Holiday In Dixie, Shreveport, La.

The 64th annual Holiday In Dixie will take place April 13 – 22, 2012 in various areas of Shreveport. This festival is a collage of many different events to appeal to many different interests. There are Grand Balls, a Classic Parade, a one-half mile Fun Run at Veterans Park on the Clyde Fant Parkway and a Carnival at Festival Plaza which opens Friday, April 13th from 4:00 – 10:00 pm. On the two Saturdays of the Festival, the main stage is the home for local entertainment from dance groups to STOMP to Southern Swingers. This festival has been designed as one of the American Business Association’s Top 100 Events in North America as its purpose is to celebrate life, expand interests and improve the quality of life for the community and its citizens.

Visitors to the area may want to consider staying at The 2439 Fairfield “A Bed and Breakfast”, circa 1905, situated in the historical district of Shreveport on a beautiful avenue of splendid mansions and fine homes built around the turn of the century. Landscaped English rose and herb gardens, a Victorian swing, gazebo and water fountain are nestled among the oak trees.  A full proper English breakfast is served.

 

2012 Bass Masters Classic - Shreveport-Bossier City Area

The Red River in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana will be the site of the Bass Masters Classic, February 24 – 26, 2012.  Billed as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing”, it attracts more than 137,000 fans to the Shreveport-Bossier City area. The event impacts all areas of the local economy, including overnight accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and more.  Forty-nine competitors from 22 states will participate for a chance to win the $500,000 first-place prize. 

The three main components of the Bass Masters Classic are daily boat launches beginning at 6 am at Red River South Marina and Resort, daily weigh-ins beginning at 3 pm each day at CenturyLink Center, and the Bass Masters Classic Expo at Shreveport Convention Center. All of these events are free to attend and open to the public. The hours of operation for the Bass Masters Classic Expo are: 12 pm -8 pm, Friday, February 24th; 10 am -7 pm, Saturday, Feb. 25th; and 10 am - 4 pm, Sunday, February 26th (Chris Jay of Sports NOLA)

Located only minutes away is the 2439 Fairfield “A Bed and Breakfast”, circa 1905, situated in the historical district on a beautiful avenue of splendid mansions and fine homes built around the turn of the century. Landscaped English rose and herb gardens, a Victorian swing, gazebo and water fountain are nestled among the oak trees. A full proper English breakfast is served.

Jazz National Historical Park, New Orleans

New Orleans’ unique mix of Spanish, African, American Indian, and European immigrants created a unique environment for the development of jazz music. The Jazz National Historical Park commemorates this music genre, and is a popular New Orleans activity for guests who stay at Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast. Located on the St. Charles Streetcar Line, Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast offers easy access to the French Quarter and The Jazz National Historical Park.

 

The museum and performance venue was created in 1994 to commemorate the jazz music legacy with information, resources, and sites related to the history of jazz in New Orleans.  The park features music selections and information regarding some of the most noted pioneers of jazz, including Freddie Keppard, Scott Joplin, Buddy Bolden, and Louis Armstrong, to name a few.  The park also notes the progressions of the jazz music genre throughout history.

The Official Visitors Center is located at 916 North Peters Street in the French Market.  The free-to-the-public museum is open throughout the year, Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 4:30pm, closed on holidays.  The Visitors Center holds a performance area, exhibit space, information desk, and bookstore.  It offers regular jazz performances, lectures, films, concerts, and exhibits.  The content of the park changes during the year, depending on seasons and events, so it is an ideal return-to location in New Orleans.

The park features two self-guided tours.  The Jazz Walk of Fame covers Algiers Point (a ferry is available from the New Orleans French Market), and an 11-stop Tour of Jazz History Sites leads you from the Louis Armstrong Park around the French Quarter.

The Old US Mint has partnered with the park to present their popular concert series in the Old US Mint Performance Hall.  This world-class music venue presents performances throughout the year.

Special annual events bring enhanced opportunities to experience the city’s jazz culture.  April is Jazz Appreciation Month which includes the French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  October is Jazz Awareness Month, and the Jazz National Historical Park also boasts seasonal concerts throughout the Christmas Season.

21st Annual Wild Rabbit Cookoff - Breaux Bridge, La.

Sherman’s “The Camp” at Tilac Road in Breaux Bridge will once again be the site of the annual Wild Rabbit Cook-off on Saturday, March 3, 2012 beginning at 9:00 am and continuing until Sunday, March 4 at 2:00 am. This annual event, which developed out of a gathering of friends to eat a wild rabbit dinner, has grown into a competition of over 50 teams in an effort to decide who can cook wild rabbit best. A venison category has also been included.  Hospice of Acadiana, Inc. was chosen to be the recipient of the money collected for this event because the father of one of the men participating was a hospice patient. This family fun event takes includes cooking competition of rabbit or deer, pony rides for the kids and lots of fun for all.


Country Charm Bed and Breakfast in Breaux Bridge is located about a mile from the cook-off and the innkeepers attend every year. This bed and breakfast, featured in Southern Living, is a haven of rest in the shade of century-old oak trees with delightful accommodations, jacuzzi suites, private fishing lake and boats.

Market Monday, Eunice, Louisiana

Market Monday is held in Eunice, Louisiana on the second Monday of every month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Chapelle Country Store at LeVillage Guesthouse located at 121 Seale Lane.  Admission is free and there is free parking.  The market features a collection of “crafty” friends, old stuff, vintage stuff and antiques.  Fresh produce in season, handmade goat milk soap, chainmail jewelry, quilts, handmade rosaries, baked goods and so much more are featured each month.  This month’s market, on February 13th, will feature Gabrielle Savoy,Visual Art and Photography.   

