29th Annual Northwestern State University Folk Festival

The Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, which originated in 1980, is a four-time winner of the prestigious "Top Twenty Events in the Southeast" Award given by the Southeast Tourism Society. In 1980, 1981, and 1982, the Folk Festival was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Louisiana Division of the Arts. While the Festival attempts to be largely self-supporting, Northwestern State University of Louisiana provides necessary and much appreciated financial support. The Folk Festival, as the inclusion of NSU in its name suggests, is fully integrated into the life of Northwestern and is a full-fledged University event. In addition to grant and university support, financial help from numerous corporate sponsors and hundreds of dedicated individuals is vital to the Festival.

While the Folk Festival is an attraction in itself, the riverfront town of Natchitoches, settled by the French in 1714 and highlighted in the 1998 Robert Harling film Steel Magnolias, offers many family activities. The architecture, folkways, and cuisine, are monuments to 300 years of different cultures living together --Caddo Indians, French, Spanish, African, Anglo, Italian, Creole, and many others.

The Festival is held in cool, comfortable air-conditioned Prather Coliseum, on the campus of Northwestern State University of Louisiana in historic Natchitoches. The site is located just east of I-49, provides ample, nearby parking and is handicap-accessible. The festival has an alcohol free environment.

Schedule of Events

East Stage
2:00 – 3:15 Becky Birdwell & Roadhouse
3:30 – 4:45 Farouche Band
5:00 – 6:15 Smithfield Fair
6:30 – 7:45 Don Fontenot & Les Amis de la Louisiane
8:00 – 9:15 Shift-Celtic Music

West Stage
2:00-3:15 David Sylvester Jr. Gospel
3:30-4:45 Steve Wells Music
5:00-6:15 Back Porch Band
6:30-7:45 Shift-Celtic Music
8:00-9:15 Scotty Pousson & Pointe Aux Loups Playboys

Main Stage
1:00-1:30 Beaux Fisher Scottish Songs
2:00-2:45 Cajun Dance Lessons
3:30-4:45 Scotty Pousson & Pointe Aux Loups Playboys
5:00-6:15 Becky Birdwell & Roadhouse
6:30-7:45 Steve Wells Music
8:00-9:15 Smithfield Fair
9:30-10:45 Don Fontenot & Les Amis de la Louisiane

N-Club Narrative Sessions
1:00-1:45 Raising Sheep
2:00-2:45 Scottish & Irish Foodways
3:00-3:45 Scottish Culture
4:00-4:45 North Louisiana Foodways
5:00-5:45 Beekeeping & Honey
6:00-6:45 Highland Cattle & Scottish Heritage

Tickets
$8.00 All day & evening
$5.00 Evening Only
$3.00 Kids 7-12
Free Kids 6 and under

Location: Louisiana Folklife Center, Box 3663, NSU, Natchitoches, LA 71497