Kim Bergeron, the City of Slidell’s Director of Cultural & Public Affairs, wants to encourage everyone to come to Olde Town over the weekend of November 6th to 8th to be a part of “Olde Towne Alive!” For many years the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural and Public Affairs has presented “Arts Evening”. Well, this year it has decided to expand the festivities from one evening to three days and is presenting its “Special Whistle Stop Weekend Edition”.
The Whistle Stop promotional efforts will tout November 6 - 8 as Slidell’s inaugural Whistle Stop Weekend. The City of Slidell is fortunate to be home to a beautifully restored train depot that is listed on the historic register. The depot houses a bar, grill, restaurant, and a coffee and beignet shop. It's located on the fringe of the city's historic district, which has recently received Main Street and Certified Cultural Products District designations. On the backside of the depot is the city's beautiful Heritage Park, which features a boat launch, amphitheatre, pavillions, a 9-11 Memorial and more.
Beginning on Friday there will be a block party and concert featuring the Bayou Liberty Jazz Band from 6 pm - 9 pm. There’s no admission charge to any of the events over the three day festival. It’s a great family event and gives everyone an opportunity to unwind.
Saturday’s Arts Evening annually attracts approximately 5,000 visitors and this year will feature over 100 artists plus live entertainment at shops and restaurants in Slidell’s historic Olde Towne from 4 pm - 8:30 p.m.
One part of the evening's festivities will be The Olde Towne Arts Center, which will have an outdoor theatre at Lowry, Dunham, Case and Vivien showcasing the award-winning movie, “Murder in the Marigny,” which recently won the Best Soundtrack Award for the 48-Hour Film Project. It was screened at the “Best Of New Orleans” film festival.
There will also be Portraits of Olde Towne and digital media workshop results from the summer on the history of Olde Towne Slidell. There will be free music starting at 6 p.m. featuring The Redfish Blues Band and Rubber Band will play its original music, including the song that won the award. At 7 p.m. Marie Ricca will be hosting the artwork of Charlotte Collins, Nelle Landry, Martin Needhom, Susan Needham, and Nancy Rhodes at the corner of First and Erlanger. The Arts Evening finale featuring Ronnie Kole in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium from 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm will follow.
On Sunday, November 8th, there will be a Bayou Jam Concert featuring Swingaroux from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm in Heritage Park. Family and friends are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs when they come to the concert.
The train depot is currently one of many stops on Amtrak’s Crescent Route, which runs daily from New Orleans to New York and back. Among the many additional stops are Meridian, MS; Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC.
By using the resources already in place--the special events that draw tourists, and the passenger railway, which can deliver tourists to our doorsteps-- the city can, with minimal cost, increase tourism and economic impact. The ultimate goal is to revitalize the use of the railway as a means to bring tourists to the area on a regular basis by clustering cultural events as an attraction. To initiate this effort, the city will begin with one of its biggest cultural events of the year: Arts Evening. By doing so, we will be providing over 100 artists and 20 entertainers who participate in this event, an opportunity to showcase—and hopefully sell—their arts to an expanded market. For this promotion, the city will target the primary market of Birmingham, Alabama, which is a comfortable six-hour trip on the train. Secondary efforts will include Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which is also a stop on the Crescent Route. The objective is to entice visitors to catch the train to Slidell, spend a weekend and enjoy the many free, family-oriented events the city offers. Weekend packages will be offered which make it possible for visitors to arrive, enjoy, and never need to rent a car to explore the area. We will also generate awareness of the train as a year-round option for a weekend getaway to the Olde Towne Cultural District.
The city is working with Amtrak, local hotels and service providers to create package rates with convenient add-ons for transportation and sightseeing opportunities while visitors are in the area. To make the inaugural Whistle Stop Weekend even more exciting, we plan to make the actual train ride part of the event. We are working with Amtrak to provide entertainment and other surprises which will make the ride part of the fun. Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by a brass band, which will be playing at the depot, and refreshments provided courtesy of Times Grill. We will ensure guests feel welcome with a gift package including pralines and individually-numbered VIP cards which provide them discounts to local attractions and businesses while providing us with a means to track spending/economic impact per guest. For additional information please contact Bergeron at 985-646-4375 or visit their website at
www.slidell.la.us
.
Announcements:
Luke’s Brisket & Broadway
“Take My Husband PLEASE!”
Oct. 16th-Nov. 7th
(985)-781-6565
Slidell Little Theatre
“Rumors”
Oct. 9th-Oct. 25th
(985)-641-0324
Playmaker’s Theatre
“On Golden Pond”
Nov. 6- Nov. 22
(985)-893-1671
Cutting Edge Productions
Attractions Salon
747 Robert Blvd.
(985)-639-8294
“Welcome Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Nov. 6th-Nov. 21st.