Fall Events Happening in Ruston

Written by Tori Ward, CVB Marketing/PR Assistant

Fall has arrived, which means some of Ruston’s most popular events of the year are on the horizon! There’s a full calendar of events this fall ranging from theatre performances to beer tasting to fashion events and more. We’re confident you’ll find an event that’s right up your alley happening this season in Ruston.

Are you a fan of fall fashion? If so, Ruston Fashion Week is the event for you. The week of October 10-15 will consist of various fashion-focused events hosted by stores all around Ruston. Fashion Week is more than just clothing; it will showcase all that Ruston’s retail community has to offer. To see participating stores and Fashion Week event updates, check out their Facebook page. 

Ruston Fashion Week 2016, Oct. 10-15

If theatre or film are your thing, then you’ll have some great events to attend this fall in Ruston! NCLAC will be presenting Donald Cried on October 3 and NUTS! on November 17 at the Dixie Center for the Arts. These films are part of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers happening in Ruston. Also at The Dixie, join Ruston Community Theatre as they present the comedy You Can’t Take It With You on October 13-16. You also won’t want to miss Tartuffe performed by the Louisiana Tech University School of Performing Arts on November 1-6.

For all the football fans out there, we have several college football games and pre-game events coming up in Lincoln Parish. Loyal Blue Weekends take place every LA Tech Football home-game weekend and feature family activities, spirit groups, live music, and more football fun on every Friday night before Saturday home games. Fans are also welcome to leave their vehicle downtown on gameday and catch the Tech Trolley at Railroad Park, which transports fans to and from the stadium free of charge. The dates for the remaining LA Tech Football home games are: October 1, 6, 29, and November 12. You can also catch more college football right down the road in Grambling, La., where the Tigers will have their Homecoming Game on October 29.

Loyal Blue Weekends kick off  with Rock the Railroad in Downtown Ruston

If you love supporting the local arts, then the Ruston Makers Fair and ARToberfest will be right up your alley. The Fall 2016 Ruston Makers Fair will be held on October 8 at the Historic Fire Station in Downtown Ruston, where attendees can look forward fun games, live music, food trucks, and handmade items available for sale from more than 70 of the most talented makers, artisans and artist in the area. ARToberfest is an annual NCLAC fundraising event where area home brewers compete for the best brew while attendees sample their beers. Come enjoy live music, food trucks and other fun activities while supporting the arts on October 21 at the Norton Building in downtown.  

Find local, handmade items at the Ruston Makers Fair

We hope you’ll take the time to experience some of these exciting events happening this season in Ruston, La.! For more information on these and other events, visit experienceruston.com.

Here’s a quick look at all the upcoming Ruston events:

Sept. 30- Oct. 1: Loyal Blue Weekend (LA Tech Football vs. UTEP)

Oct. 1: Ruston Farmers Market Fall Season Starts

Oct. 3: Donald Cried

Oct. 6: LA Tech Football vs. Western Kentucky

Oct. 7-9: Big Creek Trade Days

Oct. 8: Ruston Makers Fair

Oct. 10-15: Ruston Fashion Week

Oct. 13-16: You Can’t Take It With You

Oct. 20: Wes Walker Live in Concert 
Oct. 21: ARToberfest

Oct. 28-29: Loyal Blue Weekend (LA Tech Football vs. Rice)

Oct. 29: GSU Football vs. University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Homecoming Game)

Nov. 1-6: Tartuffe

Nov. 4: Frankie Ballard Live in Concert 
Nov. 5: Happy Holiday Market

Nov. 11-13: Big Creek Trade Days

Nov. 11-12: Loyal Blue Weekend (Homecoming Game- LA Tech Football vs. UTSA)

Nov. 17: NUTS!

Tori is a proud Louisiana native and social media nerd. She has a passion for travel, food, and all things related to tourism promotions. Tori is an avid movie watcher, coffee fanatic, and lover of the outdoors. Still want to know more? Head over to her website. 

