Cirque du Lake Celebrates 10 Years

There’s going to be so much to do, and it’s free.”

That’s how Katy Larsen and Eric Hess describe the 10th anniversary of the Cirque du Lake. It became the little street festival that could until COVID-19 halted it, and now, it’s making a comeback.

Cirque du Lake, presented by the Agora Borealis, returns to downtown Shreveport on Sept. 21. This year’s show is called “A Celebration of Local Artistry, Community and Creativity,” and it’s free to the public, with lots of free parking to boot.

Larsen, the owner of the Agora Borealis, said four of the businesses in the 400 block of Lake Street got together in 2013 and 2014 to bring art, handmade objects and sustainable items to downtown: Just Bites, iArchitecture, Sweet Port and Good Granoly.

“And when we opened our businesses,” Larsen explained, “we started this little festival. It began inside of our building the first year, and then the following four years, we had it outside in the street, and we had the 400 block of Lake Street closed down.

“It was a celebration of the businesses of Lake Street, saying thank you to the public for spending their time with us and being guests and being clients.”

Hess, one of the founders of Sanctuary Glass, said, “(Cirque du Lake) just seemed so successful. And we have art walks and all those different kinds of things. But there was really nothing other than the art walk that counted for this area. We want to draw a lot of attention (to what is happening down here).”

The festival is described as a gathering of creative spirit, showcasing the work of local artists, makers and craftspeople. It allows Shreveport residents and visitors to experience “the rich cultural tapestry of the region.” From handmade jewelry and art to locally sourced foods and live performances, they believe there’s something for everyone down on Lake Street, Larsen said of the event before COVID-19.

Now, they are hoping to resurrect the celebration and bring people back to their corner of the arts district. She said there are quite a few things in store for attendees.

“We have four hours of music and entertainment like jugglers, magicians and stilt walkers. We do food vending. We do demonstrations with our artists and vending from the artists as well.

People are invited to bring their kids and their pets. This is a big thank-you to the public.”

Katy Larsen, owner of Agora Borealis Photo by Jeremy Hernandez

Bond Plus (above) and Six Car Pileup along with local DJ Faze will entertain festivalgoers.

She said around 30 artists are involved in the event, and they will display their work and offer some for sale. These are all local artists with whom the festival has worked in the past.

“(Red River) Revel is here each year, but Revel is really a celebration of the artists of the South and the surrounding area. This is really focused on local artists. We make sure we’re shining a spotlight on them.”

Some of the things to see and do will include two live bands, Bond Plus and Six Car Pileup, as well as local DJ Faze. Hess and his associates will be presenting glass-blowing demonstrations and lessons. Josh Ellis, with Spinner Entertainment, will be amusing young and old with feats of prestidigitation. An airbrush artist will be there to create works of art on T-shirts, caps and more. There will be a selection of traditional Asian paper fans, notecards and alcoholic drinks from some local favorites. Larsen said there would be plenty of food trucks serving barbecue, Asian and Mexican cuisine, too.

Larsen and Hess hope locals will remember the festival and help them bring it back to its former glory. As Hess put it, “The Lake Street area is kind of this thriving area with businesses and artists. It really helps artists; that’s a huge part of it. And it helps people to celebrate and get out and do things.”

You can check out the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cirquedulake for the latest updates.