Best Fall Festivals Near Barksdale AFB

Mention festival and Louisiana in the same sentence and the first celebration to come to mind understandably, is Mardi Gras. But you won’t have to wait until early spring for festival fun. If you find yourself at Barksdale Air Force Base this fall, nestled just between Shreveport and Bossier City, you’re in luck!

From live music to fall fun runs, pumpkin patches to corn mazes and Halloween fright nights, brew fests to hot air balloons, and farmer’s markets to fireworks, you won’t have to travel far from Barksdale AFB to experience all the fun this fall season!

Grab your friends, family, and visitors, and get ready to make great memories this fall. And the best part? It’s all an hour-and-a-half or less right outside Barksdale AFB!

1) 25^th Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run

When: August 30-31, 2024
Where: Downtown Natchitoches (79 miles from Barksdale AFB)

Festival and funds for a good cause! The Cane River Zydeco Festival was started in 1999 by the Magnolia State Peace Officer’s Association and has since grown to support numerous local community service programs, including Toys for Tots, food baskets, Shop with a Cop for back-to-school needs, Thanksgiving dinners for underprivileged families, and more.

The festival kicks off with iconic Zydeco performances, a dance contest, a motorcycle Poker Run, and fun for the whole family.

2) Bossier Fall Night Market

When: September 7, 2024 and December 14, 2024 (One day each)
Where: Bossier City (three miles from Barksdale AFB)

Located minutes north of Barksdale AFB’s main gate, the Bossier Night Market is ready to welcome visitors at dusk, with dates in September and December. The Night Market is one of the biggest one-day vendor events nationally, with over 230 vendors, 15+ food trucks, fireworks, live music and more.

Guests can meander through aisle upon aisle of unique wares, under the magical glow of over 50,000 twinkling lights.

Bossier City Night Market Photo from Bossier Night Market

3) Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

When: September 13-14, 2024
Where: Downtown Natchitoches

Louisiana meat pies are a delicious regional treat, with recipes dating back to the 1700s! Seasoned meats are tucked into from-scratch pastry and traditionally fried.

The charming town of Natchitoches is a local favorite and hosts a Meat Pie festival every September, along with a brew fest.

4) Highland Jazz & Blues Festival

When: September 14, 2024
Where: Columbia Park, Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Enjoy local and national jazz and blues artists, great food, and beautiful local artwork less than ten minutes from Barksdale AFB, at Shreveport’s annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival. Now in its 20th year, Shreveport knows how to throw a great party in the park!

5) Dixie Maze Farms Fall Festival

When: September 23–October 31, 2024
Where: 9596 Sentell Rd., Shreveport, LA 71107 (twenty miles from Barksdale AFB)

Few things evoke the magic of the fall and Halloween season better than a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin carvings, and haunted attractions—and Dixie Maze Farms has it all! The farm hosts fall activities throughout September and October for guests of all ages, with field trips, birthday parties, and murder mystery dinners available for bookings.

From kid-friendly pumpkin carvings and hayrides, to thrill seekers looking for adult only Halloween fright night events, Dixie Farms is the place to be!

tractor ride with children at Dixie Maze Farms Photo from Dixie Maze Farms

6) Red River Revel Arts Festival

When: September 28–October 6, 2024
Where: Downtown Shreveport Festival Plaza (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Spanning nine days, revelers can enjoy non-stop live music, explore works from over 80 artists, including unique artwork, oils, acrylics, jewelry, woodwork, glass and metal sculpturing, and more, all while munching on some of the best festival and regional eats in the area. Natchitoches meat pies, chicken and waffles, seafood macaroni—there’s something for the whole family.

The Red River Arts Festival is at its heart, a celebration of the arts and the largest outdoor arts festival in North Louisiana, featuring a combination of over 200 stunning visual arts, culinary treats, performing arts, and children’s events.

7) St. Luke’s UMC Pumpkin Patch

When: October 1–31, 2024
Where: 6012 Youree Drive, Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Since 1990, St. Luke’s has proudly been supplying the Shreveport community with a beautiful array of pumpkins, in all shapes and colors. From porch-perfect tiny white gems and green gourds, to jack-o'-lantern ready pumpkins, grab the family and head to St. Luke’s to pick out the season’s perfect pumpkin.

St. Luke’s also opens their “Bootique,” featuring cookbooks, t-shirts, cookies, and gift items, with proceeds benefitting local missions and charities. Although St. Luke’s does not allow professional photography sessions, their pumpkin patch is a perfect opportunity to pop out for an afternoon outing and snap personal photos of your loved ones enjoying the pumpkin patch.

St. Luke's UMC Pumpkin Patch in Shreveport LA Photo from St. Luke's UMC Pumpkin Patch

8) Dark Woods Adventure Park, Fright Nights

When: October 4–November 2, 2024
Where: Natchitoches (79 miles from Barksdale AFB)

For those looking for heart pounding Halloween adventures, look no further than Dark Woods Adventure Park, in nearby Natchitoches. With a haunted outdoor trail winding through the dark woods of Louisiana, guests will encounter plenty of scream-inducing scares with an immersive themed experience including character actors, detailed costuming, realistic sets, and Hollywood-style special effects.

