SHREVEPORT, La. — The Red River Revel Arts Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary Oct. 8–11 and Oct. 15–18 at Festival Plaza, bringing 90 visual artists, eight nights of headline music and expanded arts programming to downtown Shreveport.
The anniversary celebration includes a fireworks and drone show, performances featuring local musicians and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and opportunities for young artists to exhibit and sell their work.
“Revel 50 belongs to everyone who has ever volunteered a shift, sold a painting, played a stage, or brought their kids through the gates,” said Executive Director Logan Lewis. “We built this year around the people and the sound of this region, and we’re ready to welcome everyone home to Festival Plaza.”
Opening night will feature a fireworks and drone show following Cowboy Mouth’s performance on the Chase Main Stage. Supported by the City of Shreveport, the show will recognize the 50th anniversaries of both the Revel and the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
The first weekend’s headliners include Cowboy Mouth on Oct. 8, Brady Blade & Friends on Oct. 9, The American Tragedy with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 10, and Jeter Jones on Oct. 11.
The American Tragedy’s appearance will be its first performance in five years and the first orchestral presentation of the band’s music. Mike Esneault composed and arranged the orchestral treatment, with Kermit Poling conducting.
The second weekend features Better Than Ezra on Oct. 15, Shinyribs on Oct. 16, The Highland Collective on Oct. 17, and Windstorm on Oct. 18.
The Highland Collective will bring together Dylan LeBlanc, Seratones, Maggie Koerner, The Lackadaisies and special guests for a three-and-a-half-hour program featuring rotating lineups and collaborations among musicians associated with Shreveport’s Highland neighborhood.
Beyond the nightly concerts, performance group Squonk will present its interactive outdoor production, “Joy Machine,” multiple times Oct. 8–11. Trout Fishing in America, also celebrating its 50th anniversary, will perform each festival day and participate in fourth-grade arts education field trips.
Additional programming includes artist talks, a youth talent show, a silent disco and hands-on mosaic and stained-glass activities. A youth artist exhibit on Oct. 17 will allow artists ages 10–12 to display and sell original work, while an 18 and Under MicroFest that day will feature young bands and musicians.
Noble Pedicab will provide six-seat bike cab service during both weekends, connecting parking areas, festival entrances and downtown destinations. During the second weekend, service will also connect guests with PrizeFest.
The festival’s official anniversary poster, created over four years by Baton Rouge artist Stan Routh, depicts the volunteers, artists, musicians, sponsors and other participants who helped shape the Revel. A limited number of prints will be sold at the festival.
Gates open at 11 a.m. daily. The festival closes at 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday. The AT&T Discovery Maker’s Zone children’s area closes at 8 p.m. daily, with an 11 a.m. opening Oct. 8 and 9 to accommodate families during fall break.
Admission is free before 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Admission is $10 after 5 p.m. on those days and throughout Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and younger enter free. SWEPCO sponsors free admission for active military, police and fire personnel, along with Barksdale Air Force Base DBIDS cardholders.
The Red River Revel is a nonprofit organization that provides arts, music and food programming across the Shreveport region. Its events also include the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, CORK and the Bourbon & Barbeque Festival.
The full music schedule and festival information are available at redriverrevel.com.