[StBernard] 15TH ANNUAL ART IN APRIL FESTIVAL SAT., APRIL 16 FROM 11 A.M.-5 P.M. -- PATRON PARTY FRIDAY 6-8 P.M. AT CHALMETTE HIGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

[Westley Annis]

15TH ANNUAL ART IN APRIL FESTIVAL SAT., APRIL 16 FROM 11 A.M.-5 P.M.

PATRON PARTY FRIDAY 6-8 P.M. AT CHALMETTE HIGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

 

The 15th Annual Art in April Festival will be Saturday, April 16th from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. in Torres Park at 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. The
free event will feature live music from Chalmette High School Jazz Band and
Choir, Trist Middle School Chorus, New Orleans Ballet Association After
School Ballet, Leif Pedersen's 1944 Big Band Orchestra and the First
Pentecostal Church Gospel Choir. There will be 13 food vendors, 43 crafters,
20 exhibitors and a fine arts show.  The ever popular Children's Pavilion
will provide hands-on arts and crafts, face painting, puppet shows,
magicians, storytelling and much more.  A new addition this year will be a
recycled art exhibit tent. 

 

The Art in April Patron Party will be Friday, April 15th at Chalmette High
School's new Performing Arts Center from 6 to 8 p.m. where patrons will
enjoy an "Evening of the Arts" showcasing local school children's art, music
and refreshments.  Additionally, the public is invited to the student's
performance from 7 to 8 p.m. To become a 2011 Festival Patron, please
contact the Office of Tourism at (504) 278-4242 or Polly Campbell at (504)
554-7134.  

 

Also, this year's fourth, annual St. Bernard Parish First Lady Easter Egg
Hunt will be Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. at Torres Park before the
festivities begin for the Art in April Festival. Hundreds of children enjoy
the Easter Egg Hunt annually, and parents should bring their cameras to take
pictures of their children with the Easter Bunny. Easter eggs will be hidden
at Torres Park between the hill and the newly constructed gazebo. Since
2008, First Lady Debbie Taffaro and Parish President Craig Taffaro, who have
eight children, have sponsored the event for children ages 0 to 9. There
will be separate hunts for children ages 0 to 4 and for those who are 5 to
9. There also will be refreshments and a drawing for door prizes. The
children are invited to stay to enjoy all of the children's activities at
the Art in April festival.

 

This festival's themed poster "St. Bernard Parish Wetlands," will be
displayed at the Friday night event and during Saturday's festival. This
year's featured artist is Claire Pescay, a long-time member of the St.
Bernard Art Guild whose painting was selected as the winner from among six
entries. Pescay said her inspiration came from growing up along the
waterways in Shell Beach, Louisiana and enjoying the natural beauty of her
hometown. The 2011 Art in April limited edition poster will be on sale for
$15 at the Patron Party and the day of the festival. The original artwork
will be raffled at the festival and the patron party. Pre-sale tickets are
on sale now at the Clerk of Court's Office in Chalmette and the new Tourism
Information Center at 409 Aycock Street in Arabi.  Raffle tickets are $2
each or 3 for $5.

 

Art in April Festival proceeds and patronage provide for four annual
scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to St. Bernard Parish graduating
seniors who plan to further their education in the arts.

 

The Art in April Festival is sponsored by St. Bernard Parish Government,
Office of Tourism, St. Bernard Parish Art Guild, and St. Bernard Parish
Schools and is made possible through funding from the Louisiana Division of
the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation
and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the St.
Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

 

For more information contact the St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism
(504)278-4242 or e-mail emcdougal at sbpg.net <mailto:emcdougal at sbpg.net.>  or
visit our website at www.VisitStBernard.com <http://www.visitstbernard.com/>
.

 

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SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

MAIN STAGE

11:00 . Opening Ceremonies 

11:00 - 11:20 . Trist Middle School Chorus

11:20 - 11:50 . N.O.B.A. After School Ballet

12:00 - 1:30 . Chalmette High School Jazz Band & Chorus

1:30 - 2:00 . Art Scholarship Awards Ceremony

2:00 - 4:00 . Leif Pedersen's 1944 Big Band Orchestra

4:00 - 5:00 . First Pentecostal Church Gospel Choir

 

CHILDREN'S STAGE

12:00 . Smiley the Magician*

1:00 . Cooking with the Frog Princess*

2:00 . Frank Levy's Stories in Motion

3:00 . Lance Caruso & his Cajun Accordion*

4:00 . Uncle Wayne presents "The Pet Doctor's Dilemma!"*

  * Presented by Porta-Puppet Players

 

CARICATURE ARTISTS

12:00 - 5:00 . Gail Ledbetter 

12:00 - 5:00 . Brenda Martin