Packed weekend hits all the right marks

By Bonnie Culverhouse

From sports to music, this past weekend proved wrong the persons who say “there’s nothing to do in Minden.”

Registration numbers were impressive every day of the 2022 McKenzie Archery Shooters Association Easton/Hoyt Pro/Am Tour inaugural event at Camp Minden. Archers from across the country were streaming in for the four-day tournament that kicked off Thursday.

Archers were constantly practicing and vendors were setting up tents to display equipment and merchandise.

Activities continued through Sunday, featuring the Pro Pressure Point Shoot Down which was held at the Bossier Civic Center Saturday, April 23 at 4 p.m., in partnership with the City of Bossier City. That competition was showcased on national cable TV via The Sportsman Channel.

Friday evening, a crawfish boil was held for the ASA staff at Camp Minden. Around 75-100 persons showed up for the gathering planned and sponsored by the Webster Parish Tourism. Crawfish was donated by Louisiana Seafood Association and prepared on site by Seafood Empire of Minden. Live music was provided by B Cam and the Zydeco Bucs from Mansfield.

Green Thumb Jamboree

Saturday kicked off at 8 a.m. with a huge plant sale at Green Thumb Jamboree at the LSU Ag Center on Homer Road. Plant lovers attending were able to purchase annuals, perennials, native plants, succulents, bulbs and more. Vendors and demonstrations took place until 1 p.m., and Minden Fire Department was on-hand for the children.

Germantown Bluegrass Festival

Webster Parish Fairgrounds was host to the annual Bluegrass Festival, with music beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. The event featured such talent as Gent Mountain Grass Burrs, Caden Wilson, Amanda Roberts, Ben Shirley, Monday Night Jammers, James Sandidge & Friends and Dr. Squeak.

Sponsors include Gibsland Bank & Trust, Wild Thang Custom Meats, Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Minden, Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission and Petro-Chem Operating.

Funds collected from the festival go to upkeep and improvements to the Germantown Colony Museum.

Tartan Festival

And if none of those events suited, the annual Tartan Festival hosted hundreds of people from inside and outside the parish area. At Scottish Farms, just outside of town, there were vendors, a dog show, food, demonstrations, bagpipes and other types of music for a full day.

Every 15 to 30 minutes, a different band, storyteller or contest kept the crowd entertained.

All day events included a children’s area, blacksmithing, flintknapping, hayride, birds of prey exhibit and other activities.