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City of Slidell’s 2023 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

Dear Citizens,

I would like to wish everyone a Happy King’s Day. It is officially the start of carnival season!

I would like to invite you, your family, and friends to come experience Mardi Gras in Slidell. Grab your lawn chairs, ice chests and king cakes and head on out to the parade route to enjoy all the parades rolling through Slidell:

  • Friday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Titans (Friday date only for 2023)
  • Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. – Krewe of Poseidon
  • Sunday, Feb. 5, 1 p.m. – Krewe of Antheia
  • Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. – Krewe De Paws
  • Sunday, Feb. 12, 1 p.m. – Krewe of Dionysus
  • Friday, Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m. – Krewe of Selene

I am proud that so many families choose to celebrate Mardi Gras season here in Slidell. It’s great to see so many smiling faces of family, friends, and neighbors along the parade route. I ask that everyone be respectful and help us maintain the family-friendly environment that people enjoy in Slidell. Please remember that city ordinances prohibit the presence of animals along the parade route. The use of silly string, streamers, fireworks, and other explosive devices are also restricted. It is important that we all work together to have a fun and safe carnival season.

Come enjoy the best that Slidell has to offer during Mardi Gras season. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Mayor Greg Cromer

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Slidell rolls out the red carpet for the ‘Art of the Movie Poster’ exhibit

The City of Slidell is rolling out the red carpet for the next exhibition at the George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall, ”Art of the Movie Poster”, exhibiting pieces from the Movie Poster Archives (MPA), a collection of movie posters and artifacts since the golden age of cinema. This exhibit will feature a collection of movie posters, lobby cards, and accessories.

The exhibit is on display January 13 – February 17, 2023 and is held in conjunction with the second annual The Art of Film: Louisiana Film Industry Expo, happening just across the street January 20-21 at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 13 from 5-7 p.m. with a special presentation by Ed Poole, Chief Archivist of MPA, at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Movie Poster Archives was founded in 2016 by retired Hollywood executive Linda Thurman for the preservation and research of film-related papers known as film accessories. In a few short years, MPA has amassed more than 1.5 million items from over 20 countries. The Permanent Collection is comprised of nearly 80,000 original posters, stills, and press kits representing some 30,000 film titles taken from over a century.

“Over 50 percent of all U. S. films and 80 to 90 percent of all silent films made in the United States produced before 1951 have been lost forever. Worldwide, the losses are comparable,” said Poole. “That’s why the work of the MPA is so important. The preservation of film accessories – the surviving historical documents – is increasingly important as time takes its toll on these fragile paper artifacts.”

Thurman is the author of “Hollywood South: Glamour, Gumbo, and Greed.” She retired from Emerald Bayou Studios which she co-founded. She is a veteran of Hollywood where she was the managing editor of the Hollywood Creative Directory.

Ed and Susan Poole have written more than 20 books on movie posters and film history. They are the founders of Hollywood on the Bayou and Learn About Movie Posters (LAMP). Ed coined the phrase “movie accessories” to denote movie-related paper.

For more information about Movie Poster Archives, please visit MoviePosterArchives.org or contact Linda Thurman at linda@movieposterarchives.org.

The George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall is located at 2055 Second Street, on the first floor of Slidell City Hall in Olde Towne Slidell. Gallery hours are by appointment Wednesdays – Fridays from 12 to 4 p.m. Same day viewings are available. Please call the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375 to schedule a viewing.

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Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Draft Plan

The City of Slidell is soliciting input on the Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Draft Plan.

The draft plan was was put together by Philip Walker, with the Walker Collaborative, who was hired by the City of Slidell earlier this year to come up with a plan to further revitalize Olde Towne Slidell.

The draft plan is based on input from previous public presentations, meetings, and input from Olde Towne residents, businesses, and stakeholders.

If you have any corrections or comments, please email them to Alex Carollo, Director of Public Affairs, at acarollo@cityofslidell.org bu January 15, 2023.

