Join us for the 2014 Louisiana Peach Festival!

Summer has arrived in Ruston-Lincoln Parish! And we know what that means... the Louisiana Peach Festival is just around the corner! Come out June 27-28, 2014 and help us celebrate its 64th year! 

As one of the longest running agricultural festivals in the state, the Louisiana Peach Festival has given Ruston quite the reputation for "peach perfect" time. Both residents and visitors enjoy a weekend of great food, live music, unique shopping opportunities and an abundance of family-friendly activities. Get busy making your plans to attend this year! Visit www.experienceruston.com for more information.

All your favorite activities are back like the Peach Parade, Arts & Crafts Show and the Antique Car Show, but there's also featured events for the kiddos! Be sure to check out the Lincoln Parish Park Fishing Tournament and the Kids Zone in Railroad Park with a bungie jump, rock wall, carnival and more!

Don't feel left out, adults! We've also got you covered with a 5K Run/1 Mile Walk; tennis, golf and bass fishing tournaments; and a rodeo out at the Northeast Louisiana Exhibition Center. As well as multiple contest like the peach cookery and peach eating contests to show off your peach skills. 

Come get your sweet Ruston peaches!
Louisiana Peach Festival - June 27-28, 2014

The music lineup this year is impressive and offers a little something for everyone! Kicking things off Friday night in Railroad Park at 6:30 p.m. is Louisiana Swamp Donky with their own brand of "southern fried rockin' country." Taking the stage at 8:00 p.m. and promising the ultimate 80's experience is (my personal favorite) the Molly Ringwalds!

Opening Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. with some award-winning Zydeco tunes will be Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, followed with a 9:00 p.m. performance by rising country star, and Bastrop, LA native, Dylan Scott! Check out his single "Makin' This Boy Go Crazy."

                           

A new aspect to the festival, and one we're very excited about, is Peach Stops! For the week of June 23-27, festival enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity to purchase premier peach goods a select restaurants, retailers, galleries, entertainment venues and local organizations. In doing so, you'll receive a stamp on your Peach Stop Shopping Rewards Card to be used in entering for great prizes!

There's so much to experience! For complete information on the 2014 Louisiana Peach Festival visit www.louisianapeachfestival.org. See you downtown!

            

It's crawfish time!

It’s Louisianians favorite time of year, it’s CRAWFISH SEASON!

We're excited to have some of our favorite area restaurants like Ponchatoulas and Scott's Catfish & Seafood serving up the mudbugs! 

Ponchatoulas
109 East Park Avenue - Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 254-5200

Maybe you're visiting the area and are unsure about this crustaceans craze? Have no fear! I’ve constructed a short list of everything you need to know about eating crawfish. (Also known as crayfish, crawdads or freshwater lobsters – take your pick!)

But first, a little history lesson provided to us by Louisiana Crawfish. If you're not interested, just keep scrolling!

Dating back to the native Americans and the early European settlers, the crawfish has been and inherent part of Louisiana culture. Abundant in the swamps and marshes across south Louisiana, crawfish were a favorite food of early residents. Centuries later, crawfish season in Louisiana is still exciting, with crawfish boils and backyard parties a time-honored tradition.

Commercial sales of crawfish in Louisiana began in the late 1800s. At that time, crawfish were harvested from natural waters through- out the southern region of the state. The first record of a commercial crawfish harvest in the United States was in 1880. That year, a harvest of 23,400 pounds was recorded, with a value of $2,140. By 1908, a U.S. Census report listed Louisiana’s crawfish production at 88,000 pounds, with a value of $3,600.

Technological advances have explained the growth of the Louisiana crawfish industry to include farming as well as fishing in the wild. In the 1960's, crawfish farming made its debut with the cultivation of crawfish in man-made ponds, using controlled water levels, forage management and water recalculation techniques to produce a highly marketable product.

Now, here’s what you need to know:

Only a small portion of the crawfish body is edible. Usually you’ll only bother with the tail, but if you’d like to eat like the locals, try the getting the small amount of meat found inside the claws and sucking the tasty, seasoned juices out of the head. No, I’m not joking. It’s a delicacy all its own.

Scott's Catfish & Seafood
2480 Hwy 33 - Ruston LA, 71270
(318) 232-7500

Contrary to popular belief, the crawfish with straight tails were not dead when they went into the boiling pot, and they are safe to eat. Check out the study done by the LSU AgCenter that puts this myth to rest.

Eating may look complicated, but it isn't.

1. Remove the tail by pinching the head between your fingers and with your other hand pull off the tail with a slight twisting motion.

2. Peel off the shell by holding it firmly and cracking with your thumb or finger, then pulling the shell off from the side.  Some people peel the entire shell from the meat while some only remove the top portion and pull out the meat from the top.

3. Optional: De-vein the crawfish by holding the tail and peeling off the outer layer of skin. Discard it, the digestive tract is in there.

4. Pop the tail into your mouth and enjoy that serious Louisiana flavor!

Then at this point, most of us suck the heads and the claws. If it’s a larger crawfish you can pry out the small pieces of meat inside the claws.

Still need help? There are several ways! Check out the video from our friends at Visit Lake Charles for some tutorials:

And that's how you do it folks! Keep us in the conversation while you're eating local in Ruston and Lincoln Parish - #EatLocal #RustonLA #TasteLouisiana 

For more information or help planning your trip to Ruston and Lincoln Parish, check out www.experienceruston.com. See you soon! 

            

Be among the first to visit this new exhibit!

