Experience fun, family-oriented, summertime festivals along the Boom or Bust Byway
SHREVEPORT, LA– The Boom or Bust Byway is the best way to experience the long, rich history of North Louisiana’s fluctuating oil industry while driving along the scenic countryside, enjoying the company of local people, indulging in southern eateries, and attending popular annual events throughout the rural towns of Caddo Parish. The Boom or Bust Byway follows Highway 2 and is defined by the Louisiana/Texas border and Hwy. 3049 on the west and Lake Claiborne on the east.
Four family-friendly, summertime events along the byway include Gusher Days Festival, Sunflower Trail and Festival, Heritage & Harvest Tour, and Mooringsport Cypress Festival. A complete list of events along the Boom or Bust Byway can be viewed at www.BoomOrBustByway.com.
The Gusher Days festival takes place, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 5 at Earl G. Williamson Park, 11425 Hwy. 1 South in Oil City. This festival features arts and crafts, food vendors, children’s activities, competitions, gun and archery shootouts, live entertainment, and a fishing tournament. New to this year’s festival is Cockrill’s Country Critters Petting Zoo, which features kangaroos, porcupines, ponies, and more. Admission is free.
The Gusher Days Festival presents a unique, fun, engaging opportunity for festivalgoers to learn about Oil City’s heritage. Many look forward to the Gusher Days Festival’s classic fair food options such as barbecue, hot dogs, funnel cakes, and more.
The 20th Annual Sunflower Trail and Festival will take place, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 16 at Red River Crossroads Museum, 12797 Main St. in Gilliam. The festival will feature a scenic sunflower trail, sunflower picking, arts and crafts, live entertainment, art exhibits, children’s activities, a sunflower photography contest, treasure hunt, and more.
To drive the Sunflower Trail, turn right at Old Dixie Gin and Sentell Road and drive the loop around the levee. Sentell Road circles back to Hwy. 3049 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, just north of Dixie. This scenic drive features several sunflower varieties and wildflower fields.
“Festivalgoers love the small town family atmosphere, the simplicity of driving the country roads and walking through the sunflowers,” said Karen Logan, event organizer for Sunflower Trail and Festival.
The Heritage & Harvest Tour takes place, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22. The Heritage & Harvest Tour is sponsored by the Red River Crossroads Historical Association and has more than 10 attractions from Shreveport to Ida including historical churches, bridges, museums, shops, and plantations. Brochures can be found on the Red River Crossroads Museum website at www.redrivercrossroadshistorical.org/heritageharvest and Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau Downtown Visitor Center located at 629 Spring Street in Shreveport. Tickets are available at Belcher Presbyterian Church, 508 Gray Street in Belcher and at the Red River Crossroads Museum, 12797 Main Street in Gilliam, and any of the homes on tour. Home tour tickets are $10.
The Mooringsport Cypress Festival takes place, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Edwin Tuttle Currie Park, 705 Greenwood St. in Mooringsport. This festival will feature live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, karaoke, children’s activities, a parade, and more. This fun, community-based festival presents an opportunity for locals to gather and showcase their crafty and culinary talents. Admission is free.
For more information about events along the Boom or Bust Byway, please visit www.BoomOrBustByway.com.