Save the Date!! June 19th at the Farm!!

Musical talent from across the region have been invited to the first annual Pearl Fest on Saturday, June 19^th at the Moess Center for the Arts & City Farm in Minden. Pearl Fest is an outdoor celebration of musical talent from Louisiana. Aside from providing a venue for one of the largest showings of musicians in recent history, it will also raise money for arts education according to organizers. This music festival will celebrate past and present Cultured Pearls as well as raise scholarship funds for future recipients. Cultural Crossroads, the sponsoring organization awards the Cultured Pearl scholarship to deserving high school seniors in Webster each year. The Cultured Pearl award was established in 1995 to honor the late State Representative Everett G. Doerge. Dr. Doerge supported the arts and supported the efforts of Cultural Crossroads. The scholarship that bears his name has been awarded every year to a senior in Webster Parish seeking to pursue a higher education in the arts for the past fifteen years.

“This music festival will feature a variety of musical talent from classically trained musicians to original songwriters,” states Elaine Eaton, chairman and past recipient of the Cultured Pearl. “This celebration of community, talent and art will also be done in honor of one of our own. We will also be doing this for Beth Watts Bridges.“ Beth, a Cultured Pearl recipient who lost her life to cancer was best known locally for her portrayal of Dorothy in the outdoor production of the “Wizard of Oz.” This special arrangement of the famed musical gained statewide attention for having involved more than 300 local children. It would come to be the largest outdoor production in Minden’s history. “This will be a sort of reunion for all Cultured Pearls and a time to remember one of our own,” Eaton adds. Admission to the all day event will be $10 per person, however a special free concert is being planned for that morning in conjunction with the organization’s traditional Farmers Market. Details and a schedule of musicians will be announced later in the month.

Musicians performing will be donating their time and will have an opportunity to sell their own merchandise with no commissions collected by the organization. Pearl Fest will be held on the four acre estate commonly referred to as simply ‘The Farm.’ Located on the corner of East Union and Talton Street, The Farm is also host to the annual Spring Arts Festival and Moon Over Minden. Details about the Pearl Fest, the Farm and Cultural Crossroads can be seen on their website at www.artsinminden.com. Anyone needing more information can contact Elaine Eaton at 318- 208-0008 or elainetravel@yahoo.com or Leslie Coyle at 318 422-9663 or freedom.of.76.hotmail.com or Julie Vogel at 318 286 9476 or jvogel99@yahoo.com.

Marketing and publicity efforts are being underwritten by an advertising grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Article in the Minden Press-Herald:

http://www.nwlanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20117&Itemid=57