Saturday, April 16 – Schedule Of Events

Main stage
11 a.m. • Opening Ceremonies
11 – 11:20 a.m. • Trist Middle School Chorus
11:20 – 11:50 a.m. • N.O.B.A. After School Ballet
12 – 1:30 p.m. • Chalmette High School Jazz Band & Chorus
1:30 – 2 p.m. • Art Scholarship Awards Ceremony
2 – 4 p.m. • Leif Pedersen’s 1944 Big Band Orchestra
4 – 5 p.m. • First Pentecostal Church Gospel Choir

Children’s stage
12 p.m. • Smiley the Magician*
1 p.m. • Cooking with the Frog Princess*
2 p.m. • Frank Levy’s Stories in Motion
3 p.m. • Lance Caruso & his Cajun Accordion*
4 p.m.• Uncle Wayne presents “The Pet Doctor’s Dilemma!”*
* Presented by Porta-Puppet Players

Caricature artists
12 – 5 p.m. • Gail Ledbetter
12 – 5 p.m. • Brenda Martin

The 15th Annual Art in April Festival will be Saturday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Torres Park at 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. The free event will feature live music from Chalmette High School Jazz Band and Choir, Trist Middle School Chorus, New Orleans Ballet Association After School Ballet, Leif Pedersen’s 1944 Big Band Orchestra and the First Pentecostal Church Gospel Choir. There will be 13 food vendors, 43 crafters, 20 exhibitors and a fine arts show. The ever popular Children’s Pavilion will provide hands-on arts and crafts, face painting, puppet shows, magicians, storytelling and much more. A new addition this year will be a recycled art exhibit tent.

The Art in April Patron Party will be Friday, April 15th at Chalmette High School’s new Performing Arts Center from 6 to 8 p.m. where patrons will enjoy an “Evening of the Arts” showcasing local school children’s art, music and refreshments. Additionally, the public is invited to the student’s performance from 7 to 8 p.m. To become a 2011 Festival Patron, please contact the Office of Tourism at 504. 278.4242 or Polly Campbell at 504.554.7134.

Also, this year’s fourth, annual St. Bernard Parish First Lady Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. at Torres Park before the festivities begin for the Art in April Festival. Hundreds of children enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt annually, and parents should bring their cameras to take pictures of their children with the Easter Bunny. Easter eggs will be hidden at Torres Park between the hill and the newly constructed gazebo. Since 2008, First Lady Debbie Taffaro and Parish President Craig Taffaro, who have eight children, have sponsored the event for children ages 0 to 9. There will be separate hunts for children ages 0 to 4 and for those who are 5 to 9. There also will be refreshments and a drawing for door prizes. The children are invited to stay to enjoy all of the children’s activities at the Art in April festival.

This festival’s themed poster “St. Bernard Parish Wetlands,” will be displayed at the Friday night event and during Saturday’s festival. This year’s featured artist is Claire Pescay, a long-time member of the St. Bernard Art Guild whose painting was selected as the winner from among six entries. Pescay said her inspiration came from growing up along the waterways in Shell Beach, Louisiana and enjoying the natural beauty of her hometown. The 2011 Art in April limited edition poster will be on sale for $15 at the Patron Party and the day of the festival. The original artwork will be raffled at the festival and the patron party. Pre-sale tickets are on sale now at the Clerk of Court’s Office in Chalmette and the new Tourism Information Center at 409 Aycock Street in Arabi. Raffle tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.

Art in April Festival proceeds and patronage provide for four annual scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to St. Bernard Parish graduating seniors who plan to further their education in the arts.

The Art in April Festival is sponsored by St. Bernard Parish Government, Office of Tourism, St. Bernard Parish Art Guild, and St. Bernard Parish Schools and is made possible through funding from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.