Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

“Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announces largest film contest of its kind at Jan. 26 event

SHREVEPORT, LA – One lucky filmmaker could receive the largest prize of its kind when a new short film contest launches in Shreveport on Jan. 26. “Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announce his new contest, the La. Film Prize Contest and Film Festival, at a press conference, 5 p.m., Jan. 26 at Robinson Film Center. The press conference will be followed by a celebration during “The Last Martini,” a film industry networking event, held 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson Film Center.

The La. Film Prize Contest and Festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to create and present a short film under one condition – it must be shot in Shreveport-Bossier. The winner will receive a grand prize of $50,000.

Filmmakers will have five months, from February 1 to July 9, to produce their film. Each filmmaker will be provided with an ambassador and a team of volunteers, resources and aids to help them with production, housing, promotional events and other needs during their stay. 

The top 20 films will be selected to promote and screen their film during the La. Film Prize Festival weekend, Oct. 12-14. The winner will be chosen based on the votes of a panel of expert judges from all over the country, as well as the vote of the filmmaker’s audience. Finalists are encouraged to heavily promote their project and enlist turnout support from friends, family and the public to heighten their chances of winning.    

Organizers hope the La. Film Prize will further grow and transform Shreveport-Bossier’s creative community, alongside the existing efforts of organizations like Moonbot Studios, Gorilla Design Studio, CoHabitat, Robinson Film Center and artspace.

“Ever since I returned to my hometown, I’ve wanted to find a way to help spur the ongoing evolution of our town into a creative mecca and give our city a national brand as a home to the creative class,” Kallenberg said. “As SXSW transformed Austin, the La. Film Prize will do the same for our region.”
 
Contact Gregory Kallenberg 318-213-6437 or visit www.lafilmprize.com to enter and learn more information about the La. Film Prize Contest and Festival.

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Family-friendly selection of parties and parades welcomes visitors

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – With the 12th Night Celebration held on Saturday, Jan. 7, Shreveport-Bossier officially marked the beginning of Mardi Gras season in the region known as “Louisiana’s Other Side.” Now through Fat Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 21, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a diverse array of parties, parades, and special events. The major parade dates for 2012 are Feb. 11 (Krewe of Centaur) and Feb. 18 (Krewe of Gemini). Both major parades roll at 4 p.m., following a route that includes Clyde Fant Parkway along the Shreveport riverfront, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, and East King’s Highway. According to a study prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, an estimated total of 400,000 parade viewers will attend these two parades, making Shreveport-Bossier’s Carnival season one of the largest in Louisiana.

In addition to the major evening parades, Shreveport-Bossier offers a number of unique Mardi Gras events ranging from neighborhood celebrations to smaller, themed parades. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, a pet parade featuring hundreds of pets and their owners dressed in Mardi Gras finery, will march through downtown Shreveport’s Riverview Park at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. Known as “the animal krewe,” the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux often includes cats and dogs, as well as rabbits, ponies, chickens, and more.

The Krewe of Highland Parade, which rolls through Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, is known for being family-friendly (it occurs during daylight hours) and for its unique throws, which include items as unexpected as grilled hot dogs and SPAM sandwiches. The Krewe of Highland parade begins and ends at Byrd High School, 3201 Line Avenue in Shreveport, traveling a circular route through the Highland neighborhood.

The Krewe of Aesclepius Children’s Parade, a parade geared towards families and children, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Pierre Bossier Mall, 2950 E. Texas Street in Bossier City. Shreveport-Bossier’s Mardi Gras festivities will officially come to a close at midnight on Fat Tuesday with the Krewe of Aesclepius Texas Street Bridge Closing Ceremony, as visitors and krewe royalty meet at the center of the Texas Street Bridge to bless the bridge and bring Mardi Gras 2012 to a close.

For a complete listing of all Mardi Gras events scheduled to take place in Shreveport-Bossier, including information on parade routes, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com and click “Mardi Gras in the Ark-La-Tex.” To keep up with photos, video, and live reports from Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier, follow the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau on Twitter at @sbctb. More information on things to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier can be found on-line at www.shreveport-bossier.org or by calling (888) 45-VISIT.       

