Natchitoches Children's Tour

The Children’s Tour

Monty and Marsha are joined on the Cane River front stage, Natchitoches, by friend Joan Heffernan (in the hat) from Roadwater, Somerset, England. Joan sings in the local choir and appears at the monthly folk club at the pub in Luxborough. She also sings two of our songs, "I Just Can't Help Myself," and "Dark Lonely Nights." The kids are third graders from the Parish.


The last week in September is time for the annual Children’s Tour in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) sponsors the program which is offered to all third grade classes throughout the Parish. This past September (‘07) there were about 25 participating classes.

They arrive on their buses from all points: Cloutierville, Fairview-Alpha, Marthaville, Provencal, and many schools in the city of Natchitoches itself. There are private schools as well as public. Each class has a list of places to visit, and the schedule is overseen by Martha Wynn. It’s a labor of love for Martha.

They may start at the Prudhomme-Rouquier House, a big white mansion built of bousillage in the late 18th century; or they may start at the Court House Museum, where this year the creator of the Blue Dog, George Rodrigue, was having an exhibit.

They may start with us, down on the stage by the river: we’ll sing them songs of old Louisiana and end with a rousing version of the state song, “You Are My Sunshine.” The program starts at about 8:30 am, Monday to Friday, and runs til about noon when they climb on their buses and head back to their little towns and schools. All a great deal wiser.