Draft Plan - Olde Towne Slidell - 12.2.22

 

 

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Victory Belles help Slidell Salute Our Veterans at Christmas Concert on Dec. 15

The City of Slidell and local nonprofit organizations are teaming together to host the WWII Museum Victory Belles for a Christmas Performance honoring our local veterans. Slidell Salutes Our Veterans – A Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase online through Eventbrite. Veterans will receive free admission. Floor seats begin at $40 and VIP packages and sponsorship tables are also available. Proceeds will go towards a local veteran charity, Camp Nora. For more information, please visit slidellsalutes.eventbrite.com.

The Victory Belles are a delightful vocal trio performing the music of the 1940s, who are dedicated to serenading audiences at The National WWII Museum and across the globe. The music of the 1940s brought hope and joy to our GIs and those on the Home Front alike—and the Victory Belles keep that tradition alive in rich, three-part harmony. Their repertoire includes all the treasured gems of the WWII era plus patriotic classics including a musical salute to each branch of the US armed forces.

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer will serve as the Celebrity Bartender with proceeds going to the American Heart Association.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Doors will open at 5:45 and the show begins at 6 p.m.

For more information about tickets, sponsorships, or the event, please contact Erica Williams at southernelitevb@gmail.com.

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Northshore Community Orchestra rings in the holidays in Slidell

Join Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer for a Holiday Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium.

The Northshore Community Orchestra is the only symphony orchestra in St. Tammany Parish where both youths and adults can make learning and performing music a lifelong endeavor. The orchestra was established in 1987, and has operated continuously ever since. The orchestra performs several full orchestra concerts as well as some smaller group ensembles throughout the year, with genres including classical, jazz, pop, folk, ethnic, traditional, movie themes, and broadway hits. Each year, the orchestra typically performs for Slidell’s Patriot Day ceremony and Christmas and spring concerts.

The members of the orchestra come from Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and from surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans area and south Mississippi. The members represent a diverse assortment of backgrounds such as students, medical professionals, engineers, skilled tradesmen, scientists, homemakers, members of the military, educators, and retirees. Though our student members typically begin with us around late middle school or junior high age, currently our youngest member is just 9 years old, and our oldest is in his 80s. Some of the orchestra’s musicians are family members who play together – spouses, parents, children, and siblings.

The orchestra’s conductor since 2006 has been Mrs. Susan Messina, a Slidell native who has a master’s degree in music from Southeastern Louisiana University, and over 30 years experience as a music educator. She has served as a band director at several area schools, and currently teaches private lessons on a wide variety of instruments at Christy Music in Slidell.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free, but a donation of an unwrapped toy to support Toys for Tots is welcomed.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For the latest information about City of Slidell news and events, visit MySlidell.com or follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

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Public invited to COVID-19 Time Capsule dedication at Slidell Museum on Dec. 6.

One hundred years from now, when St. Tammany Parish Citizens open the COVID-19 Time Capsule in the Slidell Museum, they will discover memorabilia and memories of the time that the citizens of today would rather forget, all focused on telling the stories of the emotional impact of the pandemic shutdowns. The time capsule will be sealed on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2:30 pm at the Slidell Museum, 2020 First Street in Olde Towne Slidell.
The public is invited to join St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper and Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer for the time capsule dedication. Attendees may bring letters to be added to the historic collection, which will include memos penned by elected officials, audio histories captured by St. Tammany Parish Public Library, letters from students of Pope John Paul High School, a myriad of publications featuring stories about the pandemic and its impact, and the artists’ exhibition book documenting the “Reinvention: Creatives Pivot in the Pandemic” exhibition held in August of 2021 in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.
“While history books may capture the physical impact of the pandemic, it has been important to the ‘Reinvention’ artists, and others who have contributed to the time capsule, that the challenges and triumphs be shared as well,” said Kim Bergeron, curator of the art exhibition and event. “This time capsule will contain the good, the bad and the ugly, including showing the ways communities came together, how the internet became a vital lifeline to connectivity, and even how issues such as face masks and school and business shutdowns sparked controversies. These are all parts of our stories.”
The Reinvention exhibition and time capsule project has been presented by Artists & Causes arts advocacy organization and hosted by the City of Slidell. It was supported in part by a grant from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, and the time capsule was funded by St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs. Additional support for the event was provided by the Northshore Media Group (Edge of the Lake magazine, The Highway Radio and The Lake Radio,) Slidell Magazine, Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and The Northshore Collaborative.
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Slidell’s Bayou Christmas on display Dec. 15-18 and Dec. 22-23

Slidell’s Bayou Christmas returns to Heritage Park! Come enjoy the festivities on Thursday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 18 and on Dec 22 and 23.

