Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

Two-day workshop will include classes taught by pro anglers, including three 2012 Bassmaster Classic competitors

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The Bass University, a traveling bass fishing seminar founded and designed by professional anglers Pete Gluszek and Mike Iaconelli, will return to Shreveport-Bossier, Jan. 7-8, 2012. The event will be held at Shreveport Convention Center, located at 400 Caddo Street in downtown Shreveport. Classes will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Instructors appearing at the Shreveport-Bossier stop are Pete Gluszek, Fred Roumbanis, George Cochran, Ish Monroe, Brandon Palaniuk, and Scott Martin. Topics covered will include sonar and GPS, structure scanning, seasonal patterns, shallow water power fishing, and more. Instructors Roumbanis, Monroe, and Palaniuk will be returning to Shreveport-Bossier, Feb. 24-26, to compete against 46 other top anglers during the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. The Bass University last visited Shreveport-Bossier in 2011.

Enrollment fees for The Bass University are $199 for adults and $175 for students and youth 17 and under. In addition to exclusive, personal, and customized training, students will receive course literature, a tackle gift pack, and an official BU alumni t-shirt. For more information or to register on-line, visit www.thebassuniversity.com. Walk-up registrations will be accepted as space allows, 7-8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Bass University founder Pete Gluszek is available for interviews. To arrange an interview, contact Chris Jay at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau by calling (318) 429-0658 or e-mailing cjay@sbctb.org.

Event will be held January 14 at Cutter Creek Outfitters in Frierson

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Xtreme 3D Archery will host a “pop-up” 3D archery tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Cutter Creek Outfitters in Frierson, Louisiana. The tournament will award medals for the top three places in each class. Entry fee is $20, which includes four rounds. Day-of-event registration will begin at 8 a.m. No registrations will be accepted after 1 p.m. on the day of the event. Participants should bring a minimum of five arrows. Day-of-event registration will begin at 8 a.m. No registrations will be accepted after 2 p.m. on the day of the event. Participants should bring a minimum of five arrows. For more information or to register on-line, visit www.xtreme3darchery.com.

Xtreme 3D Archery Tour events feature a computerized, pop-up motion target system designed to simulate real hunting situations. Xtreme 3D Archery provides motion target rentals, fundraising events, and pop-up 3D archery tournaments throughout East Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

January’s event will be held at Cutter Creek Outfitters, a new hog hunting ranch located in Frierson, Louisiana, 14 miles south of Shreveport. For more information on Cutter Creek Outfitters, visit www.cuttercreekoutfitters.com or call (318) 518-3558.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Xtreme 3D Archery Tour founder and organizer John Sarvis is available for interviews. To arrange an interview, please call (402) 881-6001.

25 year-old Andrew Upshaw of Hemphill, Texas will be competition’s first College B.A.S.S. Angler

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The last time 25-year-old Andrew Upshaw of Hemphill, Texas was in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana for the Bassmaster Classic, he was working a booth at the outdoor expo that takes place during the massive, three-day event. That was in 2009, and Upshaw and his fishing partner, Ryan Watkins, both students at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, were well on their way to becoming one of the most accomplished collegiate fishing teams in the U.S. Three years and a national collegiate championship later, Upshaw is heading back to Shreveport-Bossier for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, which will take place Feb. 24-26 on the Red River. This time around, he won’t be sneaking into parties to meet his favorite anglers; he’ll be competing against them as the first-ever College B.A.S.S. angler.

Upshaw says he’s not intimidated by the competition, though he’s excited to be sharing the water with anglers who he considers to be the best in the world.

“These guys are the best in the world for a reason,” Upshaw said. “But I really feel like I have a great chance to win it. That may sound crazy, but that’s how I approach every tournament: I go to win.” 

The Bassmaster Classic is a three-day event that has been called “the Super Bowl of professional bass fishing.” During the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, 49 anglers representing 22 states will compete for the sport’s largest prize: $500,000 and the title of Bassmaster Classic champion. In addition to exciting daily launches and weigh-ins, fans will be treated to a free outdoor expo sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The expo, which will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center, will feature over 150 vendors, giveaways by B.A.S.S.’s sponsors, fishing seminars, angler appearances, and more.   

