Festival craft show offers variety

The 79th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival will turn the area between Second and Fourth streets into a mecca for artisans when the annual arts and crafts show and sale begins Friday.
The 185 vendor booths begin with those selling food from Second Street to Arkansas Alley; then from the alley to Third Street is the Artists’ Promenade featuring fine art for sale; and the two blocks encompassing Third Street, Federal Avenue and Fourth Street will be filled with crafters selling their wares, according to Lee Darce, festival vendor chairwoman.
Etched glass and mirrors, blown glass, original art work, face painting, Shrimp Life products, mining for gems, wax hands, a caricature artist, a fish-rubbing artist, and Louisiana wines from Landry Vineyards highlight the artisans available.
Darce said a mix of old favorites and new vendors will be available. Mrs. Annette’s Ceiling Tins is returning, and visitors can look for their favorites from wood workers and jewelry vendors to several plant booths and yard art. Perennial favorites kettle corn and fudge will be in their usual spots under the U.S. 90 bridge.
Numerous duck call vendors will be on hand and children’s clothing and bows will be available from several sales booths.
A vendor in the middle of the craft show will be selling buffalo and elk jerky, a festival first, Darce said.
Jerald Horst will be returning with various “seafood bibles” he has written.
A sampling of quilts, crochet work and various baby items will be available as will jams, jellies, soaps, lotions, body scrubs and candles.
Hand puppets will be sold with instructions available from the puppeteers themselves.
Darce said crossing Federal Avenue to continue perusing craft show items will be less troublesome as it will be closed to traffic during the weekend for use as a pedestrian crosswalk.
Several unique vendors will be in the area, she said, including a daylilies sale and returning vendor Carol Pritchard who will be selling beaded collars and gemstone jewelry and religious items from the Holy Land will be available.
A wine slush mix, designed to turn a glass of wine into an icy treat, will be sold in the Florida Street area.
Wildlife and nature photography, soda box and “ya ya” hats, door wreaths, purses, wallets, leather goods, pottery and large model boats round out the many unique items available at the 37th annual edition of the arts and crafts show and sale.
The craft show will open 5 p.m. through 9 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.