Despite worries about overcast skies and high chances for rain, the Denham Springs Antique District’s yearly Fall Fest opened at 9 AM to a bustling crowd of friends, family, and pets all eager to enjoy the live entertainment, festival food, and myriad of booths available.
Food options at the festival ranged from sweet treats, like Italian ice and snow cones, to savory dishes such as boudin balls and jambalaya. Like at past festivals, the Louisiana branch of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) had several drink carts with waters and sodas for anyone needing a quick refresher. Covered tables and chairs provided areas to sit in the shade, listen to the live music, and eat in peace before continuing to walk the shops.
Live entertainment on the train station included Sho Retro, Drama Kings, Odyssey Dance, a Spooktacular Costume Contest, Coverly Brothers, and Natalie Melancon and Southern Accent.
A children’s corner provided free pumpkin painting and balloon animal making while supplies lasted. Nearby, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office had an impressive tent setup with several shiny police motorcycles and a large armored car that people were able to look inside of.
Several booths lined the street of the antique district, each boasting their own unique and interesting wares for the curious onlookers. From handmade soaps, wooden signs, and colorful quilts to scenic landscape paintings, paper art, and jewelry art, there was plenty to choose from for even the pickiest shopper.
Fall Fest also created the opportunity for an early headstart on Christman gift planning, with many shops offering Christmas themed items, jewelry, and even yard decorations.
One such shop owner, Kitty Landry of Miss Kitty’s Yard Pieces, displayed several Christmas themed yard decorations that she cut, designed, and painted herself. From entire gingerbread cities to a single Stitch pumpkin head, each yard piece is made in-house.
Landry’s inspiration for her art comes from shows and media that she grew up with, lending the pieces a timeless, classic touch to their design that works well with Christmas and classic Halloween themes.
For her first time participating in Fall Fest, Landry expressed that she’s excited to continue participating for many more to come.
Another booth took inspiration from that past as well, with their unique antique jewelry animal art. The mother daughter duo’s striking pieces combine brooches, beads, and pins in an effortlessly enchanting style to make mosaic-style artworks of local flora, fauna, teacups, and tubs.
“We just started playing around, and at first we started making crosses, then birds, and then we’re like: ‘man, there’s no limit’,” the duo added, noting their hopes to make even bigger art pieces in the future.
Guy Tamo with his shop GN Quills had an entire booth displaying his paper art pieces and paper jewelry.
The pieces, one of which was an enchantingly intricate rendering of the state of Louisiana with striking dimensional outlines of swirls, folds, and rolls in every color of the rainbow against a stark white background, often easily caught the attention of passersby.
Tamo, who has been honing his craft for several years with his background in traditional art mediums, has participated in local festivals since 2021.
He originally found inspiration for the jewelry side of his craft from a customer who gave him the idea to try branching out into paper jewelry. And after hearing women talk about how they didn’t like heavy earrings, Tamo knew that he wanted to give making paper jewelry a shot.
“A lot of people are not accustomed to this art form, so I am more trying to make this art form more familiar and more popular,” Tamo explained as he deftly curled a strip of colored paper.
Several more stalls and artists were at the festival, each with their own unique stories, inspirations, and art forms. If half of the fun of fall fest is getting to go shopping, then the other half must be getting to connect with the artists and learn about their individual art journeys.
While fall fest may be over now, those who missed out can take solace in knowing that the fall festival and spring festival are yearly events that are sure to come back soon. After all, it’s never too early to start planning for the next festival!