For more information on the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, visit the official website at www.bassmaster.com/classic. For information on planning a visit to Shreveport-Bossier during the event, or to request a Visitor’s Guide to Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side, visit www.shreveport-bossier.org/bassmaster-classic.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Andrew Upshaw is available for media interviews upon request. High-resolution promotional images of past Bassmaster Classic events are also available upon request. For more information, contact Chris Jay at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658.

The blooming beauties are coming. They will create a masterpiece of colors trumpeting spring time in Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side.

The bright pink, purple, white, yellow, red, orange and bi-colored hues of azaleas, sometimes referred to as “the royalty of the garden,” at R. W. Norton Art Gallery will take your breath away. The stunning roses at the Gardens of the American Rose Center will also demand that you stop and smell the proverbial roses.

Norton is free to the public. Be sure and visit when you have time to leisurely take in the museum and gardens. In spring the gardens outside are as much masterful works of art as the extensive original pieces of American and European art inside the museum.

“One of the biggest things we want people to understand is there is always color out in the gardens,” said Jennifer Defratis, tour and special events coordinator at the Norton. “We’re always working on a new project and always finding ways to add color.”

The newest garden is called Maple Ridge and the newest tour is the Greco-Roman Outdoor Tour, 2 p.m., April 2. “We will experience the beauty of nature and share a lot of stories. Many plants derive their names from Greek mythology, and we will be exploring that,” Jennifer said.

Groups of 10 or more can arrange garden tours at anytime. They just need to call in advance and schedule a time.

Of all the garden beauties, the azaleas stand out landing the museum and gardens as one of the South’s favorite haunts in Southern Living magazine. The bountiful gardens, on 40 landscaped acres, feature more than 15,000 plants, including about 100 native and hybrid varieties of azalea. Native iris, ginger lily, coneflower, canna lily, and black-eyed Susan adorn the gently rolling terrain amid small streams tumbling over rocks and waterfalls. A large ornamental pond sits in the center of it all. The two-mile walking paths are stroller accessible.

Be your own judge of how beautiful the gardens are at the Norton. Check out a slideshow, by clicking here (http://www.rwnaf.org/gardens/)

Equally impressive and worth a visit, is the spectacular Gardens of the American Rose Center, the nation’s largest park dedicated to roses, situated on a 118-acre wooded tract in Greenwood. It’s also home to the national headquarters of the American Rose Society.

Today, the American Rose Center features more than 65 individual rose gardens and 20,000 rosebushes, a variety of companion plants, sculptures and fountains. Its newest feature is the Dudley G. Watkins Reflection Pool. Conceived as a quiet, contemplative area, the pool and surrounding elements are a magnificent entrance to the Hardtner Chapel and rose gardens beyond.

The gardens feature vignettes of possible backyard rose garden designs that could be easily replicated. Some of the features include sculptures, water features, benches for resting or reflection, garden structures, a chapel, carillon that chimes on the hour, a prayer and meditation garden, picnic tables and playground for children.

Rose Center Executive Director Jeff Ware said it’s hard to have favorites. “Personally, my favorite is whatever is blooming at the time,” he said. “However, I am a real fan of yellow roses. I love all of the yellow cultivars, especially Julia Child and St. Patrick.”

The official rose bloom season is April 1 through the end of October. For hours of operation and admission prices click here, (http://www.ars.org/?page_id=25).

To download a map with directions to the rose center click here (http://www.ars.org/pdfs/directionalmap.pdf).

Shreveport-Bossier, La. – For 35 years the Red River Revel Arts Festival has attracted thousands of people who love art, food, music, and fun. This year’s event will take place Saturday, Oct. 2-Saturday, Oct. 9.  This eight-day festival is held at downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza on the banks of the Red River.

The featured attraction at the Revel is the variety of art on display and for sale by more than one hundred juried artists. It’s the perfect place to find unique jewelry, paintings, acrylics, clothing, pottery, photography, wood work and much more. This year will offer 40 new artists.

