Downtown Alexandria’s Riverfete was the place to be for family fun Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The popular free admission event, an eagerly awaited local tradition since 2013, drew tens of thousands of visitors to Alexandria’s iconic downtown.

The festival featured an eclectic blend of over 120 vendors, food trucks, and bands divided into several areas. Nine bands entertained festival goers on Friday and Saturday with everything from rock to country. The festivities began with Thursday’s “Dinner on the Bricks” featuring local restaurants serving tastings of their best fare with entertainment provided by DJ Tony Groove.

The Alexandria Museum of Art sponsored a delightfully unique event Friday evening. Fifteen Luminaria paraded through the festival area led by the talented young men and women of the Pineville Elementary School drumline. Each luminaria is a handmade costume lit by LED lights. Spiders, dragons, and other whimsical creatures floated through the parade route.

The Indie Village welcomed one and all with everything from gourmet coffee to art and music. The riverbank featured “Que’in on the Red”, a BBQ competition that filled the area with mouthwatering aromas. Classic car aficionados could enjoy the many beautiful cars on display in the “Classic Car Fete”. The younger set had their own area, “Kid’s Fete”, where they could play to their heart’s content. Adult Riverfete fans could enjoy refreshments at the beer garden while enjoying the festival’s sights and sounds. Riverfete also featured a “Battle of the Bands” with 4 local schools vying for top honors.

Riverfete is terrific fun and a superb example of what can happen when a community comes together to do something special. The annual Riverfete is one of the many things that make life in Louisiana wonderfully flavorful.