Editing Alexandria, Louisiana (section)

==Annual cultural events and festivals==

===Mardi Gras===
[[File:AMGA Krewes Parade.jpg|thumb|200px|Mardi Gras float in the AMGA Krewes Parade in Alexandria.]]

Though Alexandria is north of the [[Cajun]] cultural area, the city recognizes [[Mardi Gras]] as an official holiday. The annual Mardi Gras Krewes Parade – occurring on the Sunday before Mardi Gras – on Texas Avenue is a major cultural festivity in the area. It is featured as a family-oriented event, and parade goers can enjoy over 20 New Orleans style floats, high school and college marching bands, as well as appearances by local celebrities. In addition to the main Sunday parade, the College Cheerleaders & Classic Cars Parade, which was established in 2008, takes place downtown on the Friday before Mardi Gras, the Children's Parade takes place downtown on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, and the Krewe of Provine Parade is held on [[Fat Tuesday]], processing along Coliseum Boulevard. All the events are organized by the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association (AMGA). The Krewe Parade can attract from 120,000 to 150,000; the Children's parade, up to 40,000 to 50,000, and the College Cheerleaders & Classic Cars, about 5,000 to 15,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alexandria Mardi Gras |url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130206/NEWS01/302060318/Alexandria-Mardi-Gras-Parades-food-luck-sunshine |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411231020/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130206/NEWS01/302060318/Alexandria-Mardi-Gras-Parades-food-luck-sunshine |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |newspaper=Alexandria Daily Town Talk |access-date=February 11, 2013 }}</ref>

===Alex River Fête===
[[File:Alex River Fête.jpg|thumb|200px|Booth venues at the annual Alex River Fête in downtown Alexandria.]]

An annual three-day festival is held in downtown Alexandria around late April and early May. The festival, established in 2013, was created around a former successful stand-alone event, the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races.<ref name="Alexandria Festivals">{{cite news|title=Alexandria finds its signature festival|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2017/04/29/alexandria-finds-its-signature-festival/100856514/|newspaper=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|date=April 29, 2017|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> It features the race and other former stand-alone events such as Dinner on the Bricks and the ArtWalk (now Art Fête) along with various booth venues, food, and live music, as well as the Kids Fête and Classic Car Fête.

===Alex Winter Fête===
[[File:Alex Winter Fête Ice Rink.jpg|thumb|200px|Ice rink at the annual Alex Winter Fête in downtown Alexandria.]]

An annual three day festival held in downtown Alexandria around early December. Launched in 2015, the festival first year drew about double the anticipated crowd of 15,000.<ref name="Alexandria Festivals"/> The festival, like the Alex River Fête, feature booth venues, food, and live music but also features an ice rink. In January 2017, the Alex Winter Fête was voted Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association.<ref>{{cite news|title=Louisiana Travel Promotion Association|url=http://www.cajunfirst.com/news/local-news/mcilhenny-co-wins-louisiana-travel-promotion-associations-attraction-of-the-year-louey-award/648163238|newspaper=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=April 30, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201162753/http://www.cajunfirst.com/news/local-news/mcilhenny-co-wins-louisiana-travel-promotion-associations-attraction-of-the-year-louey-award/648163238|archive-date=February 1, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Former events===
====Cenlabration====

Begun in the late 1980s, Cenlabration<ref name="Lfromhere">
   "Alexandria Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau" (notes),
   webpage:
   [http://www.louisianafromhere.com/pressroom/pressreleases/press_party.html LAfromhere-pparty] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030185657/http://www.louisianafromhere.com/pressroom/pressreleases/press_party.html |date=October 30, 2006 }}.
</ref> was one of the largest festivals in Central Louisiana (Cenla). The name comes from Central Louisiana ("LA") Celebration, and reflects local culture and heritage, as well as serving as a means of celebrating [[Labor Day]] as the end of summer.

As many as three stages support a particular type of music, including [[Cajun]] and zydeco, blues and jazz, and [[Country music]]. In addition there are arts and crafts booths for local artists to sell their wares. In the Children's Village, children can participate in arts and crafts, listen to storytellers, play games with clowns, or watch a play. The festival has plenty of carnival rides available as well. Cenlabration ends with a large fireworks display.

The festival ran for 20 years until cancellation due to finances. The city ended its annual support of $40,000 because of budget constraints.<ref name="Alexandria Festivals"/>

====RiverFest====

In 2002, representatives of local government, businesses, organizations, and community formed the nonprofit organization River Cities Cultural Alliance, Inc. to promote tourism and the arts through a celebration of Central Louisiana's diverse cultural heritage. The nonprofit served to organize and put on RiverFest: Heritage and Arts on the Red. More than ten thousand festival-goers attending the event.

RiverFest was held in downtown Alexandria and on the Alexandria and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] levees. The festival features the work of visual artists from across the South, food booths exemplifying southern cuisine, a variety of children's activities, three outdoor stages with a wide range of music, dance, and theatrical performances, and a literary component with readings and panel discussions by Louisiana authors and scholars.

RiverFest was canceled in 2007.

====Que'in on the Red====
An annual barbecue festival launched in 2006, the festival was held on the levee near downtown Alexandria and was well known for its big-name entertainment. The event was cancelled in 2012 due to its high cost and the city deciding against continued support of $100,000 annually.<ref name="Alexandria Festivals"/>