Another popular activity at the Revel is eating! Many festival-goers count down to the event in anticipation of eating their Revel favorites, most of which are prepared by local non-profit organizations. From the Muffaletta pizza and turkey legs to the Italian ice and funnel cakes, there are many Revel foods you just can't do without!

This year the 50-foot Ferris Wheel is back and will be in a new location overlooking the Children’s Arts Education Area and the Red River. Children’s events include Artist for a Day, “Twister” Tot Tent, Architecture Alive, Salto Trampoline and the Rock Climb. Bring the kids out for a full day of fun.
 
Raising the bar in local entertainment without the expected, high-priced concert ticket, Revel 35 is offering really hot entertainment. For the price of a regular Revel admission ticket you can enjoy as many of the evening’s concerts as you like. Plus, Revelers can enjoy local bands and regional Revel favorites throughout the eight-day festival. Remember, the eight-day Reveler Pass allows unlimited admission throughout the festival for one low price.

Scheduled entertainment includes:
 
Steel Magnolia, October 2, CHASE Stage
Steel Magnolia is country music’s hottest new duo. Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones proved to be a winning combination in winning CMT’s “Can You Duet?” Their first single - the Top 5 hit, “Keep On Lovin’ You,” - introduced country radio to the duo’s fresh sound, earning them two 2010 Academy of Country Music Award Nominations, as well as two 2010 CMT Music Award Nominations a mere eight months after launching onto the music scene. “Our voices blend uniquely,” Josh says of the Steel Magnolia sound. “Meghan has more of a low end and my voice is kind of in a little higher register, which normally isn’t the case with a male/female duo. It’s usually the other way around. So it’s a weird blend, but it works. It’s country with our own edge.”

Sister Hazel, October 9, CHASE Stage
Sister Hazel began when Ken Block started playing with Drew Copeland around Gainesville in the early '90s. They added Jett Beres on bass, guitarist Ryan Newell and drummer Mark Trojanowski. The band struck gold with their chart-topping hit, "All For You." Over the years the band has sold more than two million albums and had six top 30 singles; they earned a platinum disc with 1997's “Somewhere More Familiar” and gold with 2000's “Fortress”. "We're getting to live a dream," Copeland proclaims. "As kids, we grew up thinking, 'Man, one day I am going to be a rock star!' and man, we are getting to do that. And we don't take that for granted." Their latest album, “Release,” debuted on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart at #37, the highest chart number ever attained by any of the band's albums on that chart. “Release” also hit #3 on the Billboard Indie Chart and #14 on the Billboard Digital Album Chart. On release day, the album went all the way to #1 on the iTunes Rock Chart and #7 on the overall iTunes sales chart.
 
The Hunt Family, October 2, CHASE Stage
The Hunt Family is a cross between World Ranked Step Dancers and Champion Fiddlers. They are a family of nine that brings a high-powered energetic and refreshing experience to the stage. They perform original, Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and popular tunes, offering a unique blend of diversity to every show. Their latest CD, Hearts Held High, is available now and features eight exciting brand new original compositions.  The Hunt Family has completed four US tours and performed at places such as “The Tony Danza Show,” the World Championships for Irish Dance and “Virginia’s Royal Welcoming” for Queen Elizabeth in Richmond, VA.

The Band Perry, October 7, CHASE Stage
"Daddy rocked us to sleep with the Rolling Stones; Mama woke us up with Loretta Lynn. So we get it honest." - Kimberly Perry
Inheriting a cross-pollinated love of country and rock & roll from their parents, The Band Perry - siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry - say that they bleed the bright red blood of American music. The three have always felt the drive to perform and create music, beginning when Kimberly strapped on her first Gibson guitar and fronted her first high school band - at age 15, employing Reid, then 10, and Neil, only eight, as her roadies. In July of 2005, the siblings decided to join forces as one band. The Band Perry was then invited by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company to open all of the dates on their "New Faces of Country" tour that year. They caught the ears of Republic Nashville and signed to the new label in the summer of 2009.
 
