NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA- Calling all artists! You can register online to take part in the largest arts and crafts festival in Natchitoches Parish. Vendors are invited to display and sell their original, creative items at the 39th annual Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival this spring.
The premier event will be held on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 on the grounds of historic Melrose Plantation, located 15 miles south of Natchitoches. In years past, the festival was held in June, but due to the extreme heat during the summer months, organizers have decided to move the festival to a much cooler month in the spring.
The event features quality hand-crafted items such as pottery, jewelry, baskets, original works of art and fine foods from homemade recipes. More than one-hundred artists and craftsmen travel from several states to Melrose to display their work for sale to the public.
The festival brings in nearly 5000 tourists over the two-day event. Festival Director Adam Forman said the annual event is recognized
as one of the oldest and longest running arts and crafts festival in Louisiana.
Application forms are due by Friday, March 22, 2013. For more information on submitting an application, visit www.aphnatchitoces.net. Or, you can email festival organizers at info@melroseplantation.org or call 318-581-8042.
The Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival is sponsored by Association for Preservation of Historic Natchitoches. Melrose is open for tours from Noon to 4 p.m. daily. It’s located 15 miles south of Natchitoches on Highway 119. Melrose is accessible from I-49 exit 127 from the north and exit 119 from the south. For more information call (318) 379-0055.