Happenings

Ferry Schedule Update

Kevin Reed with DOTD reports that the ferry is only operating during daylight hours because of the low water.  He tells me that the ferry’s first run is at 6:15 am and the last load is at 5:15 pm.  Hopefully, the river level will rise but he also reports that if the river gets lower, they will have to shut the ferry completely.  Let’s hope that doesn’t happen!

 

Live Music at The Mag

Friday, November 28 – Delta Drifters

 

OxBow and Thanksgiving

The OxBow Restaurant will be open and serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 11:00 am until 2:30 pm on Thanksgiving Day.  Make your reservations by calling 635-6276.

 

Restaurants Open Friday

All of our local restaurants will re-open for business on Friday after Thanksgiving, so if you don’t feel like turkey again, you’ll find plenty from which to choose!

 

Christmas at Rosedown

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site will be all decked out in her Christmas finery throughout the month of December.  The Main House and Nina’s Wing will be dressed in historic, early to mid-19^th century style Christmas décor, consisting of natural greenery garlands, fruit and nut displays, cypress and cedar wreaths, and potted poinsettia blooms.  For more information, call 888-376-1867 toll free or 635-3110 locally.

 

A Colonial Christmas

Oakley Plantation House will be trimmed in the style of the 1800’s, for Audubon State Historic Site’s A Colonial Christmas Experience on December 5 and 6.   School groups are invited to visit on Friday, December 5 from 9 am until 1 pm, to enjoy the holiday decorations and watch as a period meal is prepared by costumed staff in the outdoor kitchen of Oakley House.  In addition, various hands-on craft demonstrations will be located throughout the park.   From 10 am until 4 pm on Saturday, December 6, visitors can see a plantation Christmas dinner setting and rooms decorated for the holiday season.  The plantation kitchen will feature the day’s meal being prepared over an open hearth, and costumed staff will explain how the holiday celebration differed from what is traditional in modern times.  For more information, call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.

 

Candlelight Tours

As an added feature of A Colonial Christmas, candlelight tours of Oakley House will be given from 6 pm until 8 pm on Saturday, December 6.  During the tour there will be live colonial music and traditional holiday snacks such as roasted chestnuts, fig puddings and wassail will be served.  At 6 pm, the vintage Dancers will perform dances of the early 1800’s.  The $2 adult admission to Audubon SHS includes the site video history presentation, the plantation house tour and all special programs.  Children, 12 and under, and senior citizens, 62 and older, are admitted free.

 

Christmas in the Country Begins!

Events begin on Friday, December 5 at 5:30 pm as the First Baptist Church Children’s Choir will sing on the front porch of Town Hall.  That is followed, as always, at 6 pm with Mayor Billy D’Aquilla lighting the Town’s Christmas Tree.  Afterwards there will be a reception in Town Hall where a special visitor – he likes to wear red trimmed in white fur! – is waiting to hear your Christmas wish.

 

White Light Night

The St. Francisville Main Street Merchants have teamed up again to offer this special White Light Night on Friday, December 5 from 6:30 pm until 9 pm.  The Highlands Bank trollies will run the route between stores so hop on, listen to the music along the way, and vote on your favorite residential or business Christmas decorations.

 

Baton Rouge Symphony Christmas Concert

The St. Francisville Symphony Association presents its Spectacular Annual Christmas Concert featuring the musicians of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, with Timothy Muffet, Conductor.  This wonderful event will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Friday, December 5 at 7 pm.  Following the performance of Christmas favorites by the Brass and Percussion group, there will be a dessert reception in Jackson Hall, featuring the Famous Coffee Punch.  Tickets are available at the Bank of St. Francisville, 635-6397, or at the door, but this concert usually sells out, so be sure to get your tickets early!

 

Fresh Wreath Sales

The Women’s Service League will again be selling their fresh wreaths beginning on Friday, December 5 at 1 pm, and throughout the Christmas in the Country weekend.  They will also have their popular Plantation Country Cookbook on sale and already wrapped to place under your tree.

 

Grandmother’s Buttons Annual Event

GB’s annual Warehouse Sale of discontinued jewelry will once again be held the Saturday of Christmas in the Country, December 6, from 9 am till dark.  Thousands of pieces of jewelry reduced to below-wholesale prices will be available, and because of this year’s economic uncertainty and the consumer’s desire for affordable goods, the Grandmother’s Buttons ladies are working hard to make this the largest and best sale ever!

 

A Musical Christmas

Throughout Saturday there will be local choirs performing at different sites throughout St. Francisville.  At the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, at 9:30 am – Bains Elementary Chorus; at 10:30 am – WFHS Spanish and Latin Club; and at 11:00 am – WFHS Choir.  On the front porch of the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum, at 9:30 am – Bains Lower Elementary Choir; and at 10:00 am – West Feliciana Middle School Choir.  The Lagniappe Quartet will stroll along Ferdinand and Royal Streets from 10 am until 2 pm, and the Angola Inmate Traveling Band will perform across from the Garden Symposium Park on Ferdinand Street from noon until 4 pm.  The Main Street Band will be In Parker Memorial Park from noon until 2 pm.

 

Jump In!

That’s the theme of this year’s Christmas in the Country annual parade where Miguel Pate, our very own Olympic athlete will be the Grand Marshal.  The parade is scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Saturday, December 6, and travel down Ferdinand and Commerce Street.

 

More Christmas!

Also on Saturday, December 6, there will be a Community Sing-Along at 6 pm at the Methodist Church on Royal Street.  The First Baptist Church on the corner of Highway 10 and Highway 61 will feature a live nativity from 6 pm until 8 pm.  Also from 6 pm until 8 pm, Peep Into Our Holiday Homes are designated by signs at the participating houses along Ferdinand and Royal Streets.

 

St. Francisville Transitory Theatre

Christmas would not be complete without the special performances by this local and very talented group of individuals.  This year they will give up two Christmas stories:  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.  Performances are scheduled for 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 6, and 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 7, at Old Market Hall on Royal Street.  Each performance will run approximately 90 minutes which includes a 15 minute intermission between plays.  Admission to all performances is $5 per person, and tickets will be on sale 30 minutes prior to each performance.  Seating is limited to 50 people so come early to get your seats.  For more on the St. Francisville Transitory Theatre, visit www.sftheatre.net.

 

Library Tour of Homes

The Friends of the West Feliciana Parish Library will feature some beautiful contemporary homes in our area on their annual Library Tour of Homes.  This event will take place on Sunday, December 7, from noon until 5 pm.  Tickets are $15 and are available at the Library before and on the day of the tour.

 

Christmas in the Country Schedule

While I’ve highlighted some events, there are so many things going on during the weekend of December 5 through December 7.  For a complete schedule, visit www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com for all the times and events, or visit the Information Center in the Museum on Ferdinand Street for a copy.