Blues Old Stand Featuring Brady Blade, Jr., October 8, CHASE Stage
Blues Old Stand is a Southern funk n' roll band that established itself as one of the early "Jam Bands" of the ‘90s. The music is based in the blues, funk and soul of the fathers of groove, with musical influences ranging from Muddy Waters to Curtis Mayfield. Blues Old Stand has been touring and playing large festivals for more than 20 years.
 
Brady Blade Jr. has joined Blues Old Stand both on the stage and in the studio on various records produced by BLADE Studios. Brady is a Grammy winning artist and producer who has recorded and toured with Dave Matthews, Jewel, the Indigo Girls and Bob Dylan. Blues Old Stand has shared the stage with everyone from Ben Harper to Buddy Guy, from Widespread Panic to the Allman Brothers. They have been an accompanying band for many blues greats including Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Johnny Shines and Kent Duchaine. The unique blend of tone, and vast and diverse song list of original and cover songs, make Blues Old Stand a festival favorite.

Dirtfoot, October 9, CHASE Stage
Whether performing on big stages at festivals, or playing intimate settings in pubs and the finer taverns all over the Midwest & South, Dirtfoot puts on an uproarious show. The crowds come to take part in the fun and chaos, hollering to all the calls and responses, shaking their bean cans, and getting down with the infectious grooves. There is only one Gypsy Punk Country Grumble Boogie band in the land… Dirtfoot.
 
Led by the organic writings of Matt Hazelton with each player adding his own flavor and feeling to the songs and sound of the group, Dirtfoot is a blend of eclectic styles, as well as diverse personalities. All of their instruments are acoustic, but their energy and ingenuity will make you swear they are plugged in. Featuring instruments ranging from an acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass, pots n' pans, drums, bells, saxophone, xylophone and more, this band has a truly engaging sound, a real dose of Gypsy, Punk, Country, Grumble Boogie!
 
You can view a listing of participating artists and food vendors, plus information on tickets and Revel hours at the Revel’s website: www.redriverrevel.com. Be sure to check back for updates on entertainment, kids’ activities, and food.

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If you're looking for a walk on the wild side, check out Gators & Friends Alligator Park and Exotic Zoo (www.gatorsandfriends.com), located at 11441 US Hwy 80, Greenwood, where you and your family can watch as giant alligators feed, wrestle and swim!

These remarkable creatures are sure to awe and scare you as you view them in their natural habitat. If you're not into alligators (or may be just a bit scared of them), Gators and Friends now also boasts a fully stocked exotic petting zoo for you and your children to enjoy.

Take a walk among tame miniature horses, kangaroos, ring-tailed lemurs, deer, coatimundis, goats, llamas, a camel, a capybara (the largest rodent in the world), and even a Scottish cow. If you want to make friends with the exotic animals, try your hand at feeding them during feeding times.

Gators and Friends Park was established in 2006 as a way to increase awareness among the public about different types of animals, their habitat, lifestyle, and survival techniques. The owners of Gators and Friends are passionate about wildlife and have been in the wildlife business for more than 30 years.

For your maximum enjoyment, safety and the safety of the animals, Gators and Friends has a few rules and suggestions for their visitors.

•    Wear casual clothing, especially sturdy shoes.
•    For the health and safety of the animals, no balloons or small plastic toys are allowed on property.
•    Many hand-sanitizing stations are available around the park for your convenience.
•    Also, don’t forget to bring your camera.

The prices are $7.95 for 13 and over; $5.95 for kids 3-12; free for kids 2 and under and all senior citizens (65 plus) are eligible for a 10 percent discount. The feed for animals is $2. The park is open May to August, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and September to April, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information you may contact Gators & Friends Alligator Park and Exotic Zoo at 318.938.1199 or visit them on-line at www.gatorsandfriends.com.

The Shreveport Farmers’ Market will soon have something new to boast about. Southern Living magazine is including the local market in its new book, Farmer’s Market Cookbook. The book, focused on farmers’ markets from around the country, went on sale March 16.