NOTE TO MEDIA: High-quality, print-resolution images of Mardi Gras festivities in Shreveport-Bossier may be requested by contacting Chris Jay at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658. Multimedia elements such as Youtube videos are also available.

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Free festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 in Columbia Park 

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2011 Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, presented by MetroPCS, will take place 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 at Columbia Park in Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood. The annual festival, which features two stages of non-stop live music, food vendors, and an Artist’s Alley, is free to attend. Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a critically-acclaimed Dixieland Jazz collective from New Orleans, will headline a roster of blues and jazz performers including Buddy Flett, Wes Jeans, Jazziana, David Egan, Fannin Street Players with Danny Wilder, Stiff Necked Fools, Soul Fish, Jimmy Wooten Trio, and more. Columbia Park is located at 700 Columbia Street in Shreveport.

In addition to live music, the festival is known for attracting an uncommon variety of food vendors. Offerings include Cajun jambalaya, Caribbean jerk chicken, locally-roasted gourmet coffees, and more. Artist’s Alley will feature local artists and artisans selling items including hand-made jewelry and original works of art, jams and jellies, and home décor.  

Now in its eighth year, the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is supported by the City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit arts organization, dedicated to being a positive force in the growth of Shreveport's historic Highland neighborhood. For more information, visit www.highlandjazzandblues.org or search for Highland Jazz and Blues Festival on Facebook.        
                                                                    
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Fourth annual food drive and event will be held in downtown Shreveport on Saturday, October 8

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2011 Shreveport Zombie Walk will take place 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 in downtown Shreveport. The annual event, now in its fourth year, is a massive gathering of zombie horror fans that dress in elaborate zombie costumes and gather to stagger and moan through a public space in Shreveport. Past events were held at Mall St. Vincent. The 2011 event will take place in the 300 block of McNeill Street, adjacent to the old courthouse in downtown Shreveport. This year’s walk will include live music from the Moulin Dudes, “zombie crowd control” provided by the Twin City Knockers roller derby team, and an appearance and book signing by award-winning zombie horror writer Rhiannon Frater. While admission is free, participants are asked to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to be donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. The 2010 event raised more than 800 pounds of food.

Following the 2011 Shreveport Zombie Walk, the Robinson Film Center, located at 617 Texas St., will present a special screening of Peter Jackson’s zombie cult classic “Dead Alive” at 7:45 p.m. The official Shreveport Zombie Walk After Party will be held at Mojo’s, located at 203 Texas St., featuring live music from the Moulin Dudes beginning at 11 p.m. for ages 21 and up. 

The Shreveport Zombie Walk won’t be the only one taking place on October 8. The Shreveport event is scheduled to coincide with more than 50 similar events around the world, as part of World Zombie Day. The Shreveport Zombie Walk is the only zombie walk in the State of Louisiana which takes place on World Zombie Day. For more information on the Shreveport Zombie Walk, including photo galleries from previous years’ events, visit www.shreveportzombiewalk.com or search for “Shreveport Zombie Walk” on Facebook.

Note to Media: High-quality images from the 2010 event are available by request. To request images, contact Chris Jay at (318) 429-0658 or cjay@sbctb.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Jay, Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau
(318) 429-0658
cjay@sbctb.org
Michelle McCrary, Lead Organizer
(318) 208-8635
zombiequeen@shreveportzombiewalk.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Event Contact: Melanie Bacon
Executive Director, Downtown Shreveport Unlimited
(318) 222-7403

CVB Contact: Chris Jay
Public Relations and Social Media Manager, Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau
(318) 429-0658

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER - BREW, Shreveport-Bossier’s premier beer tasting event, will take place in Festival Plaza on Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 3 until 7 pm.  BREW, a collaboration between the Mudbug Madness Festival and the Red River Revel, is presented by Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport.

