• By JAMES MINTON
• Advocate Baker - Zachary bureau
• Published: Oct 29, 2009 - Page: 3B

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Halloween gets an early start in St. Francisville and the rest of West Feliciana Parish, as trick-or-treating will be today from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Halloween was moved up because of West Feliciana High School’s homecoming activities, which include a parade in the downtown area of St. Francisville at 2:35 p.m. Friday.

Rosedown in mourning

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site will be in “mourning” Saturday for a re-enactment of the wake and funeral service of Daniel Turnbull, the plantation’s original owner and builder. Turnbull was laid to rest Oct. 31, 1861, shortly after the Civil War began.

Funeral and mourning customs of the 19th century followed strict traditions and formalities, and in keeping with the event, the main house will be decorated according to 19th century mourning customs. The “funeral service” will be at 4 p.m. in the Informal Parlor of the Main House.

After the funeral, Rosedown will be visited by members of the historic Turnbull-Bowman family, as the plantation opens its doors for 5:30 p.m. “ghost” tours in celebration of the Halloween season.

Eve of the eve

Audubon State Historic Site in West Feliciana Parish presents a program on All Hallows’ Eve a day early, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, with interactive stations where visitors may learn about the beginnings and evolution of Halloween traditions and superstitions.

On Sunday, Audubon will have a garden talk at 10:30 a.m., a program at noon on life in a slave cabin, a demonstration of cooking on Slave Cabin Row at 1:30 p.m., and a program on plantation crafts at 3 p.m.

Blood drive Friday

United Blood Services holds a blood drive at Lane Regional Medical Center on Friday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The drive is open to the public and registration is not required.

Newcomer club restarts

The Zachary Newcomer’s Club will get a fresh start with a coffee meeting at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Zachary branch library. Anyone who moved to Zachary in the last five years is welcome to attend. Call (225) 654-7247 for more information. Men are welcome, too.