The summer market will be held on Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon, starting June 5 through September 4 and Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. in June and July only. The fall market will open after the Red River Revel Arts Festival leaves and will stay open until Thanksgiving.

Noma Fowler-Sandlin has been the manager of the Shreveport Farmers’ Market for three years and has been a vendor for five years. She says that the local market is made up of a diverse group of individuals that keep the past alive through handed-down methods and recipes, yet keep up with the future by new marketing strategies.
 
“It’s a great market and one that is really growing every year. Our farmers and vendors really know what they’re doing, and the shoppers recognize that. It’s no surprise that such a creative and knowledgeable group would be featured,” says Sandlin.

She doesn’t give the vendors all the credit for making the Shreveport Farmers’ Market so unique, though.

“It’s not just the vendors that make it special – it’s our committed shoppers, too, who have their favorites and come back every time the market is open. There are more of them each year. They are learning a new way to shop and staying connected with their food and who produces it.”

So what can shoppers expect from the 2010 Shreveport Farmers’ Market? According to Sandlin, a lot!

“Every year we are seeing more interesting foods. Last year, we got cheese for the first time. We will have hot, fresh beignets and café au lait this year, and maybe even a juice bar.”

The market offers produce, wine, beef and ready-to-eat foods that you can eat at the market or take home with your purchases. “It’s not just the greens, but the hot sauce for the greens. It’s a gourmet field day,” boasts Sandlin.

On Tuesdays shoppers are treated to home-grown music to go with the food. “It’s truly a family-oriented experience that draws people together and blurs that producer/shopper line.”

You can purchase the Farmer’s Market Cookbook at most book stores nationwide for $29.95. Sign up on Facebook to learn more about the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, Click here for the facebook page.

Shreveport-Bossier, the festival capital of north Louisiana, is gearing up for a very busy festival season. Things kick off with the Holiday in Dixie Festival (April 16-25), followed by the Mudbug Madness Festival (Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30) and the Let the Good Times Roll Festival (June 18-20).

The music, the food, and the cultural display of Shreveport-Bossier is fun for the entire family. Experience everything from a midway of carnival rides to sucking and peeling crawfish. But that’s not all you can experience. The festivals feature some of the best entertainment in the country including many wonderful home grown local bands. Be sure to book a hotel room and spend a weekend during any of these and other festivals at www.shreveport-bossier.org.

Holiday in Dixie will be celebrating its 62nd year in the Shreveport-Bossier area, making it one of the oldest running festivals in Louisiana and proving that some things do get better with age! The event will run from April 16-25 in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza.

Holiday in Dixie began in 1949 and was a five-day pageant held at the State Fair stadium. The event celebrates the Louisiana Purchase, the arrival of spring and the spirit of community involvement and pride.

This year’s festival includes the 10-day carnival at Festival Plaza, the Doodah Parade, block parties, special events, entertainment, food and art from local vendors, as well as family-oriented activities. The parade, April 17, will start at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Shreveport at the Municipal Auditorium.

Also, no Holiday in Dixie festival is ever complete without the ever popular Treasure Hunt! This annual event stimulates the mind and gets thousands involved in searching for treasure and a grand prize of cash.

For more information visit www.holidayindixie.com.

Then roll into Memorial Day weekend with the Mudbug Madness Festival pinching tails and sucking heads. What began in 1984 as a crawfish boil quickly grew (as do all good Louisiana parties, it seems) into a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport and is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals featuring Cajun, zydeco, blues and jazz artists.

Mudbug Madness has grown into a four-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend and is nationally recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, drawing as many as 56,000 people in one day. The event offers mouth-watering Cajun and Creole cuisine, contests, and activities for all ages. The Madness begins Memorial Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., May 27-30, 2010, at Festival Plaza downtown Shreveport.

The festival features fun games and three entertainment stage. The women’s, men’s, and children’s crawfish-eating contests set the true Louisianans apart from the crowd.  Contestants must eat all the meat inside of the crawfish tail (no head sucking required!). The person who eats the most will be given the high honor of Crawfish Eating Winner. For those who have never witnessed the spectacle of eating a crawfish, you won’t want to miss this! Everyone has their own technique and no one walks away clean.