Enjoy tasting over 80 domestic, foreign and home-brewed beers provided by local distributors and home brew clubs. Go to www.shreveportbrew.com for a complete list and description of the beers provided by Glazer’s Distributing, Eagle Distributing, Red River Beverage, the Malt Munching Mash Monsters, S.U.D.S., and East Texas Brewer’s Guild. BREW provides the opportunity to taste some great beers consumers may have seen but not purchased due to unfamiliarity or price points. 

BREW will also feature delicious samples of favorite dishes from local restaurants like Columbia Café, Ernest’s Orleans, Eldorado Resort, Overtime Sports Bar, Shaver’s Crawfish & Catering and more.

While sipping and tasting, attendees can also enjoy the music of Earshot Graffiti with Earshot Hornz or watch their favorite team play football on one of the many big screens throughout the site.

Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at www.shreveportbrew.com beginning Monday, August 29. Reserved tables for 10 are available at $1,000 each and come with extra goodies and, of course, reserved seating!

The event’s planners are also excited to offer a Spiegelau Beer Connoisseur Tasting Seminar just before the opening of BREW. This $25 seminar will forever change the way you think about serving and enjoying craft beer. Learn firsthand how color, clarity, aroma, temperature and effervescence are all dramatically enhanced with Spiegelau glasses versus the standard beer glass. Come enjoy craft beer the way it was intended and go home with a beautiful Spiegelau Beer Connoisseur 4-piece set to keep. Tickets are also available at www.shreveportbrew.com.

Come join the fun and Revel in the Madness!

To view or download photos from the 2010 BREW event, click here.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Red River Revel Arts Festival organizers have announced details of the 2011 event, including details of a day-long bluegrass music showcase that will be held Sunday, October 2. The 2011 Red River Revel, the 36th annual installment of the festival, will be held October 1-8 in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. The Revel is the largest outdoor arts festival in north Louisiana, attracting more than 180,000 visitors over the course of eight days and generating an economic impact of more than $10 million.

On Sunday, October 2, a bluegrass music celebration will take center stage as local Appalachian roots rockers Twang Darkly open up the Chase stage before regional acts Mill Creek, Blake Brothers, The Little Roy and Lizzie Show, The Greencards, and Grammy-winning artists, The Grascals round out the day. Performances will take place 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission is $5.00 all day long.

For more information, including information on area hotels and a educational arts programs taking place during the Red River Revel, visit www.redriverrevel.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christy M. Long, Office Manager
Red River Revel Arts Festival
Office: 318-424-4000
christy at redriverrevel dot com
          
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Eight-day festival expects to draw 180,000 for art, food and music

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Red River Revel organizers have announced details of the 2011 event, including a complete list of confirmed live music performers. The 2011 Red River Revel, the 36th annual installment of the festival, will be held October 1-8 in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. Presenting sponsors are Chesapeake Energy, the City of Shreveport, JP Morgan Chase, the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc., Pepsi Beverages Company, and Willis-Knighton Health System. The Revel is the largest outdoor arts festival in north Louisiana, attracting more than 180,000 visitors over the course of eight days and generating an economic impact of more than $10 million. 
           
A juried roster of 104 visual artists from 19 states will be displaying and selling their original works of art. An estimated 15,000 fourth graders from Caddo and Bossier Parish Schools will participate in hands-on, participatory arts education experiences ranging from dance and storytelling to quilting and the culinary arts. 
   
Opening night will feature performances by popular alt-rock trio Better Than Ezra and special guests Super Water Sympathy. On Sunday, October 2, a Bluegrass music celebration will take center stage as local Appalachian roots rockers Twang Darkly opens up the Chase stage before regional acts Mill Creek, Blake Brothers, The Little Roy and Lizzie Show, The Greencards, and Grammy-winning artists, The Grascals round out the day. Singer-songwriter Katie Herzig will open for Civil Twilight, a rock trio from Capetown, South Africa whose songs were featured in the recent film “I Am Number Four” on Tuesday, October 4. Christian rockers Red perform on Wednesday, October 5. The Wes Jeans Band will open up for alt-country act Whiskey Myers on Thursday, October 6. Closing weekend will feature R&B/funk from Windstorm and The S.O.S. Band on Friday, October 7, and modern country courtesy of Cody Cooke and the Bayou Outlawz, who will open for country rapper and “Dirt Road Anthem” co-writer and original performer, Colt Ford on Saturday, October 8.
          
