Natchitoches is a city in Louisiana. The National Historic Landmark District includes French Creole townhouses, the Minor Basilica with its stained-glass windows, and the 19th-century Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile, the city’s oldest general store. The meandering Cane River runs south to plantations within the Cane River Creole National Historical Park. These include the 18th-century Oakland Plantation. And home to yes Meat Pies but also the:
40th Annual Louisiana Folk Festival
The Festival will be held in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. The 2019 festival theme is “Vive la Louisiane!” The festival theme celebrates the ways in which so many outstanding artists young and old are tapping into the power and artistry of the old ways, revitalizing and reimagining tradition as they make it their own. The festival will include a wide variety of traditional crafts, folk foods, Kidfest, three stages with live music, narrative sessions, and music informances.
In addition, the annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held in Magale Recital Hall on the afternoon of July 27. The 2019 festival will include folk music of the region, ranging from Cajun, Zydeco, bluegrass, country, blues, and gospel. Featured musicians will include blues artist Tab Benoit, Cajun artists the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, traditional Americana musicians the Rayo Brothers, Celtic music by the Kitchen Session Band and Creole la la by Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys. Bruce Daigrepont and Jamie Berzas will conduct a workshop on the Cajun accordion. Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons will be offered. Additionally, the Louisiane Vintage Dancers will perform accompanied by the Kitchen Session band.
Regional material culture crafts, such as beadwork, quilts, spinning and weaving, Native American baskets, Czech Pysanky eggs, along with demonstrations by the craft persons working on site will be included. Join us at the 2019 Folk Festival for a true celebration of Louisiana’s Folklife as we welcome many incredible crafts persons and musicians who find their inspiration in traditional roots and where the past meets the present
