Gentilly Terrace marks 100 years with party

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• Travel editor
• Published: Mar 29, 2010

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Gentilly Terrace and Gardens in New Orleans observes its 100th anniversary Saturday, April 4. Residents and friends invite people to join them for a celebration 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Gentilly Terrace Elementary School, 4720 Painters St.

Created as New Orleans’ first 20th century neighborhood, Gentilly Terrace was founded as a showplace for modern architecture in 1909. The neighborhood features architectural styles including California bungalows, English cottages, Colonial Revival homes and Spanish Revival houses. Later the neighborhood became known as Gentilly Terrace and Gentilly Gardens. Gentilly Terrace is on the National Register of Historic Places.

A self-guided tour of seven of the neighborhood’s most beautiful and historic homes will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the celebration.

As part of the Gentilly Terrace centennial, neighbors are working with Hike for KaTREEna, a nonprofit dedicated to replanting New Orleans trees post-Katrina. Gentilly Terrace and Gardens intends to plant 100 trees in the neighborhood.

For information, call (504) 812-1825 or go to  http://www.gentillyterrace.com.

Cypress Sawmill Festival
The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival is set Friday-Sunday, April 3-5, in Kemper Williams Park, Patterson.

The festival honors an industry that was vital to the local economy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It features continuous music, a cypress sawmill display located in the Louisiana State Museum, a Cajun cook-off, rides and games and numerous contests. Don’t miss the passe partout (two-person saw) contest featuring past festival queens.

Of special interest will be the All American Lumberjack Show, a 30- to 60-minute show produced for fairs and festivals. It features two teams and 10 lumber jack events in which the public is invited to participate. In between shows, lumberjacks will take turns chain saw carving, creating small bears, chairs, cacti and more.

Admission is $10 per car, per day, Saturday and Sunday, and $5, Friday. Overnight camping is available at Kemper Williams Park. For RV reservations and rates, contact Jerry Boyles, (985) 395-2298. For a complete schedule and directions, contact the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau, (800) 256-2931 or visit http://www.cypresssawmill.com.

Kite Fest Louisiane
The sky above West Baton Rouge will be filled with colorful kites Friday-Sunday, April 3-5, during Kite Fest Louisiane. The festival takes place at the West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex off La. 415 at Rosedale Road in Port Allen.

Friday is student day with field trips for kids, teachers and parents. Activities include kite making workshops.

The main festival is scheduled 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Activities include kite flying competitions, sport kite team ballets, professional kite flying, kite flying lessons, music and Louisiana food booths. Contact (800) 654-9701 or http://www.westbatonrouge.net.

Mansfield re-enactment
Mansfield State Historic Site at Mansfield will host the re-enactment of the Battle of Mansfield Friday-Sunday, April 3-5. Some 300 to 400 re-enactors from Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma are expected to participate.