30 Things to Do in Ruston Before You Graduate

By Tori Ward, CVB Marketing/PR Assistant 

Ruston is first and foremost a college town, where students spend some of the best and most exciting years of their lives. College is a time to explore, try new things, and make memories. With this in mind, we're challenging students to get out of their dorms and experience these 30 things in Ruston before they graduate!

1. Visit the Mitcham Farms Peach Orchard 

2. Eat a Dawg House burger

3. Dance the night away at Mardi Gras Ball  

4. Visit the 3 local museums in Lincoln Parish

5. Explore Lincoln Parish Park

Watch the sun set on one of the many piers at Lincoln Parish Park

6. Enjoy a meal on the Sundown patio

7. Go see a Ruston Community Theatre show at The Dixie

8. Load up on freebies at the Ruston Visitors Center 

9. Attend the Annual John Simoneaux Memorial Jam in the spring

10. Eat crawfish at Ponchatoulas 

Crawfish from Ponchatoulas in Downtown Ruston

11. Go to the Louisiana Peach Festival

12. Spend an afternoon shopping in Downtown Ruston

13. Eat lunch at Rosemary's Kitchen

14. Watch the Temple Baptist Church 4th of July Fireworks

15. Go to a concert at the Revelry of Ruston

Travis Tritt live in concert at The Revelry of Ruston

16. Have a date night at RAW

17. Take part in Loyal Blue Weekend

18. Play a game of Frisbee Golf in Hideaway Park 

19. Try the coffee & beignets at Parish Press

20. Go to the Ruston Makers Fair

Local vendors screen printing t-shirts at the Ruston Makers Fair

21. Eat a Scatterload Sandwich at Brister's Smokehouse 

22. Shop the Ruston Farmers Market

23. Watch a parade go through Ruston

24. Go to Little Pizzoli's for "Meatball Monday”

25. Attend a Ruston Fashion Week event

Fashion show put on by The Fashion during Ruston Fashion Week

26. Visit Grambling State University  

27. Eat Sunday Brunch at Beau Vines

28. Attend a NCLAC event 

29. Enjoy Eskamoes' frozen custard by the fire pit in North Village Plaza

30. Participate in a holiday event/activity

See a RCT Christmas play at The Dixie 

While we made this list with students in mind, we also challenge visitors and locals to experience these 30 things that Ruston has to offer! Be sure to document and share your experiences in Ruston using the hashtag #RustonLA. Did we leave something off the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Tori is a proud Louisiana native and social media nerd. She has a passion for travel, food, and all things related to tourism promotions. Tori is an avid movie watcher, coffee fanatic, and lover of the outdoors. Still want to know more? Head over to her website.  

Independent Films in Ruston

By Tori Ward, Marketing/PR Assistant

September seems to be the month of films in Ruston, La. There are three different film events taking place in Ruston over the next few weeks, including an indie film series, a touring film festival, and a showing of several short films by a local filmmaker. Read more about each of these incredible film events below. 

Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers

September 15: Agents of Change

Image via agentsofchangefilm.com

7pm | Dixie Center for the Arts

Agents of Change will be the first film to kick off NCLAC's Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers in Ruston, La. We're beyond excited that NCLAC was chosen as 1 of 21 screening partners for the 2016-2017 Southern Circuit Tour, a tour of independent films and filmmakers in which filmmakers participate in community screenings and audience engagement activities. 

NCLAC will present six of the Southern Circuit films over eight months at the Dixie Center for the Arts. These selected films have been screened at major film festivals, winning awards and gaining national recognition. If you haven't caught on yet, let me be blunt: THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Ruston has never seen an event like this, so you absolutely will not want to miss this series of films. 

Not only do viewers have the opportunity to see these films on screen at the historic Dixie Theatre, but they will also have the chance to participate in a Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening. Find more information and a link to purchase tickets here. 

Reel Paddling Film Festival

September 22 

6-8pm | Louisiana Tech Planetarium 

image via reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com

Louisiana Delta Adventures is bringing the World Tour of the Reel Paddling Film Festival to Ruston, La.! The Reel Paddling Film Festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year. There are 21 inspiring paddling films shortlisted for the World Tour, including the ten festival category winners. 

