LSUS's Pioneer Day event on Oct. 11 aims to spark interest in traditional way of life

LSUS's Pioneer Day event on Oct. 11 aims to spark interest in traditional way of life

SHREVEPORT -- When Pioneer Day first started 30 years ago with a handful of living historians and demonstrators, part of its purpose was to educate and attract people to traditional ways of life.

Close to 70 living historians will breathe life into LSUS's Pioneer Heritage Center, which consists of seven historic structures from the 19^th century.

Demonstration groups include blacksmiths, wood carvers, leatherworkers, basket weavers, flint knappers, pottery throwers, and sewers/stitchwork just to name a few.

When the crowds come flowing through the gates Oct. 11 for the 27^thannual Pioneer Day, blacksmith Marty Young hopes attendees might pick up a hobby inspired by one of the demonstrators.

"I believe in teaching through demonstration, it's such a great tool," said Young, who is also the director of the Pioneer Heritage Center. "Our demonstration groups teach this way at Pioneer Day, but they'd also recruit new members at events like these as well.

"Pioneer Day is a celebration of these traditional methods of doing things, but it's also about preserving these methods by finding the next generation of people to pass these traditions to."

While Pioneer Day demonstrations cover a wide variety of techniques and methods, Young notes that demonstrators are aging.

At 53, he's one of the youngest living historians at Pioneer Day, which lost one demonstrator who passed away and two more to retirement since the 2024 event.

"It's important to keep these ways of life going because these things can go extinct pretty quickly," Young said. "The internet and YouTube are useful because anybody can watch a video of a blacksmith or flint knapper or a potter who throws a pot on the wheel.

"But until you put your hand on something and learn to strike it here, put pressure there, or carve like this - you're not learning the process in a deep and meaningful way. Our demonstration groups would love to help someone get started in the learning process, and most groups conduct regular meetings."

So when attendees stroll through the property and step inside the Caspiana House, the dogtrot log cabin, the commissary or the doctor's office, Young hopes that they're captivated by the people and the methods that made this way of life possible.

And ask how they too can learn a craft.

"You want people to come and get that spark," Young said. "You hope that everybody who shows an interest will take it up and continue on for a lifetime," Young said.

The Oct. 11 event lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult tickets cost $5 with students of any age admitted for free.

Vendors will also be selling their craft and wares.

Sales are becoming ever more important to vendors as general inflation also increases costs for materials like wood, coal, metal, thread, cloth and other items used in their demonstrations.

For more information about Pioneer Day or ways to get involved with local folklife groups, contact Young at [email protected].