53rd Annual Louisiana Redbud Festival

Mar 18, 2017
3 min read

Today, marks the 53rd annual Louisiana Redbud Festival here in Vivian, Louisiana. Now, some of you all may be wondering what the Redbud and the festival is all about. You will learn what it is and how it originated in this post.

You know it must be march when the red buds begin to bloom in Vivian, LA. But where did all those red buds trees come from?

In Vivian, Louisiana there was a lady that said, "We are going to own the Redbud." It was the early 1960's Mary Jo Graves was the wife of the local drug store owner. Not sure why, but she started planting the redbud trees all over town and by March of 1964, they were in full bloom and so was she. The Grand Marshal of the first ever Vivian Redbud festival.

Forty Four years later, they are blooming all over town again. Framing a community that was birthed by the railroad. Nurtured by oil and cotton and today, it might a place that will surprise you. Yes, there is a country club in Vivian, where if you miss the hole, you may hit one of the oil wells.

For the kids, there is an Olympic size swimming pool that will open in May. There are ball fields and parks and a place to rodeo. They are mighty proud of their library and their schools, too. The schools moved up from a low, "C," to a high, "B". And there is that Girls Basketball team, too. The Basketball team has won three state championships.

When it is finished, the hospital is destined to be one of the finest in the state. Then you throw in one of the most beautiful bodies of water on the planet that is down the road. Caddo Lake.

Vivian, is claimed as a diamond if the rough. Once you get up here, and look around. There is a lot going on.

A place where kids still ride bikes down the main street. Where people don't just know you, but know your kinfolks. And thanks to a Southern Belle named, "Mary Jo," they know when March rolls around. Redbud will be showing off in town.

Each year, on the 3rd Saturday of March, the Redbud festival comes to life. Where, during this time, the main street of Vivian, is lined with tons of festivity booths. Food vendors and what not line the streets, music is live at the town square, and the town triple in size this one day. On the morning of the festival, there is a pancake breakfast as well as a 5k run. But, it doesn't all start just there.

During the week of the Redbud, the carnival comes into town and sets up between the local Walmart and Dairy Queen. People as well as businesses prepare for the festivities and the NCMC Ruby Collins Memorial Redbud Treasure Hunt begins. The town is at it's most beautiful this time of year.

Saturday finally rolls around and it is time for the festivities to begin as well as the parade in the afternoon, where the main highway is shut down for nearly two hours for the parade and that is when people of all ages line the streets with bags and catch candy, beads, and more more! And, it doesn't matter what the weather is, the festivities and the parade still go on.

I managed to get a few pictures of the parade. I didn't get to make it down to the main festivities this year, but hopefully, next year I can.