By Kevin Shannahan

Two Natchitoches attractions didn’t let this weekend’s cold rain get in the way of providing an educational and fun festival experience despite the weather. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum and Fort St Jean Baptiste were both open for business giving our City’s visitors a taste of Natchitoches hospitality. For the second year in a row, the Sports Museum waived its entry fee for the day and had welcomed over 70 visitors by noon, with more coming in throughout the day. On the other end of the Festival area, Fort St. Jean Baptiste welcomed visitors with its annual winter encampment. The Fort’s staff was joined by 15 reenactors from throughout Louisiana and Texas who portrayed life in the 1700’s. While the weather precluded the traditional cannon firing, reenactors demonstrated tomahawk throwing, cooking, bullet making and other aspects of day-to-day life in the 18th century.