Audiences will see gripping whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, intense kayak fishing battles, and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.

This is a free event, although seating is limited to the first 100 attendees. Each participant will be able to vote for their "People's-Choice Favorite" and will receive a free subscription to a paddling magazine. In addition, a kayak will be given away to one lucky winner. This showing is only one of two tours held in the the South so far this year, so be sure to take advantage of this unique opportunity! Find more info here.

A Night of Shorts by Matthew Ramsaur

September 24

7:30-9:30pm | Celebrity Theatres in Ruston 

image via facebook.com/events/603169083189226/

A Night of Shorts provides another unique opportunity to view four short films created by Matthew Ramsaur, local filmmaker/videographer of Ramsaur Films. These four shorts have a Christian theme, but please be aware that most of these films are not suitable for children under the age of 13. This event will be held at Celebrity Theatres in Ruston and is free to the public. 

The four films being shown are In Between, Shadows Aglow, Freedom, and Divert. In Between was recently screened at the Great Lakes Christian Film Festival in Buffalo, New York and was nominated for four awards, winning Best Short Film and Best Director. Following the films, there will be a Q&A session with cast and crew of each film. Don't miss this great opportunity to support an incredibly talented local filmmaker. Find more info here.

We hope you get a chance to experience this diverse and unique series of film events taking place in Ruston, La. this fall! Please comment below if you have any questions regarding these events. For more event listings visit experienceruston.com.  

Tori is a proud Louisiana native and social media nerd. She has a passion for travel, food, and all things related to tourism promotions. Tori is an avid movie watcher, coffee fanatic, and lover of the outdoors. Still want to know more? Head over to her website. 

Tech Gameday for Dummies 2016

Written By Travis Napper, CVB President/CEO 

The kids are back in school and everyone is starting to put their summer vacations in their rear-view mirror, which can only mean one thing: it's football season in Ruston, as well as across the South. To get everyone prepped for the first Louisiana Tech Football game of the year coming up on Sept. 10, I thought this Game Day guide might be helpful to all Bulldog fans new and old!

Pre-Game

Loyal Blue Weekends
This year, we're welcoming a new LA Tech Football tradition, Loyal Blue Weekends. The pre-game festivities will kick off Friday night in Downtown Ruston with kids' activities, spirit groups, live music, and more fun! Read more about Loyal Blue Weekends here.

What to Wear
Show some spirit! You are there to support your team, so dress for the occasion. Check to see if it is the “Red Out” Game (hint: it is 10/1). If not, you should be wearing BLUE! Homecoming might be a good time to dress a little nicer, but it’s not necessary. Also, don’t forget to check the weather. Umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stadium, so rain boots and a poncho are your best bet for rainy games.

Parking
As the crowds continue to grow, the need for parking grows too. Refer to the map below to see all of the available parking options. Take note: it is only a 10 minute walk from behind the bookstore to the stadium. A new option this year is the Tech Trolley! Park your vehicle in Downtown Ruston and catch the trolley at Railroad Park, which will transport you to the Joe Aillet Stadium free of charge. The Tech Trolley will run continuously 2 hours prior to kickoff and 1 hour after the game. 

Football Parking Map

Tailgating

There are a number of ways to take part in the tailgating experience. The Argent Pavilion is host to the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association Tailgate for LTAC and Alumni Association members with the opportunity to join on site. They usually have a great offering of food and drinks, and it’s a prime spot to catch up with former classmates. There is also plenty of group and corporate tailgating that takes place along Tailgate Alley adjacent to the Argent Pavilion. Most tailgaters will welcome any friendly fan. Setting up your own tailgate is another option and is allowed in all four parking lots (A, B, C, D) around Joe Aillet Stadium, the grass areas surrounding Joe Aillet Stadium, and the Thomas Assembly Center (including Garland Gregory Hideaway Park). RV spaces are available for guests attending football games. Contact the LTAC and Alumni Association office (318-255-7950) for more information.