What exciting news! Lincoln Parish Library will be the premiere location for this new, interactive exhibit from the Anne Frank Center in Amsterdam! Not only the premiere location in the country, but in North America! 

Starting Thursday, April 3, the library will host this exhibit showcasing Anne Frank's writings, as well as the books she read while she was in hiding during the Holocaust. Truly a once in a lifetime chance, come out and explore this unique exhibit and be among the first in the United States to do so!

"Most people don't realize that in addition to her diary, she wrote many short stories and a sentence book," says Emily Arnold, program coordinator for the library. 

The exhibit runs from April 3 until May 17 and is free to the public. Visitors and residents alike are encouraged to come out and tour this amazing exhibit! I'm sure you'll walk away inspired! 

"For such a young girl, her ability to remain positive and share her thoughts and dreams in her journal is quite remarkable. I am sure at the time, she did not realize that years later, millions would read her thoughts, her words, her stories. It is such an honor to be able to showcase an exhibit about an extraordinary girl under extraordinary circumstances," Emily also says.  

We can't wait to check this out! We're also excited for the library and applaud Ms. Arnold on working to bring such unique exhibits to the area. Stay tuned for special events centered around the exhibit!

The Lincoln Parish Library is open from 9am-8pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-pm Friday and Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sunday. For more information, give them a call at 318-255-5030 or visit www.mylpl.org.

For more information or help planning your trip to Ruston and Lincoln Parish, check out www.experienceruston.com. See you soon! 

            

RAW - Big City Flair in Downtown Ruston

Where do you go for sushi in Ruston? We have a few options, but an area favorite is RAW, located in Ruston’s Historic Downtown District. Have you tried it?

114 West Park Avenue, Ruston, LA

The first thing you’re going to notice when you walk through the door is atmosphere. RAW gives off a relaxing, but contemporary and big city ambiance that you just can’t get anywhere else. 

I like to start out with one of their small plates like the Creamy Rock Shrimp. It's tempura fried shrimp dressed in spicy garlic mayo, crunchies, green onions and spicy seasoning. So delicious! 

Creamy Rock Shrimp

From here you can go several different directions. Their menu offers both cooked and raw dishes. All rolls and dishes are made to order, and they use the freshest fish available from local markets! 

Fresh!

Some of my favorite rolls include the Sunset Roll made with a crab mix, spicy tuna and cucumber and the Cajun Roll made with crawfish, avocado, cream cheese and eel sauce. Another favorite around here (Ahem - Travis Napper) is the Tech Roll, a tempura fried roll with a crabmix, avocado, cream cheese and spicy mayo. If you're feeling a little creative, perfect! Their chefs are trained in Japanese cuisine and can put together just about anything. And don't forget the selection of wine, cocktails and fine sake to complement your meal.    

Sunset Roll
(with Creamy Rock Shrimp & Tuna Nigiri)

So whether you're looking to unwind with a drink after work, gather with friends or have a romantic dinner out on the town, RAW can provide. Expect great sushi and great service. They're located at 114 West Park Avenue in Downtown Ruston. Open for dinner at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.  

Visited RAW recently? Leave your recommendations in the comments!

Amanda Quimby is a native of Franklin Parish, a University of Louisiana at Monroe alumna and now a proud Ruston resident. As the marketing director for the CVB, she has a love for travel and tourism and showcasing #RustonLA. Follow her on Instagam and Twitter to see a lot of posts about food, wine and coffee.

Weekend Events in Ruston-Lincoln Parish

Friday, February 21– Sunday, February 23

Happy Friday! What a weekend we have ahead! Whether you're into sports, live music, great food or anything in between, Lincoln Parish has something for everyone this Friday and Saturday!

And don't forget to include us in the conversation! Tag @RustonCVB on Twitter and Instagram and hashtag #RustonLA! We'd love to see how you guys spend the weekend!  

FRIDAY

Grambling State University Career Fair

Come out and participate in this spring career fair brought to you by the GSU Office of Career Development & Placement.

9am-12pm at Favrot Student Union at GSU

LA Tech vs. Tulane

We're excited about baseball season! Come watch the Bulldogs take on Tulane!

6pm at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park

John Simoneaux Memorial Pre-Jam
Get this annual memorial jam kicked off right with the Ruston Road Kings and the Mistreats!
8:30pm-12am at Sundown Tavern

Live Music at Portico
Come out to have a late night snack and hear Brandon Waters and Chasing Daylight perform an eclectic mix of covers and originals. No cover charge!
9pm-12am at Portico Bar & Grill

SATURDAY

GSU Lady Tigers vs. Jackson State University

Come out and support the Lady Tigers out on the basketball court!

3pm at the Frederick Hobdy Assembly Center

GSU Tigers vs. Jackson State University

Come out and watch the Tigers take on the... "other" tigers!

5pm at the Frederick Hobdy Assembly Center

Lady Techsters vs. Rice University

Show your support at the Lady Techsters dominate the basketball court!

6pm at the Thomas Assembly Center at LA Tech

Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball

Who doesn't love a Mardi Gras Ball?! Food, fun, dancing and of course, the royal court!Laissez les bons temps rouler!

7pm-12am at the Ruston Civic Center

15th Annual John Simoneaux Memoiral Jam

Don't miss this day of nonstop entertainment! Get all the details on this day of music, food and fun here.  

5pm-12am at the Sundown Tavern

For a complete list of events, visit experienceruston.com.

Have an event you'd like to feature? Give us a shout at (318) 255-2031.