Southdown arts, crafts fair in bloom

Spring is in the air and, for locals that can mean only one thing: It’s time for the 26th annual Southdown Spring Marketplace Arts & Crafts Festival.

Sponsored by the Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society, the one-day outdoor arts and crafts show will be held March 31 on the Southdown Plantation grounds.

“There is truly a little bit of everything available at Southdown Marketplace,” said Karen Hart, museum director and marketplace coordinator. “Shoppers can find treasures far different from the mass-produced items in retail store.”

The marketplace features over 300 booths, with local and national vendors selling unique handmade crafts and arts.

Festival-goers will find a smorgasbord of goods: Jewelry, seasonal decorations, clothing, woodcrafts, furniture, paintings, photography, toys, dolls, metalwork, floral displays, candles, bath and body goods, gourmet food items, pottery, and things for the home and garden.

Hart said local authors will also be on hand.

“There are products suited to men, women and children of all ages, in all price ranges and for all hobbies and interests,” she said.

There will also be home grown plants for sale, as well as antiques and collectibles.

Gift-wrapping and package holding services will be available.

And if you have young ones in tow, the Marketplace will have hands-on activities for children. “We’ll have face painting, candy art, bead art and other kids’ booths,” Hart said.

And if you work up an appetite, the Cajun cuisine food court can quench your appetite. There visitors will find jambalaya, gumbo, red beans, white beans, corn soup and the normal festival farenhot dogs, burgers and the like.

Hart said the event is family-friendly and alcohol-free.

Gates to the Spring Marketplace open at 8 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.

Admission to the event if $4 per person; children under age 12 are admitted free.

And supervised free parking and shuttle bus service will be in operation throughout the day at Terrebonne High School’s parking lot on St. Charles Street (across from the school’s stadium).

Throughout the day, tours of Southdown Plantation House/The Terrebonne Museum will be held. The tour explores the 12 rooms of exhibits detailing the local history and culture.

Admission for the tour is $4 for adults, $2 for children.

Proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society for the daily operation and maintenance of the plantation and museum. The society does not receive federal, state or parish funding and relies on the spring and fall festival as its main sources of revenue.

“During the fall show, most people are looking for gifts for the upcoming holiday.

But at the spring show, you can take more time to shop for yourself and for other special occasions in the year, such as birthdays, graduations and weddings,” Hart said The Southdown Spring Marketplace Arts & Crafts Festival is held rain or shine.

Southdown is located near the intersection of La. 311 and St. Charles Street, approximately nine miles south of U.S. Hwy. 90, exit 200.

For more information, call (985) 851-0154.