Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Happenings

Breaking News

Pam Breaux, Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, reports that all of our State Historic Sites will continue to operate 7 days a week.  Budget cuts had forced the decision to only operate them for two days per week, but last minute amendments to the State’s budget gave the funding needed to keep the 17 sites around the State open.  Thank you to all of our legislators and the governor for realizing the economic impact these sites have on the communities in which they are located.

 

Farmers Market

Don’t forget to get all your fresh vegetables for your holiday cookout at the Farmers Market.  It’s open Thursdays from noon until 5 pm.

 

Main Street’s Poppin’!

There is no need to travel to enjoy Independence Day because the St. Francisville Main Street Program has special events going on all day Saturday.  The Main Street Merchants are planning a shopping event, and participating shops will be flying the Stars and Stripes.  Each will have sidewalk sales and will participate in the Shopping Flag Pull.  The Flag Pull works like this:  each participating store will have 10 small flags stuck in a sand bucket, each with a different color tip.  At the time of your purchase, pull a flag to see if you’ve just won 5%, 10% or 15% off your purchase OR a special gift.  Sale items are excluded from the Flag Pull.  For more information, call Laurie Walsh at 635-3873 or visit www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com.

 

Annual Pie Baking Contest

This annual Independence Day event benefits the Julius Freyhan Foundation.  If you want to enter your best pie, it must be delivered to the BirdMan Coffee & Books by 12:30 pm on July 4th.  Judging is at 1 pm, and the pies will be sold following the judging with all proceeds going to the foundation to help restore the Julius Freyhan School.

 

Fireworks!

Hot dogs, drinks, music and fireworks will be poppin’ at the Town Ball Park on Burnett Road.  As night falls, the Laughing Lizards will play patriotic music, banjo style, and the American Legion will have food and drinks.  And as always, the Town of St. Francisville will provide a fabulous fireworks show!

 

New Artist Exhibit

In conjunction with all the festivities surrounding our celebrating the birth of this great country, a new artist exhibit opens at The BirdMan Coffee & Books between 3pm and 5 pm.  “Birds” is by the artists from the Charter Street Studio.

 

Ecosystem of Audubon

On Saturday, July 4, at 10 am, Audubon State Historic Site presents this one-hour program which focuses on one of the many ecosystems found at Audubon SHS.  Guests will be invited to explore the nature around the park, and learn about how the different habitats and creatures interact with each other. For more information call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.

 

Did You Know: Hunting Practices

Also on Saturday, July 4, from 11 am – 2 pm, Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site features their "Did You Know" series of programs which focuses on different facets of life in the past that are not well-known in today's societies.  For this program, hunting practices will be discussed, as well as why hunting was important to 18th- and 19th-century life.  Also included will be demonstrations of some of the tools of hunting from the sling shot to the modern gun.  For more information call 888-376-1867 toll free or 653-3110 locally.

 

Tree Identification Walk

Audubon State Historic Site presents this program focusing on a more specific aspect of nature, and allowing guests to Audubon SHS the chance to learn about the forest that surrounds them.  Set for Saturday, July 4 at 11 am, the identification walk covers the park and discusses many of the important and significant trees found here.  An admission fee is charged.  For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Guided Nature Walk

Following the Tree Identification Walk at Audubon State Historic Site, July 4 at both 1pm and 3 pm, this short hiking tour focuses on the naturally forested area surrounding the plantation home, as well as the original paths, which John James Audubon would have used during his stay at Oakley in 1821. The program allows guests a chance to observe the natural beauty, which surrounds the home.  For more information call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.

 

Oakley's Plants and Animals

The interpretive staff at Audubon State Historic Site will be busy on July 4, as this program begins at  2 pm. Guests are invited to interact with the animal and plant life surrounding Audubon SHS.  There will be hands-on animal demonstrations, as well as introductions to the plants to watch for when hiking through the forest and specifically in the area of the site.  For more information call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.

 

Garden Talk

On Sunday, July 5 at 10:30 am, the staff at Audubon State Historic Site presents Garden Talk.  This program introduces the different plants found in the gardens of Audubon SHS.  The talk covers the history and origin of the plants as well as their uses both modern and historic. An admission fee is charged.  For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Life in a Slave Cabin

Also on Sunday, July 5, at noon, this hour long program is held at Audubon SHS's original slave cabins and allows guests to have a better understanding about what life was like for slaves on a plantation.  This program covers family life and customs as well as discussing housing accommodations, rations, etc.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Cooking in Slave Cabin Row

Following the Life in a Slave Cabin program, this program at 1:30 pm invites guests to Audubon SHS to observe the types of cooking used by slaves for themselves.  The program discusses not only what slaves ate and how they cooked it, but also the differences between their meals and that of the owner of the plantation.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Slave Crafts

Ending the fascinating and education series on slaves at Audubon State Historic Site, this hour long program begins at 3 pm and invites the guests to observe one of the many period handcrafts, which would have been done by a slave on a plantation.  These crafts would be some of the same skills from which the plantation itself would have been built.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Open Hearth Cooking

A cooking demonstration on the open hearth at the Oakley House at Audubon State Historic Site is planned for Saturday, July 11, from 10 am until 4 pm.  Guests will learn about the different methods used to prepare and cook food in the 1800s, and also learn the different types of foods which would have been served to the Big House during this time period.  For more information, call 888-677-2838 or 635-3739, locally.

 

Old West Florida

This program at Audubon State Historic Site invites the visitor to explore the unique and rich history of the Felicianas, from Spanish colony to early statehood.  On Sunday, July 12, from noon until 4 pm, activities may include black powder weapons demonstrations, costume talks, period crafts, and more!  Further information may be found by calling the site at 635-3739.

 

Toymaking and Games

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site continues its “Lost Arts” programs on Saturday, July 18 from 11 am until 3 pm.  Children of all ages are invited to enjoy demonstrations of the toys and games that would have entertained the families of the 19th century.  For more information, call 888-376-1867 toll free or 635-3110 locally.

 

Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration

The Feliciana Nature Society will hold this annual celebration of hummingbirds on Friday, July 24 and Saturday July 25.    The festival will begin with a reception on Friday evening, July 24, at Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site with wine and cheese at 6 pm, followed at 6:45 pm by a speaker with a short program on the tiny birds.  Admission for this is $10.  Continuing on Saturday, July 25, from 7 am until 3 pm, hummingbird biologists Linda Beall and Nancy Newfield will capture and band birds at two private gardens in the St. Francisville area.  The gardens include the home of Carlisle Rogillio in the Tunica Trace and Murrell Butler’s Oak Hill.  Hummingbird-friendly plants as well as crafts and birding optics will also be available for sale.  A $5 fee covers admission to both gardens.  For more information, check out www.audubonbirdfest.com.

 

From Sheep to Shawl

On Saturday, July 25 from 10 am until 4 pm, Audubon State Historic Site invites visitors to experience how clothing was created on the plantation.  From wool and cotton, to thread, to fabric, and then finally to the seamstress; guests are welcomed to observe carding, spinning, weaving, a dyeing demonstration and more.   For more information call toll free 888-677-2838 or 635-3739 locally.

 

 

 

Kitty Martin, LCTP

Executive Director

West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

St. Francisville, LA

800-789-4221 or 225-635-4224

www.stfrancisville.us

 

 

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