Category: Press Releases
NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA … The 31st Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held July 16-17 in Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.
This year’s festival is themed “Traditional Remedies: Folklife During Times of Adversity.� The 2010 theme will focus on ingenious folk solutions people find when times are tough. From singing to putting tobacco on bee stings, Louisiana culture is rich with age-old folk remedies.
The two day event is filled with activities, food, discussions and music for the entire family. Tickets are $8 for an all-day pass, $5 for an evening pass, and $11 for a weekend pass which is available in advance only. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult.
The Festival begins on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with music, dancing, and dance lesson. A mixture of Cajun and country music will set the tune for the night with performances by Sean Vidrine & da’ Classics, Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue and Jambalaya Cajun Band. Champ Crossno will also be giving Cajun dance lessons both Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s festivities kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the beginning of the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, opening of the Kid Fest area and the beginning of the narrative sessions. The Fiddle Championship will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with the champion performing at 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Kid Fest is an area dedicated to child-friendly activities and is a fun way for children to examine their own cultural and family traditions as well as those from around the state. The Kid Fest area will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Activities will include storytelling, cake walk, tea party, butter churning and several arts and crafts .
Musical entertainment will be available throughout the day Saturday with performances by the Southern Harvest, Hadley Castille, Back Porch Band, D.L. Menard, Hezekiah Early, Knight Train, Jambalaya Cajun Band, Gail Holiday, Shekinah Gloery COGIC, Goldman Thibodeaux and more.
Other areas of interest will be narrative sessions exploring the traditions of herbalists, gardens and organic food; louisiana music; Creole Traiteurs, canning and preserving; Juneteenth celebrations, South Lousiana Traiteurs and more.
Traditional meat pies, boudin, gumbo, jambalaya, and ethnic foods will also be available to eat during the Festival. Vendors will be on site offering baskets, toys, filè, bonnets, walking canes, jewelry and knives.
For a complete schedule of events or more information on the Folk Festival, please call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332 or visit them online at www.nsula.edu/folklife. For updated information about upcoming events and festivals in Natchitoches, visit www.natchitoches.net.