9) 48^th Annual Zwolle Tamale Festival

When: October 10–12, 2024
Where: Zwolle Festival Grounds (70 miles from Barksdale AFB)

Zwolle heritage is a blend of influences from Native American, French, and Spanish culinary cultures. The area celebrates its lineage every fall with the Zwolle Tamale Festival.

Now in its forty-eighth year, the festival includes a parade, car shows, live music with dancing, a pageant with queens, 5k fun run, and mud bog where adventure seekers compete for cash prizes by traversing a mud pit, which is a beloved festival favorite.

10) SBC Zombie Walk

When: October 12, 2024
Where: Downtown Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Adults and children alike, don your best zombie costumes and compete for cash prizes, while enjoying live music, a robust lineup of macabre vendors, games, and more.

DJs will play haunted hits throughout the evening, as revelers shamble their way through a zombie crawl!

11) Prize Fest

When: October 16–19, 2024
Where: Various venues, Downtown Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Prize Fest is the culminating event for four creative competitions — film, food, music, and comedy—held each October in downtown Shreveport. Participants showcase their talents and present their work to live audiences in a vibrant party atmosphere as they compete for cash prizes and awards.

A bonus: if you’re interested in a career in the creative arts, Prize Fest is a great place to mingle!

local musicians at Louisiana Prize Fest Photo from Prize Fest Facebook

12) South Bossier Barksdale Market

When: Sundays from October 20–November 17, 2024
Where: Bossier City (two miles from Barksdale AFB)

The Barksdale Farmers Market is back starting October 17 and running though mid-November. Bring your big purse and your appetite as you shop over 40+ local vendors, food trucks, farm stands, crafts, soap, candles, boutiques and more.

The market is located less than five minutes outside of Barksdale AFB’s main gate, making it the perfect opportunity for a super-quick but fun fall weekend outing.

13) Pumpkin Shine On-Line

When: October 22, 2024
Where: Betty Virginia Park, Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

It’s the Great Pumpkin Shreveport! For one magical night, stroll through the Betty Virginia Park on paths decorated with over 1,000 glowing jack-o'-lanterns and painted pumpkin displays.

Southfield School and Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation hosts the event to encourage a love of art with pieces displayed from local schools, non-profits, and local businesses.

14) Shreveport Brew Fest

When: October 26, 2024
Where: Downtown Shreveport (four miles from Barksdale AFB)

Featuring 100+ beers, the Shreveport Brew Fest is the city’s premier beer-tasting event. Enjoy premium brews, scrumptious food from local restaurants, live music, and, of course, college football on the big screen TVs dotting the festival.

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15) Chennault Balloon Fest

When: October 25–27, 2024
Where: Monroe (97 miles from Barksdale AFB)

Watch dozens of hot air balloons soar into the sapphire fall sky at the Chennault Balloon Festival! The event will also feature live music, arts, crafts, and food trucks, and promises to be a fantastic outing with fun for the whole family.

Louisiana State Fair Photo from statefairoflouisiana.com

16) The State Fair of Louisiana

When: October 30–November 17, 2024 (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Where: Louisiana State Fairgrounds (about eight miles from Barksdale AFB)

Stretching over seventeen fun-filled days, the iconic State Fair of Louisiana has it all, from live music to thrilling carnival rides, rodeo, and some of the best regional fair foods (Boudin po’boys anyone?) in the south.

And it’s all located just a quick fifteen-minute drive from Barksdale AFB!

17) Natchitoches Festival of Lights

When: November 23, 2024 through January 6, 2025
Where: Natchitoches (79 miles from Barksdale AFB)

Natchitoches kicks off the Christmas season in November, with musical entertainment, fireworks, and tree-lightings with their annual “Turn on the Holidays!” celebration. Watch this charming small town come aglow with sparkling lights, with events to warm you through the New Year.

18) Fleur de Lis Arts and Crafts Festival

When: November 30, 2024
Where: Natchitoches Event Center (79 miles from Barksdale AFB)

Get ready to knock out your Christmas shopping in one place, with a trip to the Fleur de Lis Arts and Crafts Festival in Natchitoches, about an hour down the road from Barksdale. Showcasing over 110 vendor booths, you will find the perfect handmade gift and close the fall season with a bang.

Fall holds a special magic, and as the heat of summer slowly lets go of Louisiana, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how well Shreveport and Bossier City ring in the fall season!

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Author

Kristi Adams

Kristi Adams is a proud Air Force spouse and served on active duty herself as a Space and Missile officer. She is an Associate Professor for the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and holds a Master of Real Estate Development degree from the university. She and her husband have profitably owned rental properties since 2004. When Kristi isn’t writing about real estate, she’s writing about travel and has been published in several books and national publications. Find more of her writing at Kristi Adams Media.