located at 814 Washington Street.

Awards will be given for the best pet costume and best decorated entry.

For more information about the Krewe of Wag-uns parade, please contact the Natchitoches Main Street Office at 352-2746 or email lsmith@natchitochesla.gov.

Kent Plantation House is hosting "African American History Through the Eyes of Our Youth"

Kent Plantation House is again hosting “African American History Through the Eyes of Our Youth”, an art competition for children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Any form of art pertaining to African American History is acceptable. The exhibit is separated into grade level categories and judged by local artists.

Deadline for entries is 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27th. All art pieces should be delivered to the Kent House Office in the Visitors Center.

Entries will be judged and prizes awarded at the Opening Reception on Friday, January 29th at 6:00 p.m. The reception, free and open to the public, will be held in the all-purpose room of the Kent House Visitors Center located at the rear of the complex. Refreshments will be served.

The entries will be on exhibit at Kent Plantation House through the month of February, Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. There is no admission charge to view the exhibit.

For additional information or an application, please contact Kent Plantation House at 318-487-5998.

Rapides Parish Events

The Red River Chorale will present its annual Christmas concert this Thursday evening, December 17, 2009, at 7:00 P.M. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, in Fourth Street, near Elliott Street. (See the beautiful concert poster attatched.)

The concert will feature a short cantata by Dietrich Buxtehude, a Baroque German composer. The composition, Das Neugeborne Kindelein (The Newborn Babe,) will be sung in German. The remainder of the concert will consist of carols both familiar and unfamiliar, in beautiful arrangements, sung to the accompaniment of the Reuter pipe organ, the Bechstein concert grand piano, and a string quartet.

There will be a reception after the concert in Xavier Hall. All in attendance are invited to attend.

Tickets to the concert are only $10 for adults and $5 for students. They may be purchased from any Chorale member, or by calling the Chorale office at 484-4463.

Consider what lovely Christmas gifts concert tickets would be, either for this concert, or for the next one, "The French Connection," on Thursday, March 18, 2010, under the direction of Lynn Bauman and featuring the Durufle' Requiem, as well as other works by French composers, including Jean Racine's lovely Cantique.

For tickets or for more information, call the office at (318) 484-4463.

Shop Webster Parish December 4-6

Webster Parish Tourism invites you to the Webster Parish Trade Days Holiday Extravaganza in Minden.

On Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, Webster Parish welcomes you to join us for the largest holiday extravaganza ever. The Webster Parish Trade Days offers unique crafts, holiday gift specials, original art works, antiques, trinkets to treasures, food vendors, bake sales, and much more.

Don’t worry about the weather. The Webster Parish Trade Days Holiday Extravaganza offers inside shopping at the Woods Convention Center at 214 Miller Street in downtown Minden. Admission is $3.00 for the weekend and free on Friday.

The Webster Parish Trade Days will be held the first Saturday weekend of each month beginning in 2010.

For more information call 318.518.4176.

1940’s Big Band Hangar Dance Tickets on Sale Now

All flyboys and girls are invited to the Natchitoches Regional Airport at 450 Wallenberg Drive this weekend, November 13-15, for the Cane River Aviation Rendezvous & Hangar Dance.

The event features vintage aircraft, war birds and an A-26 Invader Bomber. Activities include helicopter rides, aircraft displays, children activities and a hangar dance with big band music from the 1940s.

The Hangar Dance will be held Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 per person and are available at the Natchitoches Visitors Center at 781 Front Street. The Visitors Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The aircraft will arrive throughout the day on Friday and there is no charge for public viewing. Saturday’s events are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and have a $5 admission fee and a $3 parking fee. Enjoy a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to noon for $3 and watch the aircraft depart.

For a complete schedule of Rendezvous events visit www.CaneAviation.com.

Visit www.natchitoches.net for more information on accommodations or upcoming events.

