Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Happenings

Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s Market is open every Thursday from noon until 5 pm at the old 4-H Barn on Wilcox Street – and they’ll be there until the first frost!  Lots of fall vegetables are available as well as pumpkins of all sizes.  Come out and support our local farmers!

 

Haunted Hayrides

This is something new this year, and it sounds like so much fun! The Pumpkin Patch is located at 11371 Highway 965 in St. Francisville, and children’s hayrides will be offered beginning on Thursday, October 22 through Sunday, October 25, and then again from Thursday, October 29 through Halloween on October 31. The rides are 25 to 35 minutes long, cost $7 per person, and are from 7:30 pm until 10:30 pm. For more information, call 245-1307 or 978-2342.

 

Party in the Ville

Those wild women are back and planning another night of art, cocktails, appetizers, and fun! On Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm, at Sage Hill, the featured artist is Sally Bynum. You bring the cocktails and the appetizers, paint supplies, and fun are supplied! The artist gives step-by-step instructions so you can paint your own piece of art to take home. The cost is only $35 so make your reservation by calling 635-6596.

 

Pumpkins, Scarecrows and a Movie – Changed Venue

The St. Francisville Main Street Program is sponsoring pumpkin carving and scarecrow decorating at the West Feliciana Sports Park on Friday, October 16 starting at 5:30 pm, under the pavilion. They’ll provide the pumpkins and the hay – you bring the old clothes to decorate your scarecrow.   The movie is Coraline in 3-D, and 3-D glasses will be given out.  The Women’s Service League will be selling concessions, and admittance is a canned good for the West Feliciana Food Bank.  The movie starts at dark so bring your chairs or a blanket and join us for the fun!

 

Live Music at The Mag

October 16 – United We Jam; October 23 – Signs; and October 30 – Delta Drifters.  There are also two Saturday night ticketed performances:  Saturday, October 17 – Captain Legendary Band; and Saturday, October 24 – Lee Barber & the Broken Cup Band.  Each of these Saturday performances have a $10 cover charge.

 

A Taste of Alaska

The Carriage House Restaurant at The Myrtles will have wild caught Fresh Alaskan Halibut and Salmon for the weekend menu.  It will arrive from Alaska just in time to treat that special someone to dinner this Friday or Saturday night. What a treat!

 

Third Weekend Events

Avondale Antiques will be open this weekend.  Store hours are Friday and Saturday, 9 am until 5pm, and Sunday from 11 am until 5 pm.

The Arts for All Artists’ Market is on Saturday in front of BirdMan Coffee and Books.

 

Lost Arts Saturday

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site presents its monthly program on 19th century arts.  Lost Arts: Spanish Moss Preparation will be held on Saturday, October 17 from 11 am until 3 pm.  Demonstrations of the "Lost Arts" of the 19th century occurring every third Saturday of each month. For more information call 888-376-1867 toll free or 635-3110 locally.

 

Southern Garden Symposium

This year marks the 21st year of the Southern Garden Symposium which attracts garden enthusiasts from across the South and will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 16-17.   Workshops will be held at various sites throughout beautiful West Feliciana Parish.  For more information, visit www.SouthernGardenSymposium.org or call Lucie Cassity, 225-635-3738.

 

Angola Prison Rodeo

Here is the information on the rodeo again:  Gates open at 9:00 am for the arts and crafts show, and the rodeo starts at 2:00 pm.  Ticket cost $10 each and can be purchased before the rodeo by calling 655-2042 or 655-2041.  Tickets for just the hobby craft event are also on sale.  During the Rodeo, the Prison Museum will be open from 9 am until 7 pm, and there will be booths on the rodeo grounds selling t-shirts and other items from the Museum Gift Shop.  For more information call (225) 655-2607 or visit www.angolarodeo.com.

 

Sunday Mystery Tour

The Myrtles Plantation is offering a Sunday night Mystery Tour at 6 pm.  It’s a great way to end the day after watching the rodeo – more chills and thrills!  Mystery tours are also offered every Friday and Saturday at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm.  Reservations are suggested so call 225-635-6277 to make your plans today.

 

Yellow Leaf Arts Festival

Arts for All of St. Francisville sponsors this unique, original festival which will be held in the tree covered Parker Park from 10 until 5, Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25.  The Yellow Leaf Arts Festival celebrates our small, intimate atmosphere and love of art and artists!  Stroll around the park to find authentic art - from paintings to pottery, sculpture, mixed media, metal, jewelry and more.  This weekend is a wonderful mix of art, music, poetry and nature.  Musical performances include the West Feliciana Parish children’s chorus, The Mosspickers, The Laughing Lizards String Bank, Kim Smith, Karuna Spoon, Lee Barber and the Broken Cup, Nancy Roppolo’s songwriter circle, Dylan Sneed with Judd and Maggie, and The Fugitive Poets.  For more information call Lynn at 721-1296 or email her at birdmancoffee@bellsouth.net.