Activities
There are plenty of pre-game activities to match any interest. Bulldog Village (opens 3 hours prior to kickoff), located at the bottom of the Thomas Assembly Center steps, has live music, the Ruston Brick Kids Zone, face-painting with Tech spirit groups,  photo stations,  interaction with LA Tech student-athletes, Barnes and Noble Bookstore  and more.  There is also a tailgating cook-off judged by student-athletes. The “Walk of Pride” (2 hours prior to kickoff) has become a Tech tradition. The band plays in front of the Argent Pavilion and then leads the Bulldog football team through the crowd of cheering fans on their way to the locker room.  All fans are encouraged to head to the stadium 30 minutes prior to kickoff to not miss any of the pre-game entertainment.

The Game               

Stadium
Joe Aillet Stadium has been home to Louisiana Tech football for the past 45-plus years. Since opening in 1968 at a capacity of 23,000, it has seen many changes and updates. The most recent update being the addition of the Davison Athletics Complex, bringing the stadium capacity to 28,019. Check out our feature on the Davison Athletics Complex here. New turf, called FieldTurf Mono, has recently been installed. It offers some of the most vibrant colors and great cushion and safety for the players.  As you walk around the outside of the stadium, make sure you notice the stadium banners honoring Terry Bradshaw, Willie Roaf, Fred Dean, Joe Aillet and Maxie Lambright, some of Tech Football’s most successful  alumni. For a stadium seating chart click here.

Joe Aillet Stadium seating chart (click to enlarge)

Concessions
Concessions are located in six convenient areas on both the east and west sides of the stadium, with many new vendors added including Wing Stop, a candy stand, taco truck, iced tea stand, java drinks, smoothies and more. Alcoholic beverages are only allowed within the Club Level of the Davison Athletics Complex. 

Video Board
The addition of the video board in the North End zone has brought a new definition to the full game experience.  Sometimes referred to as DawgZilla, the Origin Bank video board now provides the fans with instant replay and great intro videos, as well as some pretty neat fan interactions.

Post Game

Where to Stay
Any of Ruston’s area hotels are the logical choice, of course. All are located within 8 minutes of the stadium. However, as with most college towns, hotels near campus tend to be very busy and often full on the weekends of home games. The good news is there are some great alternatives that are very convenient: TDR Home Rental properties, The Cottage as well as the RV and camping sites at the beautiful Lincoln Parish Park.  And of course, you could always try to bum a stay from family or friends!

Where to eat/drink
While you have plenty of tasty options for tailgate foods on game day, if you are anything like me you will want to make it a full weekend of food and football.  After the game, you might be ready for another snack and a few beverages while catching the late west coast games on TV.  For this, I would recommend Dawg House Sports Grill.  After you sleep in a little and before you get sucked into the noon Saints game, I suggest trying out the Sunday Brunch at Beau Vines Steakhouse. These two are just a few of the many great culinary options in Ruston, so visit our website and blog for more restaurant profiles.

A Few Things to Remember

• Beat the crowd. Arrive 3-5 hours before kickoff to avoid traffic, have more access to parking and have first pick on certain tailgating spots.  And remember, if you don’t want to miss any of the official pre-game entertainment, make sure you are in the stadium 30 minutes prior to kickoff!

• Clean up before kickoff. Bring your own trash bags and water down hot coals before heading to the stadium. Please respect LA Tech and its campus.

• First aid is available for fans at Joe Aillet Stadium. West Concourse (Press Box side): The First Aid Station is located at the base of the elevator shaft. East Concourse: An ambulance or First Aid tent will be located next to the Police Mobile Command Center outside the gates. Contact an usher if you have an emergency. North side: An ambulance will be parked next to the videoboard on the North side of the stadium.

• Don’t drink and drive — give up the keys. If alcoholic drinks get the best of you, make sure someone sober takes the wheel. 

One last thing!  Do you have your tickets yet?

Travis Napper is from Monroe, La., but has called Ruston home for 13 years. He is a LA Tech alum and devoted Bulldog fan. Travis is a proud husband to Brittany and father of two children, Emory and Stover. In his spare time he enjoys cheering on the bulldogs and enjoying local events.