For more information, including admission fees, information on area hotels, and a complete list of sponsors and supporters, visit www.redriverrevel.com.

For More Information
Christy M. Long, Office Manager
Red River Revel Arts Festival
Office: 318-424-4000
christy@redriverrevel.com 

Chris Jay, Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau
Office: (318) 429-0658
cjay@sbctb.org

Asian festival to be held Saturday, April 30 will celebrate Filipino culture and heritage

SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER, LA – Organizers of the annual ASEANA Spring Festival in Shreveport have announced details of the 2011 event, which will take place Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in downtown Shreveport’s Asian Gardens, located at the corner of Milam and Common. Admission is free and open to the public. This year’s theme will be “Northern Louisiana ‘Pista Sa Nayon’ (Town Fiesta) Philippine Festival.” The Asian Gardens will be transformed into a Philippine Town Fiesta complete with a town plaza, a typical town serenade, karaoke, and dancing.

Beginning at 9 a.m., exhibit tents and displays will be open, arts and crafts will be for sale, and Filipino cuisine (including a lechon, or roasted pig) will be available. At 1 p.m., the program of cultural events and activities will begin. Filipino folk dances will be performed and traditional fiesta games will be presented. Filipino Folk dance performances will include the Itik-Itik, Bangga, Karinyosa, Pandango sa Ilaw, and Tinikling. Philippine fiesta games like pabitin and basaging ang palayok will be presented. The grand finale of the program will be the performance of the traditional Santa Cruzan parade. The “Santa Cruzan,” roughly translated “Holy Cross,” is the largest festival in the Philippines. It is also called the “Flores De Mayo” (Flowers of May), as the parade is a procession of beautiful maidens in fine gowns walking with escorts underneath a canopy of individual arches covered with flowers and elaborate designs.

For more information, contact event chairperson Mary Grace De Joya-Vea at (318) 797-4258 or (318) 401-8078 or via e-mail at mdejoyavea@yahoo.com. The goal of the ASEANA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is to create and beautify the Asian Gardens while presenting varied cultures, educational exhibits, dances and cuisine at the Asian Gardens, located at the former Municipal Plaza Park.

The arrival of spring means outdoor festivals galore in the Shreveport-Bossier area, where events planned for April range from celebrations of the arts to festivals honoring foreign cultures. Many events are free, most are family-friendly, and all provide locals and visitors to our area with a chance to explore our diverse region’s sights, sounds, and tastes.

Two very different area festivals will be taking place on Saturday, April 2. Cork: A Red River Revel Wine Event will be held Saturday, April 2, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. Cork will feature over 75 wines available for tasting, as well as samples of delicious food from area eateries and live music. Only 1,600 tickets to Cork are made available each year, and the event typically sells out in advance. Admission is $65. For more information, visit www.corkwinefestival.com.

If your tastes run more toward haggis than wine, you’ll enjoy the annual Scottish Tartan Festival at the Scotland Farms located just outside of Minden, Louisiana at 16119 Highway 79. Organized by the Scottish Society O Tae Louisiana Hielands, a non-profit organization designed to promote awareness of Scottish culture in the Ark-La-Tex, this event features traditional Scottish music, games (including the cable toss!), food, and lots of folks wearing kilts. The event will take place 9 a.m-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children six and up, and free for children five and under. For more information, find the Scottish Society on Facebook or visit http://scottishsocietyla.typepad.com.

The 2011 Holiday-in-Dixie Festival will mark the 63rd annual installment of the popular event, which will be held April 8-17 in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. Among the entertainment offerings scheduled for Holiday-in-Dixie are the popular annual treasure hunt and a busy roster of live music, including performances by the Matthew Davidson Band (7 p.m., Saturday, April 9), Benjy Davis Project (8:30 p.m., Saturday, April 9), and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Richard Cook (8:30 p.m., Friday, April 15). Admission to Holiday-in-Dixie is free, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. More information, including ticket prices for rides and a complete live music schedule, is available at www.holidayindixie.com.