North Central Louisiana Arts Council

Arts Afloat Raffle (NCLAC), Oct. 1 until, NCLAC, 212 N. Vienna or P.O. Box 911, 318-255-1450, www.nclarts.org, Cost: $100 per ticket ($10000 prize)

Rotating Exhibit of Local Artists, featured Artist Camille Jungman, Oct. 1 until, All hours, Storefront window 3013 Trenton St., Ruston Collects Art ExhibitDate: Oct. 29-Dec. 4Location: Louisiana Tech's E.J. Bellocq Gallery (Ruston)Contact: Saul Zalesch, 257-3077Cost: FREE!

Antique Board Games and Cards, A fun afternoon awaits you., Nov. 10 and every Tuesday, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., Lincoln Parish Museum, 609 N. Vienna St. in Ruston, 318-251-0018

Art Innovations Talent Show Auditions, No talent too small. Acts of a few seconds to 15 minutes., Nov. 14, 1-5 p.m., Art Innovations, 207 N. Trenton St. in Ruston, 255-1800

Knitting at the Lincoln Parish Museum, Bring your latest project., Nov. 12 and every Thursday, 1:00 to 3:45 p.m., Lincoln Parish Museum, 609 N. Vienna St. in Ruston, 318-251-0018

Exhibition Opening Todd Cloe, Nov. 13-January 8, Reception 6-8 pm Nov. 13 & Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm, Enterprise Center, 509 West Alabama Ave., Dorene Kordal 257-3890 Cost: FREE!

Art of Film, Nov. 12, 6-8 pm, Lincoln Parish Library, 255-1450 Cost: FREE!

Flaming Idiots, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm, Howard Auditorium, Corner of Adams & Arizona Blvd. Cost: $5 for Students & $10 for Adults

Voices and Visions of the Great Depression, Nov. 6-Jan 4, 2010, Tues.-Fri. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lincoln Parish Museum, 609 N. Vienna St. in Ruston, 255-1450 or 251-0018 Cost: FREE!

From: North Central Louisiana Arts Council

Arts Council of Central Louisiana to open season with Kaminari Taiko Drummers of Houston

The Arts Council of Central Louisiana will kick off its newest season with a BANG. Thundering drums will be heard throughout downtown Alexandria as Kaminari Taiko of Houston performs at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater on Saturday, November 21 at 7 pm. Tickets are only $5 or $20 for a family of five.

In Japanese, “kaminari” means “thunder” while “taiko” means “great drum.” Taiko drums were originally used on Japanese battlefields more than 1,400 years ago to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy. Over the next millennium, taiko drumming transcended to the art form it is today. Combining rhythm, theatre, and dance, taiko drumming is an important Japanese tradition. Using twelve (12) drums, Kaminari combines the values of this magnificent art with the rhythms and beats of the world for an unforgettable performance. In their last performance, Kaminari Taiko of Houston performed to over 19,000 people in just two nights.

Because of the generosity of many community members, local organizations for children such as: the Alexandria Boys and Girls club, CASA, Volunteers of America, Hope House, Turning Point, and many more, will receive tickets for this performance.

The Arts Council of Central Louisiana will continue its series in February 2010 with New York’s Ailey II dance group. For more information on these events call 318-443-4718.

Honoring Veterans in Alexandria on November 12

A brief ceremony honoring veterans of all military branches will be held on Thursday, November 12 at 11:30am. The public is invited to attend.

This special tribute, including a “wreath-laying”, will take place at Alexandria City Hall on the Veterans Memorial Plaza, facing Third Street. The ceremony takes place to offer the opportunity for citizens to again visit the plaza and reflect upon its meaning and symbolism in central Louisiana.

The Alexandria Veterans Memorial Plaza was dedicated on November 11, 1999 in memory of former Alexandria City Councilman, Bob Lawrence. Its design honors all military branches as represented by their seals mounted on the memorial and is dedicated to those men and women of Alexandria who served in the United States Military, during peacetime and wartime.

