This may be more than a little premature, but I’m going to go ahead and call the opening weekend of the 36th annual Red River Revel Arts Festival a smashing success. Why? Have you seen the weather forecast? The “high” on opening day – Saturday, October 1 – is 78 degrees. Fahrenheit. Could we all just agree to take this opportunity to celebrate the end of one of the most brutally hot summers in Louisiana history by heading down to Festival Plaza for the Red River Revel Arts Festival?
The headlining music act for this year’s opening night is New Orleans alt-rock trio Better Than Ezra, who will take the Chase Stage at 8:30 p.m. Gates for the festival open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with popular local music acts and family entertainment taking place around-the-clock. I’m personally excited about catching Super Water Sympathy on the Chase Stage at 6:30 p.m., prior to Better Than Ezra.
A juried selection of more than 100 visual artists from 19 states will be exhibiting and selling art at this year’s Revel, which runs October 1-8. Hundreds of food and libation vendors will also be on-hand to keep your belly full. If you’re planning to attend, check out the festival website, which is comprehensive in scope. If you’d like to see photos from last year’s event, check out our Red River Revel Flickr gallery.
Oh, and if you’re just making plans to attend the Revel and are looking for a place to stay, The Remington Suite Hotel in downtown Shreveport is offering a special “Revelry” discount – 20% off, October 1-8. Since we’ve also shaved about 20% off of the temperatures, won’t you join us?