What's Happening on the Trail:

Natchitoches, Louisiana

Saturdays, Thru July 2008- Cane River Green Market- Downtown riverbank- 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
More than 15 vendors will have booths at the market selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade crafts.  Events and promotions for this event include demonstrations, special programming and live music.  For more information contact Leslie Ross at (318) 238-7500.  Cane River Green Market's website can also be accessed at www.canerivergreenmarket.com.

Opening May 2 - August 30, 2008- "Game Face", LSU Sports Exhibit at the Old Courthouse Museum.  The history of LSU Sports.  Geaux Tigers!  The museum is open Monday - Saturday.  

May 24, 2008 - Fleur de Lis Arts & Crafts Show
Annual arts and crafts show held at Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, featuring only quality, handmade craft items. Many of the vendors are from Louisiana, but some are from far away.  To become a vendor or to request more information, call Cheryl Gianforte at (318) 352-6068 or email luziana73@hotmail.com.

Visit www.natchitoches.net for all current events and festivities or call 1-800-259-1714

 Front Street in Natchitoches getting a facelift 
By RT Morgan
rtmorgan@thetowntalk.com
(318) 487-6346

NATCHITOCHES -- On one side of the hurricane fence, storefronts sit open and waiting for customers.

On the other side, workers meticulously lift single bricks from their 100-year resting place and sit them to the side for future replacement.

This is the scene in the city of Natchitoches, where Progressive Construction, an Alexandria-based company, is working on phase one of the Front Street (La. Highway 6 Business) rehabilitation project, a 10-month rehab that will cost $3.2 million. It's expected to end Nov. 15, just in time for the 82nd Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights.

And while the city's trademark road is partially shut off to traffic, area businesses are not entirely worried about dire ramifications.

"I liken it to having to take a bitter taste of medicine," said Luke Frederick, owner of Kaffie-Frederick Hardware, a mainstay on Front Street since 1863.

A good majority of his customers -- local plumbers, electricians, etc. -- park in the back and enter the store from a side entrance, so they won't have any trouble. Frederick is concerned about out-of-towners who stay away because they think navigation is too difficult.

"We're here to contradict that train of thought," he said last week standing in his store.

The construction is broken up into four phases -- the phases only affect roughly a third of Front Street at a time. Parking is still available further down Front and then there's the slew of spots along the Cane River. The goal of the rehab is to fix the bumpy Front Street and update infrastructure under the road surface, which was laid in 1904.

In the end, Frederick said the road rehab will be good for downtown.

"Bound to happen sooner or later" was how Ken Gresham, owner of the Landing restaurant, reasoned about the Front Street construction.

Located in phase three of construction -- which will start in September -- Gresham said last week he was glad to see the project begin. The bricks were starting to show their age, he said.

Because he's the last phase on the list, Gresham hoped that the last phase will go pretty quick. The workers should be "blowing and going" by then, he reasoned.

Iris Harper, executive director of Natchitoches' Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the only downfall to construction was "you won't have a lot of traffic along Front Street." All shops will remain accessible as well as the river front, she continued, and all festivals will continue as planned

Harper said Natchitoches is dubbing the construction "history in the making." People can come and actually watch Natchitoches make history with this rehabilitation, she said.

And if the historic project runs past its due date, Harper said everything will be stopped for the Christmas festival.

Toledo Bend Lake County, Louisiana (Sabine Parish) 

May 9-10, 2008 – Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival -Much of Zwolle's and even the entire Toledo Bend area's local industry once revolved around the logging business. Still today, the Zwolle area is dependant upon the logging industry. So it is fitting that just about a decade ago, a group of local leaders came up with the idea of the festival.

The festival pays tribute to all the logging and forestry families and industries in the town and parish. Activities include a Blessing of the Fleet (logging trucks), parade, logging activities, contests, music, food, arts and crafts, and forestry exhibits.

The festival is held at the Zwolle Festival Grounds, at 1100 S. Main Street in Zwolle.  For more information, call Wanda Ezernack at 318-645-4307

May 15-17, 2008 – Fisher Sawmill Days- Fisher Sawmill Days, held the third weekend in May, "tells it like it was" in Fisher at the turn of the last century during the early days of lumbering in Louisiana.

The Sawmill Days recaptures the flavor of life in a sawmill village with a wide variety of events.

Featured during the festival are an old fashioned jamboree of country, western, bluegrass, and gospel music, a flea market, folk arts and crafts, horse and wagon rides, square dancing, food, horse shoe pitching, fiddlin', and numerous other games and contests with prizes.

For additional information visit www.toledobendlakecountry.com

Hemphill, Texas (Sabine County)

San Augustine, Texas

For more information visit www.sanaugustinetx.com  or call 936-275-3610.

Nacogdoches, Texas

Every Saturday in May – Nacogdoches Farmer's Market- 8:00 a.m. to Noon. 107 Pearl Street. For more information call the Main Street Office at 936-559-2573.

May 9-10, 2008 –Sandyland Bluegrass Reunion- "Not just a festival but a place to call home". Come hear the sounds of traditional bluegrass & gospel music performed by the best local, area, and regional bands. Good family entertainment, no alochol allowed, bring your own lawnchairs. Call Cowboy & Sara Barrett at 936-569-1179 or visit www.sandylandbluegrass.com for more information. 

May 10, 2008-  Cruisin' in the Pines  - 5 p.m., Classic, Antique and Muscle Cars. For more information call Doug James at 936-564-9128.

May 10, 2008- International Migratory Bird Day- Visit www.birdday.org for more details. 

May 17-18, 2008- Nacogdoches Trade Days - NW Loop 224, Ph: 936-564-2150 

May 31, 2008- A Grand Evening at the Crossing- 6:00 p.m. Benefiting Millard's Crossing Historical Village, 6020 North Street. Honoring the Lera Thomas, Preservation, Heritage and Gold Contributors to the Legacy Campaign. Dinner, wine and entertainment. Tickets are $50.00 each. 

For additional information visit www.visitnacogdoches.com

Crockett, Texas

El Camino Real Brochure

The new brochure is full of information about El Camino Real. Download the El Camino Real Brochure*.
*pdf file, requires the free Adobe Reader