Mardi Gras Miniatures by Dale & Lou Trahan

Mardi Gras Minatures by Dale and Lou Trahan will also be available.

Come and spend the day.  Lunch and cold drinks are available for purchase. 

The late 19th century farmhouse and outbuildings of LeVillageGuesthouse include the old Chapelle Country Store that was robbed by the infamous Bonnie and Clyde Gang in the early 1930’s. The Main Guesthouse has been totally refurbished and is charmingly furnished with period antiques and rustic reproductions. The Old Chapelle Country Store is available for reunions, weddings and retreats. Additionally, Grand-pere's is available for intimate dinner parties, bridal luncheons and receptions and is usually rented as a complete package. Grand-pere's consists of 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, large living/dining area and full kitchen.

LeVillage offers special room rates for shoppers by calling 337-457-3573 (this rate is not available on the website – please call).

LTPA Louey Award Winner: The Dansereau House

The Dansereau House Bed and Breakfast has been honored with the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association’s Louey Award for Accommodation of the Year – Bed and Breakfast. Eleven members of Louisiana’s tourism industry were recognized for their tremendous efforts to advance the state’s tourism industry by the LTPA and more than 300 of their peers, at the Louey Awards luncheon. The Awards were presented Thursday, January 26, in Shreveport, as part of the 2012 Travel and Tourism Industry Summit.

“Louey awards are given to members and friends of the tourism industry who have gone the extra mile to promote and even protect Louisiana’s tourism industry,” according to the LTPA.

The Dansereau House, located in historic downtown Thibodaux, opened their doors as a Bed & Breakfast, as well as a special events venue, less than two years ago. Since that time, the Innkeepers Paul and Lori Worrell, have welcomed guests from all corners of the United States, as well as guests from Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands and more. They have hosted travel writers, videographers, and screen actors from the US and Canada. Equally as important, they have provided a unique and beautiful environment for the local community to celebrate their family and corporate events.

“We are blessed and humbled by this honor,” said Paul Worrell. The Worrell’s, originally from Florida, moved to Thibodaux to manage The Dansereau House after it was purchased by Damon Baldone, of Houma.  Their goal was to open the house up to the community and beyond, with warm hospitality, elegant atmosphere, and excellent service. In addition to the Bed & Breakfast, guests and the local public can enjoy cocktails, hor d'oeuvres, and live music at The Drinkery on Thursday evenings.

Each December the house is transformed into a Winter Wonderland, with lights, music, and even snow! “This year we were honored to be a part of Christmasfest and the ending-site of the Thibodaux Christmas Parade,” said Lori Worrell, “and to have Santa Claus sit on the front lawn listening to the requests of all the children.”  In the weeks after the parade dozens of observers came each night to watch the light show.

The Dansereau House was built in 1847, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970’s. The Bed & Breakfast has six guest rooms, and is available for weddings, parties, and other special events. The Drinkery is open on Thursday evenings, with live music on the veranda during the Spring and Fall seasons.

Bowling in Baton Rouge

Love bowling? You’re in luck, the USBC Open Championship is starting this Saturday in Baton Rouge!

100,000 visitors consisting of 60,000 bowlers and their guests will roll into the Baton Rouge area February 11 through July 9, 2012: an average of 900 bowlers plus guests every day for 151 days!

This is the second time that the United States Bowling Congress has sponsored the annual bowling tournament in Baton Rouge. They enjoyed it so much in 2005 that they’ve come back to sample our fabulous Southern hospitality again.

They will be bowling in the River Center in Downtown Baton Rouge on one of the 48 newly constructed professional bowling lanes. The competition runs 7 days a week from 7am til 3am and is open to the public. Come check it out!

The Stockade Bed & Breakfast welcomes back some of our guests from the 2005 tournament and looks forward to greeting new friends as they come to Baton Rouge for this event. Let us help you plan your total vacation get-away with visits to nearby plantations, swamp tours, golfing, restaurants and more.

The Smithsonian Institution's Traveling Exhibit, Journey Stories

Photograph from the National Register collection

Sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment For The Humanities and hosted by The West Feliciana Historical Society, The Smithsonian Institution's Traveling Exhibit, "Journey Stories" will commemorate the story of immigration travel across the United States. Learn about how people traveled by road, rail, river and trail during the great movements of people that built the United States.

Click here for more information and full schedule on The West Feliciana Historical Society's webpage.

The first "Journey Stories" event will be on Saturday, February 11, 2012.  A walking tour of Jewish history will highlight significant structures and contributions of St. Francisville's early Jewish immigrants, beginning at 11:00 am at Julius Freyhan School (near Barrow House Inn).

Later that day, at 3:30 pm, Oakley Plantation House (Audubon State Historic Site) will present a one-woman play entitled "Rachel O'Connor's World" featuring talented local thespian Kathryn Ward portraying a determined female Feliciana plantation owner and planter.  Click here for more information about Rachel (from the Encyclopedia of Louisiana).

CD guides, which are available at St.Francisville's Museum/Visitor Center for the duration of the exhibit, offer an interesting self-guided driving tour through West Feliciana Parish history, and a map overlay by artist David Norwood contrasts the present roadways with the original ones by which the earliest settlers arrived.

Barrow House Inn

Barrow House Inn, Circa 1809, in St. Francisville, is located near Julius Freyhan School, where the "Journey Stories" will be presented on February 11th.  Barrow House is a historic and romantic bed and breakfast in the heart of a fairy-tale town, St. Francisville. Enjoy its exquisite antiques and romance in the heart of the historic district.