Fifty years ago, local volunteers, artists, and community organizers came together to
build a Shreveport celebration of the arts. This October, it marks its 50th anniversary. The 50th Annual
Red River Revel Arts Festival returns to Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport on October 8–11 and 15–18, 2026, with 90 visual artists, eight nights of headline music, a fireworks and drone show, and hands- on programming for all ages.
“Revel 50 belongs to everyone who has ever volunteered a shift, sold a painting, played a stage, or
brought their kids through the gates,” said Executive Director Logan Lewis. “We built this year around
the people and the sound of this region, and we’re ready to welcome everyone home to Festival Plaza.”
Opening Night: Fireworks and Drone Show
Revel 50 opens Thursday, October 8, with a fireworks and drone show celebrating the 50th
anniversaries of the Red River Revel and the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, presented with
support from the City of Shreveport. The show follows Cowboy Mouth’s headlining set on the Chase
Main Stage. With local schools on Fall Break, the AT&T Discovery Maker’s Zone (DMZ) children’s area
opens at 11 a.m. on October 8 and 9, making opening weekend a natural fit for families.
Music Lineup
The Revel 50 lineup highlights artists with deep ties to the Shreveport region alongside national and
regional favorites. Nightly headliners include:
Weekend One
- Thursday, October 8 – Cowboy Mouth: New Orleans-based band blending rock, roots, and jam
influences. - Friday, October 9 – Brady Blade & Friends: Shreveport-born drummer, composer, and producer
returns home with a special cast of musicians from around the world. - Saturday, October 10 – The American Tragedy featuring the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra:
The Shreveport rock group returns to the Chase Main Stage for its performance in five years,
featuring the band’s music in its first-ever orchestral arrangement, composed and arranged by
Mike Esneault and conducted by Kermit Poling. - Sunday, October 11 – Jeter Jones: Award-winning southern soul and blues artist from
Shreveport.
Weekend Two - Thursday, October 15 – Better Than Ezra: LSU-formed alternative rock band known for melodic
post-grunge hooks and high-energy live shows. - Friday, October 16 – Shinyribs: Austin-based nine-piece “swamp-funk” and “country-soul”
supergroup led by Shreveport native Kevin Russell. - Saturday, October 17 – The Highland Collective featuring Dylan LeBlanc, Seratones, Maggie
Koerner, The Lackadaisies & Special Guests: A three-and-a-half-hour celebration of acclaimed
songwriters and musicians from Shreveport’s Highland neighborhood, featuring rotating lineups
and collaborations throughout the night. - Sunday, October 18 – Windstorm: Legendary seven-piece soul, funk, and R&B band formed in
Shreveport in 1983 by guitarist Ron Johnson.
The full music schedule is available at www.redriverrevel.com. - Festival Residencies
Squonk presents Joy Machine, its newest large-scale outdoor spectacle, with multiple performances
October 8–11 at The Advocate Depot Stage. Audiences help bring the show to life by animating giant
puppets, playing a massive drum wall, and powering the action, making every performance different.
Trout Fishing in America, the Revel’s most frequently returning performers, celebrate their own 50th
anniversary with a festival-long residency. Keith and Ezra will perform at least one set on a different
stage each day, from the Chase Main Stage to the SWEPCO Art Alley Stage, along with daily
performances for students attending the official fourth-grade arts education field trips.
Revel+ Programming
Revel+ brings experiences beyond the stages and artist booths: - Revel Talent Show – Saturday, October 10, Ambetter Health DMZ Stage. Elementary and high
school performers showcase dance, song, theater, and more. - Silent Disco – Saturday, October 10, The Advocate Depot Stage. Guests can switch between
three live DJ sets using free headphones. - Artist Talks – Both weekends, SWEPCO Art Alley Stage. Photographer and Revel artist Joshua
Lee leads conversations with the Revel 50 poster artist and each weekend’s jury award winners. - Mosaic & Stained Glass with Ed’s Emporium – October 15–17, The Advocate Depot Stage.
Guests create their own glass pieces with hands-on instruction. - Youth Artist Exhibit – Saturday, October 17, The Advocate Depot Stage. Young artists ages 10-
12 exhibit and sell original work. - 18 and Under MicroFest – Saturday, October 17, Ambetter Health DMZ Stage. A full day of
performances from young bands and musicians. - Pedicab Service – Both weekends. Noble Pedicab’s six-seat bike cabs carry guests between
parking, the festival gates, downtown destinations, and PrizeFest during the second weekend. - The Revel 50 Poster
Created over four years by longtime Revel artist Stan Routh of Baton Rouge, the official Revel 50 poster
celebrates five decades of festival history. It features the directors, Red Apron committee chairs,
volunteers, artists, classic foods, sponsors, and musicians who shaped the Revel. A limited number of
prints will be available for purchase at the festival.
Plan Your Visit - Dates: October 8–11 and October 15–18, 2026, at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport
- Hours: Gates open daily at 11:00 AM. The festival closes at 10:00 PM Thursday through Saturday
and 9:00 PM Sunday. The AT&T Discovery Maker’s Zone closes daily at 8:00 PM and opens at
11:00 AM on October 8 and 9 for Fall Break. - Admission: Admission is free before 5:00 PM on Thursdays and Fridays. After 5:00 PM on those
days, and all day Saturday and Sunday, admission is $10. Children 12 and under are admitted
free. SWEPCO sponsors free admission for active military, police, and fire personnel, and
Barksdale AFB DBIDS cardholders. - Know Before You Go: Pets, firearms, knives or blades, outside drinks, and chairs are not
allowed. - Festival and parking map: www.redriverrevel.com/site-map-2026