Artbreak, the south’s largest student arts festival, will be held April 29-May 1 at the Shreveport Convention Center in downtown Shreveport. Featuring more than 2,500 juried 2-D and 3-D visual art pieces, literary works, and original musical compositions, this free celebration of student art is a flagship program of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. In addition to the works of art on display, Artbreak showcases the talents of student performers from more than 100 Caddo and Bossier Parish schools on three performance stages. For more information, visit www.shrevearts.org or call the Shreveport Regional Arts Council at (318) 673-6500.

The 4th annual Aseana Spring Festival will be held on Saturday, April 30, beginning at 9 a.m. in downtown Shreveport’s Asian Gardens, located at the corner of Milam and Common Street near Municipal Auditorium. Each year, this delightful free festival highlights the culture of one Asian country, featuring food, dance, live music, and more. This year’s event will celebrate the culture of the Philippines. For the first time, a traditional parade (called a “Pista sa Nayon,” or “Town Fiesta”) will be included among the scheduled events. Organizers are especially excited about the food offerings, which will include a “lechon de leche,” a traditional roast pig dish that draws comparisons to the Acadian tradition of the “cochon de lait,” or traditional roast suckling pig. The program of live performances including folk dance and music will begin at 1 p.m. For more information, contact festival organizer Mary Grace de Joya Vea at (318) 797-4258.

The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau will be attending all of these great festivals and sharing tips and recommendations via Facebook at www.facebook.com/LouisianasOtherSide. To keep up with other festivals and spring events headed our way, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com.

The stage is being prepped for Mardi Gras – one of the largest productions of enthralling fun and entertainment in Shreveport-Bossier.

Starting with the 12th Night Celebration - Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Shreveport Convention Center - until the midnight Texas Street Bridge Closing Ceremony Fat Tuesday, March 8, one of the most highly anticipated parties will rev up into high gear. The celebration typically draws some 400,000 people from around the region to experience the pageantry and ostentatious show of Mardi Gras.

The majestic floats are being painted and trimmed with bright eye catching colors and razzle, dazzle lights for the evening parades of Krewe of Centaur (www.kreweofcentaur.org), Saturday, Feb. 26 and Krewe of Gemini (www.kreweofgemini.com), Saturday, March 5. Both parades roll at 4 p.m. starting on the corner of Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport and end at the Duck Pond on East Kings Highway. 

Purple, gold, green, and multicolor beads are being gathered, stacked and distributed throughout the large floats that carry the masked and outrageously clad krewe members.

“We will toss millions of beads,” said Robby Woods, Krewe of Gemini King. “We will have four or five tractor trailer loads of beads for the thousands of people who line the parade routes.”

Robby has been a krewe member for five years and he’s accustomed to the frenzied crowds shouting “Throw me something, Mister” in the hopes of taking home hundreds of beads, some doubloons, cups and “lagniappe” or a little something extra.

When asked why people go nuts over Mardi Gras beads, in particular the coveted limited edition king and queen specialty beads, Robby said, “It makes them feel like they are a part of the celebration.”

Besides the Krewe of Centaur parade and Krewe of Gemini parade, Shreveport-Bossier has other great parades like the Krewe of Sobek, Krewe of Highland and Krewe of Barkus and Meoux. Click here (http://www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com/search.php?terms=mardi+gras&mode=search) for a complete list of parades and dates.

“Mardi Gras allows us to connect with our Louisiana heritage and traditions,” Robby said. “It is one of the greatest free shows on earth. Mardi Gras is a gift from the krewe to the community.”

So book (www.shreveport-bossier.org/hotels) your hotel stay today. If you are a group of 10 or more and are interested in attending a private Mardi Gras party at the start of the parade then contact Erica Howard, group sales manager, at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at 800-551-8682 ext. 104 or ehoward@sbctb.org. The party includes food, band, specialty bead, and t-shirt all under a covered tent.