Downtown Alexandria’s Riverfete was the place to be for family fun on May 1-3. 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 200 vendors, food trucks, and bands divided into several areas. 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.

The quirky Indie Village welcomed one and all with everything from gourmet coffee to art and music. “Que’in on the Red”, a BBQ competition, filled the area with mouthwatering aromas as 17 chefs competed for top honors. 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. This year’s event featured a huge Ferris wheel, the top of which offered riders a spectacular view of the riverfront. Our local Humane Society made its inaugural Adopt-a- Pet Fête, a resounding success with each dog they brought finding a forever home.

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 and unique.