"VOLUNTEERISM and CITIZEN SERVICE must lead Louisiana's recovery effort." -Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu The Louisiana Serve Commission is pleased to announce Volunteer Louisiana, a website and call center that matches volunteers with service opportunities throughout the state. Visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov or call 866-286-3835 or 225-342-3070 to find out how you can begin a summer of service.

Convention Center Did You Know New Orleans is home to one of America's most popular meeting venues, the Morial Convention Center commanding 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space in 12 separate/combinable exhibit halls. Learn More >>

11/6/07

CONTACT:
Maria Tio
225 342 3341
mtio@crt.state.la.us

(Baton Rouge, LA) - Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu invites the public to spend November visiting the 22 Louisiana towns participating in the second annual Louisiana Main-to-Main: A Cultural Road Show. The statewide series of art walks, music concerts, craft fairs and festivals is designed to foster economic development and historic preservation in towns with traditional downtown main streets while displaying the rich and diverse cultural assets that make our state and its communities unique.

"Whether it's a Cajun Music in Abbeville or the Festival of Lights in Natchitoches, the Louisiana Main-to-Main program is designed to encourage weekend travelers to get on the road and experience life in our historic main street communities," Lt. Governor Landrieu said. "Our Main Street festivals are more than a celebration of our culture and history. Last November, they generated more than $6 million in revenue for participating communities."

"Heritage tourism is a growing tourism trend," said Angele Davis, Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Our Main Streets offer a wide variety of family-friendly celebrations."

Louisiana Main-to-Main is funded and administered by the Louisiana Main Street Program, a division of the State Office of Historic Preservation in the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Additional support is provided by a grant from First Lady Laura Bush's national nonprofit Preserve America. Main Street promotes the revitalization of small town historic commercial districts in association with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The following are Main Street Communities: Abbeville, Bastrop, Bogalusa, Clinton, Columbia, Crowley, Denham Springs, Eunice, Franklin, Hammond, Houma, Minden, Morgan City, Natchitoches, New Iberia, New Orleans, New Roads, Opelousas, Plaquemine, Ponchatoula, Ruston, Springhill, St. Francisville, St. Martinville and Winnsboro.

Community locations, specific events details, and community contact information can be found on our website www.louisianamaintomain.org. Attached is an abbreviated listing of events by city and date.

November 1-4

Abbeville
Taste of Vermilion and If Headstones Could Talk. Masonic Cemetery Tour.

Bastrop
Jazz & Jambalaya Dinner and Jazz Under the Stars. Live music by the Equinox Jazz Orchestra.

Clinton
Art 'Round the Square: art exhibits, guided historic restoration tour, and live music by Zydeco Players, Bayou Blasters, Mary Herget, and The Dulcimer Players.

Columbia
Blues and BBQ on the Ouachita: BBQ Cook-off and live music by Bobby Rush, Delta Blue, and Po Henry and Tookie.

Winnsboro
Remember When Veterans' Day Concert featuring the St. Joseph Orchestra.

Eunice
Cajun Music Superstars and Music at the Liberty Theatre: Cajun Songwriters' symposium & performances by David Greely, Terry Huval, D.L. Menard, and Kira Viator with the Jambalaya Cajun Band.

Morgan City
Fall Frenzy: RV camping, tailgating party, 5K walk/architectural history tour, art, children's scavenger hunt, live music, and extended shopping hours in the Main Street district.

Houma
Blues and BBQ on the Bayou: Authentic Cajun wedding and live music by the LaFourche Cajun Band, Yowcha Band, and Blackened Blues.

New Iberia
The Red Dot Tour: Civil War encampment, shopping trail, architectural history tour, Eat Main to Main, and a Louisiana Crossroads Performance by Jo-El Sonnier and Friends at the Sliman Theatre.

Ponchatoula
Antiques Trade Days and Craft Fair: Outdoor festival featuring antiques, collectibles, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, and live music for the entire family.

O.C. Haley Boulevard, New Orleans
Make a Joyful Noise Gospel and Arts Festival: collaboration with Central City choirs at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center showcasing religious heritage in the community, arts, and crafts.

November 9-11

St. Francisville
The Sprit of St. Francisville, 200 Years: Book signing and exhibition, downtown Birthday Sale, quilt show, live music, movie night featuring The Reaping , and School Days, and an Open House at the Julius Freyhan School.

Abbeville
Louisiana Crossroads presents Jo-EL Sonnier & Friends.

Plaquemine
Agriculture, Archeology, and Atchafalaya- A Triple-A Road Show: Experience Atchafalaya Home School Day, Archaeology Series on the Chitimacha Indian Tribe, Indian Mounds and Culture, and a Veterans' Day Tribute.

Eunice
Kevin Naquin, The Ossun Playboys, Wilson Savoy, and The Pine Leaf Boys play at the Liberty Theater.

St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans
Chalk It Up to St. Claude: sidewalk chalk art competition, neighborhood oral history collection, gallery openings, arts, crafts, and music.

November 15-18

Crowley
Shades of Praise Gospel Choir and Whitewing Allstar Show.

Ruston
Fire and Ice Festival: Christmas Open House, Artist's Studio Crawl, Christmas tree lighting, snow activities, holiday movies, music by Linnea Fayard and Friends, and a visit from Santa.

Denham Springs
Holiday Open House, "Flower Power", displays by local artists, and live music in the Range Antique District.

Opelousas
French Friday on Main Street: Zydeco music and Cajun-French food.

Eunice
Ann Savoy and the Savoy Family Band, Jason Savoy and his Boogie Woogie Piano, and Peppy Carmello with Lisa and Mitch Reed at the Liberty Theater.

Springhill
Bonnie and Clyde: Hollywood Wannabe Molls & Gangsters Costume Contest, bank robbery reenactment, and movie screening.

Natchitoches
Kick-off to the annual December Festival of Lights: Holiday Open House shopping, activities for children and adults, the Christmas Belles and Santa Claus, live music, and fireworks.

New Orleans, North Rampart Street
RampART: Artists and musicians displaying various traditional and cultural arts in Armstrong Park, N. Rampart Street

New Orleans, Oak Street
New Orleans PoBoy Preservation Festival: live music, PoBoy Contest, arts and crafts, Kids World, and "Our Loaved Legacy"-- A History of the New Orleans Po-Boy.

November 25

Plaquemine
Agriculture, Archeology, and Atchafalaya- A Triple-A Road Show: The Flood of 1927 Remembrance and Watercolors and Acrylics Exhibition.

November 29-30

Franklin
Tasting and Shopping on the Teche: Wine and Cheese Tasting, silent auction, extended shopping hours, and live music.

Plaquemine
Agriculture, Archeology, and Atchafalaya- A Triple-A Road Show: Watercolors and Acrylics Exhibition.

Hammond
Children's Louisiana Winter Wonder Land, holiday window trimming competition, district-wide art and historic photography exhibits, and live music by Invisible Cowboy.

Winnsboro Christmas Parade and fireworks display.