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DESTREHAN – With its daily chores, simple pastimes and events such as the Louisiana Purchase, statehood, the War of 1812 and the Civil War, the 19^th Century seems far in the distant past, but it shaped the lives we live today. Through music, dance, demonstrations, exhibits and hands-on activities, Destrehan Plantation invites guests to take a look at Louisiana’s past during Heritage Weekend on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

This family-friendly event includes period music provided by Kitchen Session, Les Bons-Riens Cajun Band, and Reaux, Roscoe and Abadie and dancing with the Feliciana Vintage Dancers.

Demonstrations of spinning, tatting, corn husk doll-making, butter making, candle dipping, trapping and many other “old-time” activities take place each day. The St. Charles Parish Art Guild will demonstrate faux marbling, a painting technique frequently used in homes in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

An exhibit of photos and newspaper articles will tell the story of the first 150 years St. Charles Parish.

Re-enactors from the War of 1812 and the Civil War will be camping at Destrehan Plantation, interacting with visitors, and demonstrating cannon firing. A Civil War battle reenactment will take place each day.

Funded, in part, by a grant from the United Way of St. Charles Parish, Heritage Weekend pays tribute to the many cultures (e.g., Native Americans, French, Spanish, African, German) that came together to make our state unique. Visitors may choose to participant in the heritage activities only or in combination with a guided tour of a slave cabin and the main house.

Admissions fees are as follows:

Heritage Weekend activities only

• $8 per child (ages 7-17)
• $10 per adult
• Children 6 and under free

Heritage Weekend activities and guided tour of slave cabin and plantation home

• $10 per child (ages 7-17 years)
• $22 per adult
• Children 6 and under free

Registration is available for this event online at www.destrehanplantation.org, or you may purchase tickets the days of the event at the plantation site.

For more information, please visit www.destrehanplantation.org or call the Heritage Education Coordinator, Rachel Allemand, at 985-764-9315, ext. 3.