At the plaza’s entrance is a sculpture by local artist, Morris Taft Thomas, five wings representing the five branches of the United States armed services.

For additional information please contact the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 318-442-9546.

By: The Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

November at Sci-Port

Grey Matters Adult Lecture Series: The Stressed Brain, Thursday, November 12, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Grey Matters series continues with LSUHSC neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Schrott and psychiatrist Dr. Anita Kablinger. They will discuss how stress affects our mood, thinking abilities and susceptibility to addiction and diseases. Dr. Schrott will also provide stress management techniques to help survive the ebbs and flows of life.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Admission is $5 per person and free for members. Reserve your spot by calling 318-424-8660 by Monday, November 9.

Presented in partnership with LSUHSC.

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Holiday Day Camps, November 23 - 25, December 21 - 23 & 28 - 30, January 4 - 5
Give your kids some Sci-Port fun and yourself a little breather during the holidays! Holiday Day Camps accommodate specific grade groups. Each Day Camp is a standalone experience and explores themes ranging from archaeology and colors to boats, rainforest adventures and the amazing human body (www.sciport.org/holidaycamps for the complete list). Choose your dates and find out what Sci-Port has to offer this holiday season!

Camp Times and Rates
K-1st grade session: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Members $30 General $35
2nd - 5th grade session: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Members $40 General $45

Camps include a mid-morning and afternoon snack, all materials and supplies needed for the session, a thirty-minute supervised lunch provided by Sci-Port's Galaxy Café and an IMAX film. Extended Care Options are available for a slight charge.

Call Visitor Services to register 318-424-8660.

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Sci-Port en Español, Wednesday, November 11, 3 - 5 p.m.
On the second Wednesday of each month, programs will be performed in Spanish by our bilingual staff. A special admission price of $2 will apply after 3 p.m. (admission is free for members). Come learn about science in a whole new way, or just brush up on your Spanish at Sci-Port!
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November Star Party, Friday, November 20, 7 - 10 p.m.
On the Windham Family Rooftop Terrace, observe Jupiter and its magnificent moons, marvel at the amazing Andromeda Galaxy, ogle over the legendary Pleiades and keep your eyes peeled for shooting stars. Space Dome Planetarium presentation and hands-on activities round out the fun.
FREE for Members, $5 for non-Members. Santa vs. the Snowman IMAX film
Opens Monday, November 23 with daily showings through Sunday, January 3
Get in the holiday spirit IMAX-style as Santa vs. the Snowman, an animated film from the creator of Jimmy Neutron, returns as a special holiday treat. This production is packed with laughs, action and a wonderful holiday message. Yule all have a rollicking merry time!

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Fourth Friday Astronomy, Friday, November 27, 4 p.m.
Sci-Port celebrates the International Year of Astronomy with a new topic every Fourth Friday of the month. Come November 27 and learn about the latest findings from NASA, plus astronomical highlights of the season.

By: Sci-Port
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Ghost Walk in Minden, Louisiana

Don’t miss the 6th Annual Ghost Walk to be held on Saturday, November 14th. This annual event held at the Old Minden Cemetery on Bayou Avenue off Pine St. will be the scene of Minden’s past. If you love living history, you will love this event. With over 20 actors and actresses in period costumes portraying Minden’s past leading citizens. See Confederate soldiers along with early business leaders and politicians.

Tour hours are 12 noon -4 p.m. with tours starting every 15 minutes until the last tour at 3:00 p.m. Each tour will last about one hour. There will be golf carts to assist with those that are unable to walk the tour. Mobility devices are welcome. The cost of the tour is $10.00. Group rates are available, with 10 or more per group. All proceeds help to maintain the historic Minden cemetery.

If you missed the tour last year, you don’t want to miss it this year. For more information on the Ghost Walk, visit www.mindencemetery.blogspot.com or call 318-423-0192.


















By: Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau