Destrehan Plantation moves forward with arts and crafts event

Visitors enjoying the 2018 Destrehan Plantation fall arts and crafts event.

In an unprecedented year where little has been certain, Destrehan Plantation Executive Director Tracy Smith said he is excited to host the 48th Annual Destrehan Plantation Arts and Crafts Event.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 on the plantation grounds, located at 13034 River Road in Destrehan.

“We’re really excited to be able to offer this to the community,” Smith said. “I know that people are wanting to get out and do something and we haven’t had anything like this in a while to do. We’re really excited to have it … it was totally unknown if we would be able to have it up until a month ago.”

Smith said the event serves as an important fundraiser for the plantation every year, but that the funds are especially needed this year.

“From a financial standpoint, this is a big deal for us,” he said of the event. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year and it’s really needed this year with the cancellation of field tips and the decline of traveling tourism. This will help us float along through this trying time and into 2021.”

Over 100 art and craft vendors have already signed on to participate, and this year’s food offerings will include crawfish fries, cochon de lait po-boys, shrimp and grits, brisket nachos and seafood stuffed pistolettes.

House tours, usually $22, will be available for $8. Admission prices this year will be $8 adults and teens, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under.

“We’re excited to offer more activities for the kids, including lots of free arts and crafts offered at different scheduled times,” Smith said. “Since most people spend several hours at the festival, the kids should have time to complete most of the crafts.”

Free event offerings will include live music, children’s activities, folk-life demonstrations, antique dealers, cornhole, kerplunk, ladder ball and a riddle walk.

As in previous years’ events, Little Rembrandts and kids’ activities that charge a fee – such as pony rides and face painting – will also be available.

Coronavirus safety measures will be in place during the event, Smith said, adding all food and craft vendors will be required to wear a mask.

“The arts vendors will have hand sanitizer, and there will be hand sanitizer stations placed around the property,” he said. “Masks will be required in lines and while coming into the festival, as it serves as a gathering point.”

Masks will also be required while inside any of the grounds’ buildings, while in line for food and while inside the craft vendors’ booths.

As a build-up to the event weekend, Destrehan Plantation is selling $5 raffle tickets. The grand prize is the use of the Mule Barn for a special event (up to a $5,000 value) and the second prize is a weekend stay in the plantation’s Marie Celeste creole cottage.

Raffle tickets are being sold in the plantation store and Azby administrative office. Winners will be announced Nov.15 at noon.

For more information about Destrehan Plantation or the fall event, visit www.destrehanplantation.org.

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

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