Frugal Family Travelers: 2021

Pictured above, Gallier Hall, with its stately columns, never looked more amazing as it did during the holiday season back in 2014. French artist team, La Maison Production designed a video and sound installation to delight viewers! The installation, entitled "Luna Fete" (which stands for "light up NOLA Arts") projected across the entire facade of the historic building.

This year the 8th edition of LUNA Fête 2021 will be in a new location this year!

“Arts Council New Orleans LUNA Fête returns with A New Glow. Presented by the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and New Orleans & Company, LUNA Fête's Eight Edition will transform the wonderfully walkable Convention Center Pedestrian Park, featuring three new, permanent light sculptures along with a delightful selection of temporary art installations and musical performances, plus our famous holiday Arts Market. This year’s festival will be anchored by a new projection from the internationally award-winning artist Bart Kresa.”

Luna Fête website

Cost: Free

Date and Times:

6:00-10:00 p.m. nighthy, December 16 through December 19, 2021. With parking lots located at each end of the convention center pedestrian parkway.

Directions:

Ernest N. Moria Convention Center Park

900 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70130

Disclaimer:

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There are many reasons local history buffs and visitors from other states will enjoy the city of Plaquemine. Our Frugal Family Travelers certainly did and have been spying this little gem for quite some time in hopes of checking it off the bucket list. The first stop on our journey centered around the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the lock represents a time in Louisiana history when steam boats and later the first air boats traveled from the mighty Mississippi River into Bayou Plaquemine to transport goods. The lock was an engineering marvel of its day, due to George Gothais, who in addition to the Lock in Plaquemine, designed the Panama Canal. Despite the rich history of the lock, its doors closed for the last time in 1962, due the ever increasing size of ships traveling through its gate, as well as the need for a larger lock which came to fruition when the one in nearby Port Allen was constructed. Thankfully, the lock still stands today due to the tireless four year battle of Gary J. Hebert in an effort to preserve this site for future generations.

In addition to the lock, your Frugal Family Travelers should consider visiting the Iberville Museum (housed in the courthouse ca. 1848), Saint John Evangelical Catholic Church, as well as the market inside the old Train Depot.

Also, make a note when traveling that this is close to Nottoway plantation as well as the Madonna Chapel, both nearby just off river road. Side Note: Madonna Chapel was touted by Robert Ripley as the smallest chapel in the world.

Directions:

Plaquemine State Historic Site 57730 Main St, Plaquemine, LA 70764

Madonna chapel

Iberville Museum

For those looking to explore more Louisiana history and a place to make a splash with your Frugal Family Travelers, click the links below. Here you will discover other nearby areas to combine with your visit to Plaquemine to create an entire vacation!

Louisiana Rural Life Museum

Liberty Lagoon

Cost: All activities featured in the post are free.

Enjoy the pictures below which outline the places featured in the post!

Historic Lock