 

Book Sale

The Friends of the Library is once again having their annual Book Sale on Saturday, October 24, from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm at the St. Francisville Town Hall.  There will be lots of books, DVDs, CDs and great prices!  All proceeds benefit the West Feliciana Parish Library.

 

Methodist Church Folk Choir

You are invited to join the United Methodist Church Folk Choir for an evening of gospel, country and folk music on Sunday, October 25.  The Methodist Men will serve a pancake supper at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall on Fidelity Street, and the Folk Choir will present music in the Sanctuary starting at about 6:15 pm.  All donations will benefit the Highway 61 property fund.

 

Halloween Extravaganza at The Myrtles 

For a real Halloween treat, take a guided tour through “One of America’s Most Haunted Homes,” The Myrtles Plantation, circa 1796.  It’s a Halloween Experience like no other!  Tours will be ongoing from 6 until 10 p.m. on Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st.   Admission is $10 per person, and tickets will be sold at the door.  Food and beverages by The Carriage House Restaurant will be available throughout the weekend event for indoor dining, or choose from hamburgers, BBQ chicken, pizza and concessions in The Courtyard.  For additional information, call 800-809-0565 or email chloe@myrtlesplantation.com.

 

Halloween at Rosedown

On Saturday, October 31, Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site will be in mourning as Rosedown Staff re-enacts the wake and funeral service of Daniel Turnbull, the plantation’s original owner and builder.  Turnbull was laid to rest on October 31, 1861, shortly after the commencement of the Civil War.   Funeral and mourning customs of the 19th century followed strict traditions and formalities, and in keeping with the event, the main house will be decorated according to 19th century mourning customs, and re-enactors will be dressed throughout the day in 19th century-style mourning costumes.  The funeral service will be held in the Informal Parlor of the Main House at 4 pm.

 

Following the funeral service, Rosedown Plantation will be visited by members of the historic Turnbull-Bowman family, as the Plantation opens its doors for a rare evening of “ghost” tours in celebration of the Halloween season.  At 5:30 pm visitors are invited to take a candlelight tour through the Plantation Main House as living history presenters portray the spirits of family members who have returned from their graves.  Each of the “spirits” will speak about their former lives at Rosedown and share reminiscences from their pasts.  Admission charged.  For more information, call 635-3110.

 

Bits and Pieces

HGTV is casting what it calls "enthusiastic" Baton Rouge area homebuyers and Realtors to appear on House Hunters, which follows buyers and their agents as they search for the right home. High Noon Entertainment, which produces the popular show, is currently looking for homebuyers who are closing within the next 1-2 months (this includes buyers who are actively bidding on a home or newly under contract); fun, enthusiastic and have a great story to tell; and are purchasing within a 90-minute drive of Baton Rouge, Lafayette and surrounding areas. To learn more about House Hunters, click here for the HGTV site and here for the High Noon site. To apply, contact Associate Producer Marcia Neville by phone at (303) 712-3209 or by e-mail at mneville@highnoontv.com.

 

Congratulations to Sue Wilbert Turner! 

On Tuesday, the Inter-Civic Council and The Advocate recognized Sue Turner for her many years of work with museums and in historic restoration and preservation, naming her the recipient of the 68th annual Golden Deeds Award.  Mrs. Turner has received national recognition for her preservation and advisory work with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  She is also a member of the Louisiana Museum Foundation, served on the board of directors for the Louisiana State Museum, and is a board of trustees member and adviser on the National Trust, a member of the board of directors for the BREC Foundation, and founding member of Louisiana Association of Museums.

Some of Turner’s notable accomplishments include her efforts and those of others to save Magnolia Mound Plantation’s historic house from developers who in the mid-1960s had proposed using the site for condominiums.  Turner and her husband also restored Live Oak Plantation in St. Francisville.

 

Our Schools are Tops!

West Feliciana Parish schools are the top performing parish-wide school system in the state, second overall to Zachary Community Schools, but ahead of third place St. Tammany Parish.  Congratulations to our teachers, principals, West Feliciana School Board members and the School Board Staff who do such an outstanding job every year for our children!

 

Have a great week!

 

Kitty Martin, LCTP

Executive Director

West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

225-635-4224 / 800-789-4221

www.stfrancisville.us

 

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