This annual holiday event, sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Slidell and the City of Slidell, features live entertainment, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, an ice skating rink, kiddie rides, food and craft vendors, narrated Nativity scene created by artist Lori Anselmo, plus other special holiday surprises. Admission is free, but donations to the Boys and Girls Club are welcomed.

The lights will be on each night in Heritage Park from Dec. 15 to Dec 25.

 

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WGNO Broadcasts Live from Christmas Under the Stars in Griffith Park on Thursday, Dec. 1

Come join WGNO as they broadcast live from Slidell this Thursday, Dec. 1 at 5 pm and 6 pm at Griffith Park from Christmas Under the Stars. You can be a part of the live audience!

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Olde Towne Community Christmas Golf Cart Parade Rolls on Sunday, Dec. 4 – Several Olde Towne Streets Closed

Mayor Greg Cromer is inviting the community to join the City of Slidell for the third annual Olde Towne Slidell Community Christmas Golf Cart Parade on Sunday, December 4 at 5 p.m.

The parade will be led by the Slidell Sync Lawn Chair Brigade, a premier dancing group that promises to feature flashy holiday-themed lawn chairs in a very merry way, followed by decorated golf carts and Santa and Mrs. Claus riding on an antique fire truck spreading their magical cheer to all.

Everyone from the community is encouraged to participate. To sign up to participate, go to the City of Slidell’s website at MySlidell.com to fill out the parade form and return to the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs. Registration is free and interested spectators are encouraged to mark their calendars. Deadline for submitting forms is Wednesday, Nov. 30.

In preparation for the parade, streets in Olde Towne Slidell will start closing at 3 p.m. (See the map to see which streets will be closed.) Once bollards are in place, any vehicle that is inside the perimeter of the safety zone will not be able to exit Olde Towne until after 8 p.m., when the parade ends and bollards are removed. “Special Event No Parking” signs will be placed throughout Olde Towne. Once the bollards are in place, no vehicles will be able to enter or leave the safety zone in Olde Towne, so please don’t park or leave your vehicles in Olde Towne after 3 p.m.

For more information, please call the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375 or email acarollo@cityofslidell.org.

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Slidell Holiday events start Dec. 2 – Vince Vance Concert, Christmas Under the Stars, Golf Cart Parade

The City of Slidell is ringing in the holiday season with a jolly assortment of events starting on December 2, including the Bayou Jam Christmas Spectacular with Vince Vance and the Valiants, Christmas Under the Stars, and the Olde Towne Slidell Community Christmas Golf Cart Parade.

On Friday, Dec. 2, Vince Vance and the Valiants return to Heritage Park for the Bayou Jam Christmas Spectacular starting at 6 p.m. The King of Christmas will be performing all your favorite holiday songs, including his perennial hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Come dressed in your favorite holiday costumes and be a part of this fun concert for the whole family. Admission is free.

Over the years, Christmas Under the Stars has become a holiday tradition for many Slidell families. Griffith Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with holiday lights and decorations and the life-size Christmas villages created by artist Lori Anselmo. You don’t want to miss the new “Nightmare Before Christmas” inspired cottage! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the park on Friday, Dec. 2; Saturday, Dec. 3; Friday, Dec. 9; and Saturday, Dec. 10 to visit with kids and take photos in the gazebo. Admission is free.

The third annual Olde Towne Slidell Community Christmas Golf Cart parade rolls through Olde Towne on Sunday, Dec. 4 starting at 5 p.m. The parade will be led by the Slidell Sync Lawn Chair Brigade followed by decorated golf carts and Santa and Mrs. Claus riding on an antique fire truck spreading their magical cheer to all. Check the city’s website at MySlidell.com and the “City of Slidell” Facebook page to see the parade route.

All these events are brought to you by the City of Slidell’s Commission on the Arts and the 2022 Cultural Season Sponsors, with assistance from the city’s departments of Cultural & Public Affairs, Parks & Recreation, Public Operations, Keep Slidell Beautiful and the Slidell Police Department. For more information, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375 or visit the city website and Facebook page.

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