Community readies for event’s eight-year comeback

One of the area’s most popular events will return this year from an eightyear hiatus just in time to kick-off the holiday season.

Rockets over the Red, a fireworks festival and more, will take place Nov. 28 at the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets in Bossier City.

“We are pleased to see this event come back,” Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport- Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau, said.

“It’s a great quality-of-life event for residents and an event that has mass appeal to our out-of-area visitors.”

Cumulus Broadcasting is organizing this year’s Rockets Over the Red. “This is a great opportunity for Shreveport and Bossier City to come together and watch an epic show,” Cumulus’ market manager Brandon Beard said. “The viewing of this show will be best from the Louisiana Boardwalk area.”

Festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with live music that will include The Brother Band and Joanie Nerrettig. Visitors can browse and shop at booths filled with work by local artists while sampling food from various Boardwalk vendors. The fireworks display will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the Shreveport skyline as a backdrop, beautifully reflected on the picturesque Red River.

“Durr’s Pyromania Fireworks in Bossier plans to put on a show like the Shreveport- Bossier area has never seen,” Beard said.

“We will have plenty of activities for kids and families, too,” Louisiana Boardwalk Outlet marketing manager Ashley Davis said.

“There will be face painters and clowns, and Santa will be set up inside Bass Pro Shops for free photos.”

Rockets Over the Red is a great time to start whittling away at that holiday gift list.

“All of the shops and restaurants will be open at the Boardwalk for pre or post shopping and entertainment,” Davis said.

The Louisiana Boardwalk is anchored at one end by a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and offers a collection of more than 60 outlet stores, restaurants and entertainment venues on a 550,000 site overlooking the Red River. Stores include Banana Republic Factory Store, Gap Outlet, Levi’s, Charming Charlie, J.Crew Factory, Wilson’s Leather Outlet, The Children’s Place Outlet, Gymboree, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Nike Factory Store. There is also a Regal Cinema, Island Fun Arcade and Uncle Buck’s Alligator Bayou.

Rockets Over the Red will also be an opportunity for visitors to play Santa by dropping off donations for the annual Toys For Tots event. “Cumulus Broadcasting works closely with the U.S. Marines for the annual Toys For Tots event so that children in our community will all have a wonderful holiday,” Beard said. “We are looking for brand new unwrapped toys. Everyone who brings a toy will get a Rockets Over the Red T-shirt.”

Festival-goers will have plenty of food to enjoy, from sushi to Cajun/creole cuisine, pretzels to beef jerky, ice cream or frozen yogurt. Restaurants include Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro, Joe’s Crab Shack, Hooters, Saltgrass Steak House, Sushiko Sushi and Grill, Fuddruckers, Cold Stone Creamery and more. “Louisiana Boardwalk Restaurants will all be open, plus a new quick serve food vendor set up in a kiosk near Gap Outlet,” Davis said. “For a complete directory visit www.louisianaboardwalk. com. We would really like to encourage local artists to set up booths. There is still plenty of time for area artists and businesses to get involved with Rockets Over the Red.

Interested businesses should contact me at the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets at 752-1455.”

–Susan Reeks

more information:

Go to www.rocketsoverthered. com or contact Jennifer Clifford at 549-8500 or Jennifer.Clifford@ Cumulus.com.