April at State Parks
Louisiana State Parks hosts cozy and informative events throughout the month
to
Statewide Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Each month the good folks at Louisiana State Parks curate programs taking place at park properties during the month to come. The April calendar contains dozens of programs, ranging from dutch oven-cooking demonstrations to guided birdwatching hikes. So don't spend this time of year indoors; visit the wide open spaces cared for by the State Parks system. Here is a small sampling of adventures on offer.
April 4
- "Battlefield Tour and Living History," Mansfield State Historic Site, Mansfield. Commemorating the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Mansfield, park staff will conduct a special guided tour of the battlefield, along with a living history presentation featuring the typical uniforms and equipment soldiers wore and carried. There will also be a musket loading and firing demonstration. 20 am–2 pm. (318) 872-1474.
April 5
- "Easter Egg Hunt," Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, St. Francisville. Children are invited to roam the plantation grounds for eggs and to engage in 19th century games. Prizes will be awarded. 2 pm. (225) 635-3332.
April 6
- "National Tartan Day," Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, St. Francisville. Rosedown's builder, Daniel Turnbull, earns an homage for his Scottish descent each year on this celebration honoring Scottish culture and the role it played in the development of the United States. On this day, the Turnbull Clan flag will fly, and the public is invited to visit the grounds in their best tartans. 10 am–4 pm. (225) 635-3332.
April 11
- "Easter Egg Hunt," Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles at 10 am. (337 855-2665. Chicot State Park ,Ville Platte at 2 pm. (337) 363-6289. Children 12 and younger.
April 25
- "Guided Canoe Tour," Louisiana State Arboretum, Ville Platte. Join a site naturalist for a guided canoe tour of Chicot Lake. Registration required. 9 am–11 am. (337) 363-6289.
- "Native Wildflowers," Louisiana State Arboretum, Ville Platte. Explore which native wildflowers are best for your growing conditions, and how these plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds to our native butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals. (337) 363-6289.
- "Spring on the Frontier," Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches. Spring's sprung, spend it touring the site and visiting with re-enactors. $5 per person ages four and older. (318) 357-3101.
April 26
- "The Dead of Locust Grove Cemetery," Audubon State Historic Site, St. Francisville. Visit St. Francisville's historic cemetery, and learn all about the inhabitants of Locust Grove Plantation, and other major historical figures from Louisiana. Experience history through figures like Sarah Knox Taylor, the daughter of President Zachary Taylor and short-lived wife of Jefferson Davis, who died at Locust Grove. 2 pm–4 pm. (225) 635-3739.
And much more! Visit crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks for a full list.