Go to Natchitoches

September Festival Fun in Natchitoches, the Oldest City in Louisiana!

Mark your calendars for some September Festival Fun in Natchitoches, the oldest city in the state of Louisiana!Giving us the scoop on all the even highlights from live music and poker runs to food and family entertainment, featured guests on this episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show include: - Arlene Gould - Executive Director of the Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau- Melvin Holmes - 24th Annual Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run held September 1 & 2, 2023- Jimmy Harper - 21st Annual Meat Pie Festival held in Natchitoches, the Meat Pie Capital of Louisiana, on September 15 & 16, 2023. Info: https://www.meatpiefestival.com/ Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest city in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. More about Natchitoches at https://natchitoches.com/ Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival in Louisiana’s Oldest City

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focuses on the 43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. With the theme "Celebrating Louisiana's Cultural Gumbo," the Festival will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in the air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus. Featured guests are Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, and organizer Dr. Shane Rasmussen, NSU Professor of English and Director, Louisiana Folklife Center. Festival attendees will enjoy 3 stages of music with Cajun, zydeco, blues, Celtic, and country music, free Cajun and zydeco dance lessons, and many traditional food vendors. There will also be a gumbo cook-off, blacksmithing, KidFest, over 70 crafts persons, a harmonica workshop taught by Ed Huey, and the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship from 1-4 PM. Music headliners feature Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush, the Jambalaya Cajun Band and the Cajun Stompers, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, Hugh Harris and the Drifting Cowboys, The Russell Welch Hot Quartet with special guest Aurora Nealand, traditional Native American songs and dances with the Rising Sun Youth Choctaw-Apache of Ebarb Dance Group, and blues by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. More: https://www.nsula.edu/the-43nd-annual-natchitoches-nsu-folk-festival-2/Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest city in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. More about Natchitoches at https://natchitoches.com/Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arlene Gould - Summer Fun and Festivals in Natchitoches, Louisiana

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focuses on what to experience this Summer in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. Hear about outdoor activities, attractions, and seasonal events including: June 17-18 – Juneteenth Celebration; July 1-2 – Celebration on the Cane; July 22 – 43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival; July 27-30 - Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Induction Celebration; Sept. 2-3: Cane River Zydeco Festival; Sept. 16 – Meat Pie Festival.Featured guest is Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau. Plan your visit at: https://natchitoches.com/Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focuses on Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Park in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. Featured guests are park ranger Felicia Brand and Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau. Plan your visit to Natchitoches at: https://natchitoches.com/Located on Cane River Lake in Natchitoches, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Park is a replication of the original Fort, which was set up just a few hundred yards away, by founder Louis Antoine Juchereau de St. Denis in 1714. Get a sense of the French Colonial life on a tour through the fort, museum, and historic buildings. It's also the final destination on the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, and one of historic sites within the Cane River National Heritage Area. More: https://www.lastateparks.com/historic-sites/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-siteFollow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrate Spring in Natchitoches, Louisiana

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focus on what to experience this Spring in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. Hear about outdoor activities like hiking in Kisatchie National Forest and kayaking Cane River or competing in fishing tournaments, and seasonal events like the Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival, Sale on the Trail, and the Annual Jazz & R&B Festival. Featured guest is Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau. Plan your visit at: https://natchitoches.com/Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black History & African American Culture in Natchitoches

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show celebrates the rich black history and African American culture in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. Hear about the legacy of famous primitive folk artist Clementine Hunter, Baptist minister Alfred Raford Blunt, businesswoman Marie Thérèse Coincoin, entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr. Ben D. Johnson, and many more.WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/AqoGrxTiGqcFEATURED GUESTS- Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau - https://natchitoches.com/- Jennae Biddiscombe - Branch Director Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum - https://www.louisianastatemuseum.org/Picture: The Wash painting by artist Clementine Hunter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mariner’s Restaurant in Natchitoches, Louisiana

Get a Taste of Louisiana's oldest city on this episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show! Hear all about Mariner's Restaurant, a popular dining and special events destination that overlooks Sibley Lake in Natchitoches. Featured guests:- Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau - https://natchitoches.com/- Chef Ben & Keri Fidelak - Owners of Mariner's Restaurant - https://www.marinersrestaurant.com/This episode's music is "Chicken & Waffles" by Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys based in New Orleans. https://www.johnnymastro.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louisiana Travel and Tourism in 2023

What can you experience in Louisiana in 2023? This episode of Big Blend Radio features Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, who discuss the travel experience and tourism industry of Louisiana. Hear about historic sites and trails, Mardi Gras festivities, nature havens and outdoor recreational opportunities, dining destinations, and so much more. Since taking office in 2016, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and his team have guided the state to record breaking tourism numbers in each of the last 5 consecutive years prior to the pandemic, cut wasteful spending, and upgraded the State Parks with many becoming profitable through public/private partnerships. Under his leadership, the Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism worked non-stop to revive Louisiana's 4th largest industry – tourism – again welcoming 53 million visitors to enjoy Louisiana’s culture, cruise industry, celebrations and culinary excellence. Louisiana remains ranked in the top 10 tourist destination by in polls around the world. More: https://www.crt.state.la.us/lt-governor/ and https://www.louisianatravel.com/This episode is part of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show series that focuses on the travel and event experiences of Natchitoches, the oldest settlement in Louisiana. More: https://natchitoches.com/This episode's music is "House of the Rising Sun" by Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys based in New Orleans. https://www.johnnymastro.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.