NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/15/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-There will be plenty of fun child-friendly events at this year's Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival July 16-17 at Northwestern State University's Prather Coliseum.

Noted harmonica player Vernon Birdwell of Marthaville will host a session for beginning harmonica players. The first 100 children at the session will receive a harmonica as part of their admission fee. The children will be encouraged to play along and learn from Birdwell Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Another musical event geared for children will be the age 15 and under class of the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship which will be held Saturday morning at the Festival. The age 15 and under class will begin at 9 a.m.

In addition to these events, the Festival will host a KidFest booth near the crafts area where special games and activities will be held. Face painting, activity books, make and take crafts, and other child-friendly items will be available for children and their parents at the booth. Last year, KidFest attracted hundreds of children who enjoyed the activities and learned more about Louisiana's rich folk heritage. This year, material culture artists and storytellers will share their art forms and stories with younger visitors to the Festival.

Admission for children to the Festival is $3 for ages seven through 12 and children six and under are admitted free.

For more information and entry forms for the fiddle championship and the other KidFest activities, call (318) 357-4332 or go to www.nsula.edu/folklife.

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