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Trent Young (left), head track coach at Marksville High, and Lerbert Williams, owner of Williams Trucking, show off their barbecued ribs. They were selling ribs as a fundraiser for the Tiger track team at the Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}

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“We’re legal. It’s not four,” Marksville Maor John Lemoine (center, seated) joked as he chatted with City Council members (from right) Frank Havard and Mike Gremillion. Lemoine was referencing a state law that would prevent a majority of the six-member mayor/council from meeting without a prior notice. The law does not apply to chance meetings at social gatherings.
The city officials took shelter from the heat in the Lions Club tent with club members Pappy Millet (in apron) and Robert St. Romain. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}

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Sgts Chauncey Burns (front) and Jeremy Brown, both with the National Guard's 1086th Transport Company, post the U.S. and Louisiana flags during opening ceremonies of the Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival on Independence Day. Both men will be deployed to the Persian Gulf later this month. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}

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A crowd of AAMF visitors sang, clapped and tapped their feet to the inspirational sounds of the St. John Community Church-Baptist Voices of Praise during the July 4th festival in Marksville.

Food, fun and fireworks for the 4th

Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival attracts large crowd for Independence Day

 

   Two things were obvious when you first stepped out of the car at the annual Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival held on July 4th.
   First, someone’s cooking barbecue. Second, it’s hot out here.
   Festival organizers had a few big tents with big fans set up so visitors could avoid the second and enjoy the first.
  For the fifth year, Marksville hosted one of the state’s best -- if not the biggest -- birthday party for Uncle Sam. The old gent turned 240. We’re sure he fondly remembers his 175th birthday celebration, when Marksville had its first July 4th parade.
  He was not disappointed this year as the 65th edition of that traditional event rolled down the streets near the end of the day to the pleasure of a throng of visitors, including many children.
  While the ample display of red, white and blue reminded everyone of the patriotic basis for this holiday, the St. John Community Church-Baptist Voices of Praise reminded everyone that this nation was created as a Christian-oriented nation with its political actions rooted deeply in the Founding Fathers' firm faith.
  The choir, under direction of Monica Steib, opened the festival with the “Star Spangled Banner” and then performed several traditional and contemporary songs.
  Rows of vendors offered visitors shopping opportunities ranging from the practical -- heat-fighting bandannas -- to the decorative -- bald cypress knees.
  The smell of barbecue in the air was so prevalent that a visitor could almost gain weight just by sitting under the tent.
   Most of the smoke and smell came from the BBQ Cook-Off section of the fairgrounds. However, one of the first grills to meet visitors was not competing in the contest.
   Trent Young, head track coach at Marksville High, and Lerbert Williams of Williams Trucking were preparing ribs and wings as a track team fundraiser.
   “We’re just trying to raise some money for uniforms and supplies,” Young said. “We’re not competing in the cook-off.”
   Based on the aroma rising from the grill, there were probably a number of cook-off contestants who were pleased with that decision.
   Throughout the day, the sounds of a variety of music mixed with the sweet, savory smell of beef, pork and chicken.
   Those who either braved the July heat for the whole day or figured they’d do their patriotic duty later in the afternoon were treated to the 65th annual Independence Day Parade at 6 p.m.
    Marksville’s parade is the oldest in the state, dating back to  1951.
    Jeannette Knoll, currently serving as an associate justice of the state Supreme Court, was grand marshal.
   She had joked that as grand marshal she would request a “light shower” to cool things down.
  About noon, the shower came, but the festival continued -- despite the periodic ominous rumblings of thunder. Knoll and her husband, former District Attorney Eddie Knoll, walked among visitors to the festival, which is held on part of their properties betweeen Main and Washington Streets.
  Following the parade, the city-sponsored fireworks display ended the festivities with a bang -- well, a bunch of bangs.
  “It’s a little hot, but the tents make it nice,” Marksville Mayor John Lemoine said from the comfort of one of the large, fan-cooled tents. “There are more contestants in the BBQ Cook-off this year than we had last year. The event is getting bigger and better each year.”