JENNINGS — Historic downtown will be bustling with art, food and entertainment Saturday during the 32nd Annual Jennings Alive
Festival.
The arts fair and street festival begins at 9 a.m. with the opening of the arts and crafts show and continues until 3 p.m.
with good food and a wide variety of family-style entertainment.
“This is a great opportunity to see unique crafts and items,” City Project Coordinator Michelle Hebert said. “It’s not something
you see every day at the mall. It’s also a great way to start your Christmas shopping.”
The open-air market atmosphere welcomes shoppers to downtown Jennings and provides the perfect location for arts and crafts,
children’s activities, clowns, food, live entertainment and more.
Three blocks of Main Street will be blocked off to traffic for the festival, Hebert said.
Admission to the event is free, as are most activities.
Master of ceremonies Bart Glatt will entertain the audience with a variety of nonstop entertainment including magic, contests,
games and other interactive activities for the children.
LoLo the Clown returns to the festival with face painting and balloon art.
Travis Jones will have a reptile exhibit.
More than 60 arts and crafts vendors
from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi are expected to be on hand selling
metal art, fire
pits, woodcrafts, jewelry, purses, wreaths, clothing items,
candles, toys, soaps, jellies, baked goods, plants and more, Hebert
said. There will also be informational booths on local programs
and services.
The Jeff Davis Arts Council will present Art World near Founders Park, which will feature free arts and crafts activities
for children.
The LifeShare Blood Center’s mobile unit will host a blood drive 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Area school and church groups will
sponsor food booths to satisfy a hungry festival crowd. The menu will
include chicken,
shrimp on a stick, hot dogs with homemade chili, Frito pies,
brisket poboys, jambalaya, smoked boudin, funnel cakes, blooming
onions, lemonade and more.
Glatt will provide entertainment from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on center stage in Founders Park. He will feature interactive activities
for children with magic, contests and games.
The public is invited to tour the W.H. Tupper Museum, Louisiana Telephone Pioneer Museum and the Children’s Telephone Museum.
The museums will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for a one-day-only admission of $1 per person.
Caring Hands resale shop, 327 N. Main Street, will also have special hours from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The 3rd Annual Melissa Doise 5K Hope for the Miracle Breast Cancer Race will be held 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the corner of Broadway
and Nezpique streets.
Festival-goers are invited to bring folding chairs and spend the day.
Free parking is available within walking distance of downtown.
For more information, call 821-5532.