It’s no secret that Louisiana is the Festival Capital of America. Over 400 events and festivals take place in the state every year, from the internationally renowned Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans to pirate days and harvest festivals. Shreveport in northwest Louisiana has its own version of Mardi Gras as well, plus several other festivals that attract thousands of visitors to the city each year. Below are some of our favorites.
The Red River Revel Arts Festival is the largest event of its kind in northwest Louisiana. What began as a relatively simple celebration of Shreveport’s burgeoning arts scene in 1976 turned into a non-profit foundation in 1982 and, finally, the nine-day music festival it is best known as today.
What to expect
Now in its 48th year, the Red River Revel Arts Festival 2024 is set to take place from September 28 to October 6, 2024 at the Festival Plaza. With over 60,000 expected visitors every year, the festival’s scope and impact have grown to almost mythical proportions. The three main pillars of the festival – fine arts, music, and food – are all set to be bigger and better than ever this year:
Over 80 artists showcasing their work – you have oil painters, sculptors, glass and pottery artists, photographers, textile designers, and jewelers from all over the South;
All the delicious food you expect from Shreveport events, from the state’s trademark Cajun dishes to kid-friendly snacks like Natchitoches meat pies and the richest funnel cakes you’ll ever taste; and
Several stages for live music, with local and regional talent performing everything from folk to jazz to blues, with heavy-hitters regularly making appearances, including Sophie B. Hawkins and Everclear.
Adult festivalgoers aren’t the only ones who get to have their fun at Red River Revel Arts Festival. This event is incredibly kid-friendly, with free activities for children organized throughout the event. These include face painting sessions, interactive entertainment, as well as the Mock Dig, which is a favorite among the local kids. On top of all these, kids -and kids at heart- can also play a match of laser tag, try to scale the climbing wall, overcome the obstacle course, or sign up for a few arts and arts workshops.
How much does it cost?
General admission to the Red River Revel Arts Festival is free if you come to the festival grounds at 5:00 PM onwards on a weekday. A small charge of $5.00 is applicable, however, for weekend entry- also 5:00 PM onwards.
If you want unlimited access to the festival grounds and stages throughout the nine-day affair, you can get the Reveler Pass, which only costs $15.00. Do check Red River Revel Arts Festival’s official website for the latest updates.
Shreveport and its surrounding areas have a buzzing arts scene but at no time is it more alive than during Prize Fest. Organized by the Prize Foundation, this event is the culmination of five different contests in food, fashion, music, comedy, and film. Anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 people travel to Shreveport to take their shot at stardom, root for their favorites, and enjoy all the festivities.
The stated goal of Prize Fest is to foster creativity and support emerging talent in the five aforementioned categories, with winners taking home some of the largest cash prizes for creative competitions worldwide. Moreover, they get mentorship and networking opportunities from industry professionals. But you can also rely on the event’s unstated goal: to bring people of all ages together and have a great time doing it!
What to expect
Prize Fest 2024 is slated to take place on October 16 to 19, 2024 in downtown Shreveport. Based on previous iterations of the event, here are some of the things you can look forward to:
The Prize Garage, which is two nights of live music performances on the first and second day with contestants competing against each other for a $10,000 cash prize;
The Fashion Prize Runway Brunch on the third day, with emerging designers from across the country showing off their work and competing for a $2,500 prize;
Film Prize screenings, which will be held at several venues in downtown Shreveport as well as Bossier City; and
The Food Prize, where you get to judge six finalists in a blind tasting format that will make you feel like you are an esteemed food critic.
The Prize Fest usually closes with a bang with its Heaven & Hell costume party, where you get a chance to mingle with all the artists, chefs, filmmakers, musicians, and fashion designers that make Prize Fest possible!
How much does it cost?
As of June 2024, Prize Foundation has yet to make any announcements about the ticket sales for this year’s Prize Fest. We highly encourage checking their official website or following their Facebook page to get the latest news and updates.
If the first two events in Shreveport have told you anything, it’s that the city is incredibly proud of its local culture and diversity. The following fetes will further immerse you in the Shreveport and northwest Louisiana lifestyle.
Cajun cuisine has a way of kicking you in the mouth with all the flavors, doesn’t it? More often than not, it’s a good thing. But if you’re craving for something that’s closer to a potluck, you’ll love Mudbug Madness!
This event takes place in late May over a weekend. It actually just held its 40th run last May 24 to 26, 2024 at Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. If you missed it this year, worry not, for it’s fair to say that Mudbug Madness will be around for a long time. After all, it’s one of the most beloved traditions here in Shreveport, highlighting the simpler, more communal side of Cajun cooking.
What to expect
The obvious stars of Mudbug Madness are none other than the mudbugs or crawfish. They’re boiled in gigantic pots and served in heaping portions, along with corn, potatoes and sometimes sausage. If you’re not used to eating them, you best prepare for locals to give you a crash course each time they spot you discarding the top half of the crawfish’s shell without sucking on it first. That’s where all the spicy goodness is!
Apart from being a feast, Mudbug Madness is also one big party with live music entertainment. The festival usually includes two stages that feature bands of different genres- Cajun, zydeco, and blues, just to name a few- grace. In the past, some of the artists that have played in front of Mudbug Madness crowds include Cowboy Mouth and Sammy Kershaw.
How much does it cost?
Like many events in Shreveport, admission to Mudbug Madness is affordable. Individual passes at $10.00 per person, while military veterans and children under 12 years of age get to go inside the festival grounds for free. A three-day pass is also available for only $15.000.
