1944 SWING BAND ORCHESTRA TO KICK OFF ART IN APRIL FESTIVAL

The 12^th Annual Art in April Festival will be held Friday, April 18 and Saturday April 19. This year’s theme, “St. Bernard, The Good Old Days,” will kick off on Friday night with the Fine Art Show beginning at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the St. Bernard Courthouse and a free outdoor concert on the Main Stage on the Courthouse grounds at 7 p.m. featuring Leif Pedersen’s 1944 Big Band Orchestra.

On Saturday the festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with local food from Charlie’s Diner, Armond’s Eatery, Natz Café & Bakery, Arabi Food Store, 4-H, L&L Food Preparation, 1^st Pentecostal Church, Story Park Homeowners Association, Pappy’s Snowballs, and the St. Bernard Recreation Department.

The Main Stage entertainment will feature music from Bobby Cure and the Summer Time Blues, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; New Orleans Ballet Association’s After School Ballet Program, 1:30 to 2 p.m.; Shine Productions Variety Show, 2 to 3 p.m.; Chalmette High School Jazz Band and performers and closing with the 1^st Pentecostal Gospel Choir from 4:15 to 5 p.m. The scholarship awards for students continuing their education in the arts will be presented on stage at 4 p.m. as well as the Children’s Art Contest Awards. The Art Guild will be selling the signature Art in April Poster “St. Bernard the Good Old Days,” an oil painting by local artist Dana Sherlock for $15. The poster features a collage of memories and is entitled, “St. Bernard: Historical, Remembrance, Pride and Perseverance”.

The St. Bernard Art Guild will be selling raffle tickets for the original artwork during the event. Tickets will be sold for $3 a piece or two chances for $5.

The Children’s Area will include a Children’s Stage. Performances will begin with Cool Magic Mike from 11 a.m. to noon; Children’s Storytelling with Kathy Frady “Micah Duwane’s Amazing Adventure” from noon to 1 p.m.; Curtis Pierre Ensemble “Samba & Brazilian Percussion” from 1 to 2 p.m.; Porta Puppet Players “Pork In Teams” from 2 to 3 p.m.; Calliope Puppet Theatre, “The Fisherman and his Wife” from 4 to 5 p.m. The Aqua Van, Zoo Mobile, Acadian Ambulance “Andre the Robot”, the St. Bernard Animal Shelter, Caricature Artist, Face Painting, Boudreaux & Clotile also will be in the Children’s Area.

Chalmette Refining, Oaks Club invite Children’s to visit the Children’s Craft Tent where children can create their own art on Sun Visors, Cups, and Butterfly Wings. There will also be exhibitors on display from the St. Bernard Wetlands, American Wetlands, 4-H, Happy Grannies Quilting Club, give-a-ways from the Chamber of Commerce and a souvenir program on a fan from Gulf Coast Bank. The Tourist Commission will be on hand to provide tourist information on upcoming events. Shoppers will have more than 30 crafters to visit who will be selling handmade crafts on the festival grounds. The festival and concert will be held at the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse, 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette. The event is sponsored by St. Bernard Parish Government, Office of Tourism, St. Bernard Parish Art Guild, St. Bernard Parish Schools and made possible through funding from the Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

For more information contact the St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism (504)278-4242 or e-mail emcdougal@sbpg.net or visit or website at www.VisitStBernard.com.

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