Story by Chris Jay, special to the Press-Tribune
Fall is one of the busiest seasons for festivals in Shreveport-Bossier. Anchored by major events like the Red River Revel Arts Festival, the fall festival season has grown to include a surprising variety of unique cultural festivals and annual events.
The 38th Annual Red River Revel Arts Festival, scheduled for Oct. 5-12 in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza, will include headlining performances by such legendary music acts as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Blind Boys of Alabama. In addition to an eclectic slate of live music offerings, this year’s Revel will include a performance by the world-renowned Dallas Black Dance Theatre as well as a massive, walk-in sculpture known as the ExxopolisLuminarium. For a complete list of entertainment, food and art available at the Revel, visit www.redriverrevel.com.
The 2nd Annual DigiFest South, Sept. 20-21, will feature two days of exhibits, presentations, live music and more, all of which are designed to encourage a better appreciation of the role played by the digital arts in today’s society. While last year’s DigiFest took place entirely in Bossier City, the 2013 event will include events in Shreveport as well as Bossier City. The largest component of DigiFest South is the digital media expo and digital art exhibit, which will be held, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, at the Bossier Civic Center.Tickets are $5 and include admission into the main floor of DigiFest South as well as the festival’s satellite locations.More information is available at www.digifestsouth.com.
Also turning two, and taking place during the same weekend as DigiFest South, Bossier City’s Phenom Film Festival features four days of film screenings, red carpet events and more, Sept. 19-22. The festival includes screenings and events in three locations: East Bank Theater, Bossier Civic Center and the Courtyard ByMarriott Louisiana Boardwalk hotel. Phenom Film Festival’s ambitiously-programmed film selection includes a huge selection of short films from across the globe, as well as foreign language features, documentary films and more. More information is available atwww.phenomfilmfest.org.
Several other upcoming festivals have recently made big announcements. The McNeil Street Pumping Station New Music Festival, an electronic music festival held on the grounds of downtown Shreveport’s historic steam-powered waterworks at 142 N. Common Street, will take place on Oct. 11-12. The Texas Avenue Makers Fair, a non-traditional arts and crafts fair, will partner with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council for their Nov. 9 event, which is expected to showcase nearly 200 arts and crafts vendors in the 800 block of historic Texas Avenue in downtown Shreveport. The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival recently announced that New Orleans’ “Queen of Soul” Irma Thomas will be headlining the festival’s tenth annual event on Saturday, Nov. 16 in Shreveport’s Columbia Park.
These are only a few of more than 30 festivals and annual events taking place this Fall in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. For a complete list of upcoming festivals and events taking place in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.sbfunguide.com.