If you’d like to hold off on all that crawfish and have the music as the main course, this is one of the best Shreveport events for you. The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival is an open-air festival that showcases the best of local jazz and blues talent, along with great food and crafts from local vendors.
What to expect
Though the Highland Jazz & Blues Festival has generally taken place in November every year since 2003, the 2024 edition is set to happen on September 14 at Columbia Park. You can expect this festival to be very much like a party in the park, with food vendors, art, and of course, live music entertainment.
The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival usually puts together an impressive lineup of both local and national musicians. Previous featured artists and bands include the likes of Buddy Flett, De’Lontrell Thomas, Zach Edwards and The Medicine, and the Shreveport Regional Jazz Ensemble.
The global talent on display is very much locally born and bred. That’s why the festival gives so much back to the community. Locals bring their kids here to learn about the deep history of jazz and blues in the area and experience it live, together with their parents – maybe inspire them to pick up an instrument or two in the process!
How much does it cost?
The best part about the Highland Jazz & Blues Festival is that it is completely free. But if you’d like to support the festival financially, you’re welcome to make a donation to Highland Area Partnership, Inc.
Shreveport has no shortage of special events families can enjoy, but the following festivals are especially wholesome and intentionally designed for everyone, from grandparents to tots.
This is a big one.
Like most state fairs, the State Fair of Louisiana aims to highlight the agricultural and industrial products of the region. It also has a long history, with origins dating back to the early 20th century. It’s safe to say that of all the events in Shreveport we’ve discussed so far, the State Fair of Louisiana is among, if not the, oldest.
The fair, which spans several weeks, typically takes place in the fall at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport.
What to expect
The 118th iteration of the State Fair of Louisiana will be held from October 30 to November 17, 2024. It’s set to feature all of its signature attractions, which include magic shows, amusement rides, live entertainment, and all the deep-fried food you could ever hope for. Some of the things you can look forward to this year include:
Food and beverages, from traditional fair staples like corn dogs and funnel cakes to regional specialties such as Cajun and Creole dishes.
The livestock show, the largest show of its kind in the entire state of Louisiana! Exhibitors from all over the state gather at the State Fair to showcase their most prized livestock animals to win ribbons, awards, and prize money, among other things. If you’re a livestock breeder and would like to join the show, click here to join.
Live entertainment, which include concerts featuring local and nationally known musicians, performances by comedians and magicians, and stunt shows presented by seasoned experts.
How much does it cost?
The organizers of the State Fair of Louisiana have yet to announce ticket information for 2024. Generally, however, festival goers enjoy free admission every weekday until 3:00 PM. Check out this page or follow their official social media pages to learn about the latest ticket announcements.
If all that walking around you have to do at the fair sounds a little too much, just take it easy at the Rockets Over the Red Fireworks Festival. This event, which takes place in both Shreveport and Bossier City, marks the start of the holiday festivities in the region!
What to expect
At the Rockets Over the Red Fireworks Festival, visitors get to shake off the post-Thanksgiving stupor for a relaxed evening of fireworks and the city’s finest food trucks. This year, it will be held on November 25, 2024 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at both Riverview Park in Shreveport and the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City.
Here are some of the event highlights to look forward to:
The tree lighting ceremony, which adds to the overall festive atmosphere of the event. The Christmas tree is usually lit at around 6:00 PM.
The grand fireworks show which typically starts at 7:00 PM. Considered the main event of the festival, it lights up the entire night sky over the Red River. This display is often synchronized with a light show on the Bakowski Bridge of Lights, creating a dazzling display.
Santa Claus visits and family activities are held on both festival venues, along with face painting and live music entertainment. The first 500 children at each location often receive a free gift from none other than Santa Claus.
How much does it cost?
Admission to the Rockets Over the Red Fireworks Festival is free, making it an accessible and fun way for families to kick off the holiday season. For more details and updates, you can visit the official festival website here.
Shreveport and Bossier City residents are always cooking up new events and festivals to enrich both cities’ social calendars. Here are two emerging events to add to your planner.
Louisiana’s music scene garners a lot of hype from across the country and deservedly so. But there’s a whole world of exquisite art just underneath the surface, waiting for its time to shine. Take a short drive down to Bossier City and see it in all its glory!
The Bossier City Makers Fair gathers over 125 local artisans who come together to display their best work, including pottery, stained glass, and knitted items. With free entry and parking, you’ll have more to spend on unique, handmade treasures to bring home.
You’ll also find food vendors and live music to keep your energy up as you explore. Brings the kids, too: they can enjoy face painting, bubbles, balloons, and bouncy houses while you connect with Bossier’s vibrant creative community.
The TappedTober Craft Beer & Wine Festival, set to hold its fifth annual edition in a few months, is where all the city’s gourmands gather to sample some of the best local beers and wines.
No colorful shots to be found here; the emphasis is on local ingredients and flavors. Locals come by every October for the latest concoctions from the best brewers and winemakers in the state. Be ready for long lines, especially for popular varieties such as IPAs, stout and pinot noir.
Don’t sleep on the more “out there” options, though. This is where Shreveport’s cutting-edge brewmasters and winemakers really flex their muscles, sometimes using unconventional ingredients like cayenne pepper or lavender to create eye-popping flavor combinations. Make it all go down easier with live music from both local favorites and chart-topping acts.
Osborn Hays Real Estate has over 25 years of experience helping home buyers and sellers fulfill their goals in Shreveport, Bossier, and the surrounding areas. It would be an honor to guide you as you explore local real estate opportunities. You can call us at 318.603.3641 or send us an email here. to get started!