When you’re not indulging in the food from the various pavilions offering everything from crawfish etouffee to gumbo and alligator-on-a-stick you can enjoy the live performances. The MetroPCS Stage, located on the area of Festival Plaza between Market Street and Spring Street, is the venue where nationally recognized entertainers perform and contests and special events are held. This year the MetroPCS Stage will welcome Grammy Award-winning artists Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience. In 2001 Simien won the Grammy in the Cajun category. His music was also featured in the new Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog.”

For a complete schedule of events and entertainers visit www.mudbugmadness.com.

But the party does not stop there. The 24th annual Let the Good Times Roll Festival celebrates the music, art and food of the African American culture and highlights its immense influence on Louisiana culture and heritage. The festival is held the third weekend in June at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport. This year’s dates are June 18-20.

For more information visit them online at rhoomega.com.

Shreveport, LA- Please join The Gardens of the American Rose Center, AEP Swepco, Gribsy Petroleum, Perkins & Associates, The Robinson Film Center and GAP Broadcasting for the 26th Annual Christmas in Roseland festival every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening beginning Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 20.

The Gardens are transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland featuring dozens of lighted displays, the Christmas Cards to the Community, nightly entertainment, photos with Santa, rides on the Roseland Express train, a model train display, and tons of fun for the whole family. New this year, Movies and Moonbeams will be showing a Christmas classic each Saturday night on the giant 30-foot outdoor screen including The Grinch, The Polar Express, Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Gates are open from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with the last admittance at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per carload. Children ages 2 or younger get in free. Group rates are available. For more information, please contact Ellen Trice at (318) 938-5402 ext 109.

FAST FACTS:

WHAT: 26th Annual Christmas in Roseland Festival

WHEN: Fridays, Saturday, Sundays- November 27, 2009-December 20, 2009 from

5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Last car admitted at 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Gardens of the American Rose Center, just off I-20, Exit 5 in Shreveport, LA

Released By:

Maria Scott, Advertising/Marketing Manager, 318-938-5402 ext 101, maria@ars-hq.org

Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival 2009

Oil City, La. – Revel in the captivating Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival on the banks of Caddo Lake in Oil City’s Earl Williamson on Saturday, Dec. 5.

The festival will kickoff at 3:30 p.m., followed by the fireworks display at 6:30 p.m.

The annual festival will feature the best in local entertainment, in addition to delicious food, comical clowns, creative arts and crafts, and much more. Children will be amazed by the clowns, games, lights, and of course Santa Claus. He will make his way to the festival, bearing a gift for each child the event. Children may also have their picture taken with Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

"This event gives the people of north Caddo Parish something to enjoy with their families and friends," said Festival Organizer Mary Dunn. "The event is free to all and the fireworks and decorations will be wonderful."

Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival, Inc. was formed 15 years ago as a partnership between the Vivian Chamber of Commerce and the Oil City Rotary Club.

The organizations invited all 10 towns in northwest Caddo Parish to join together to plan the free event with fireworks, food, entertainment, Santa Claus and activities for children with a goal of serving the people of North Caddo and the surrounding area.

Those towns are Belcher, Blanchard, Gilliam, Hosston, Mira, Ida, Mooringsport, Oil City, Rodessa and Vivian.

The event now brings in more than 12,000 people from throughout the Ark-La-Tex, some of which camp at the park in RVs.

Each year the event has been held the first Saturday in December at Earl Williamson Park in Oil City. The Caddo Parish Commission, who is in charge of the park, helps to set up holiday decorations, lighting, electricity, a stage and other details and services.

Directions: Take I-20 to I-220, exit Highway 1 and 71 North. Take Highway 1 North toward Oil City. The event is in Earl Williamson Park on Caddo Lake at Oil City, LA. Locals can head north up Highway 1 to Oil City.

For more information, please call (318) 631-0182 or email mdunn76635@aol.com.

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