LA State Parks Events Nov. 2013

Upon Request, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Daily Demonstrations. Daily demonstrations will be conducted to show how cotton fiber was separated from seed. Juxtaposed against hand separation, this will serve to illustrate how such a simple machine had such a great impact on the proliferation of cotton production in the South. We will be using a wheel gin (hand crank roller gin). These types of gins even pre-date the Whitney gin. We will also have mature cotton plants with open bolls as part of the exhibit/demonstration, as well as raw cotton for use in the gin. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Daily, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Musket Demonstration. The demonstration includes a brief presentation of infantry weapons used in the Civil War, a discussion of the merits of rifle muskets over smoothbore muskets and of the basic parts of the musket, a loading demonstration, and finally a firing demonstration. The presentation ends with a question and answer session and an invitation to continue the site tour with a visit into Fort Randolph. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Tuesdays-Saturdays, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Musical Petting Zoo, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visitors can view the collection of stringed instruments on display to touch, play, and enjoy. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Tuesdays-Saturdays, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – The Listening Library, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visitors can listen to country recordings and access the collection of books and films that tell the story of the roots of country music. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Saturdays, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Workin’ in the Garden, 10-11 a.m. Together will the Rotary Club of Pineville, LA, site staff cultivates a vegetable garden on site. Volunteers are welcome to come help out and learn about vegetable gardening then and now. Your labor is always appreciated, as most vegetables produced go to the Main Street Mission of Pineville. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Nov. 1, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Painting in the Park, 9 a.m. 1 & 6 p.m. Participants will be shown step-by-step how to draw and paint a picture. The gardens will be inspirational with their beauty and color. With or without artistic ability, you will paint your own masterpiece. Bring your own canvas; paint, brushes and easels will be provided. For more information and to reserve a seat call 318.586.7002.

Nov. 1, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – French Marine Garrison: Coureur de Bois de la Grande Terre, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This program will commemorate those civilians who worked outside the official military system and called “wood runners”. These men spent most of their lives on the frontier adopting the Native culture. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Nov. 2, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – Historic Walk, 9-11 a.m. Site staff will take a walk with points of interest within the park and along a designated path where 18th century colonial families lived. Fee is $10 per person. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Nov. 2, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Campfire Cooking Demonstration, 10 a.m. – noon. Food prepared will parallel camp cuisine common in Federal and Confederate encampments, but will also include seasonal fruits and vegetables that may have been available to foraging soldiers. This program offers opportunities to interpret period history, nature, culture, agriculture, commerce and more. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Nov. 2, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Louisiana Hayride, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This program will discuss the Louisiana Hayride and how it affected the growth of music in Louisiana. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Nov. 8, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Native American Culture Day, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This program is a one day event for school children to get a glimpse of ancient Native American culture. Interpretive stations will provide hands-on activities for all. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

Nov. 8, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – Feast of St. Martin: Thanksgiving School Day Program, 9:30 a.m. This program for elementary school students will emphasize the Feast of St. Martin, a Thanksgiving holiday, documented as being celebrated in Natchitoches during the 18th century. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Nov. 9, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Whittling the Hours Away, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Many hours were spent in camp with little to do so soldiers sought refuge from boredom by devising various diversions. Group songs, games, musical instruments, theatrical productions, practical jokes and more all helped to keep morale up and pass the time. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Nov. 9, Fort Jesup State Historic Site, Many – A Lady’s Tea, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Guests will learn the etiquette of a historic tea party, as well as the difference between high and low tea. Guests will also learn what constituted as a proper menu and how hosting a proper tea could affect a woman’s social standing in the 1800s. For more information call 888.677.5378 toll free or 256.4417 locally.

Nov. 12-16, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – Veterans Celebration, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fort St. Jean Baptiste will host a week long exhibit honoring veterans. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Nov. 12-15, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Fall Garden Tours, 1 p.m. Join the park staff for a tour in the main garden to see the Fall Colors! The Gingko and Dawn Redwood take center stage for color in the fall. The leaves display various shades of yellow, red and orange. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523.

Nov. 15, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Pine Needle Basketry Class, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Suzanne Factor, resident expert, will share the unique technique of making a functional basket from pine needles. She will demonstrate the variety of patterns and shapes of baskets and even shelf-adorning whatnots. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

Nov. 16, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Moonlight Barge Tour, 8 p.m. Join the park ranger for a tour around the lake by the light on the moon on the Sundancer barge. This tour will give visitors a unique opportunity to see the three islands and view the lower level of the gardens from a different perspective. Please call ahead to reserve a seat. For more information call 800.324.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

Nov. 19-22, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Fall Natural Garden Tours, 10 a.m. Take a tour through the natural gardens and appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer. The trees are just as pretty in the fall as in spring when they prepare to lose their leaves. The colors are so vivid and inviting.  This also serves as a pretty background for painting or taking pictures! For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523.

Nov. 23, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – One Pot Cooking, 10 a.m.-noon. Site staff will discuss and demonstrate one pot meals and invite everyone to stew a meal over an open fire. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Nov. 29, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Prehistoric Mound Tour, 10 a.m. & noon. Site manager, Doyle Jennings, will conduct tours of the prehistoric mounds and demonstrations of the area and daily tasks. The Marksville mound site was an important American Indian ceremonial center over 2,000 years ago, established sometime around 100 B.C. by the Hopewell Indian culture and extended until approximately 430 A.D. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

Nov. 29, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Outdoor Movie, 6 p.m. This will be our 2nd Annual Showing of “The Polar Express” outside by the lakefront. The Friends of Hodges Gardens will be selling hot chocolate to help take the chill out of the air. Guests are welcome to wear their warmest PJs as they nestle down to watch the timeless classical Christmas movie! For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523.