On July 18th, 2026, Northwestern State University hosted the 46th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. For the uninitiated, the NSU Folk Festival is a day-long family-friendly event that boasts a crafts market, authentic cuisines, activities for children at “KidFest,” and live music and cultural informational performances—which the festival calls “informances.” The adventurous visitor can take free Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons, grab front-row seats to the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, and taste their way through the Gumbo Cook-Off. The festival is a wonderful collection of all things Louisiana.  

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) partnered with the NSU Folk Fest to support this year’s theme, “America the Beautiful,” in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday. When asked about the theme, Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center since 2008, explained that, “Louisiana’s cultural gumbo is so rich that it’s reflective of America’s broader cultural tapestry. Louisianans proudly carry on traditions because they infuse our shared communities with meaning, history, and fun!”    

The LEH and the NSU Folk Fest participated in By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.  

The LEH supported three informances. First, the nationally celebrated Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble took the stage and mesmerized the audience with their traditional Easter Eve vigil. Thought to originate pre-Civil War in plantation Black Baptist churches in Northeast Louisiana, the Winnsboro Easter Rock is a ritual performance that blends West African traditions with Christian beliefs. The performers shuffle side to side—the “rock”—moving counterclockwise while singing and chanting hymns using call and response.  

After the performance, Dr. Susan Roach, professor emeritus from Louisiana Tech University, led the audience through a thoughtful Q&A with the Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble. If you are interested in learning more about the Easter Rock ritual, go to 64parishes.org to read Dr. Roach’s encyclopedia entry, “Winnsboro Easter Rock.” 

The second informance was a rollicking good time with Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue. Much of Holiday’s sound is influenced by pre-World War II country music with its driving rhythms, fiddles, and steel guitars (which have roots in Hawaii). Honky Tonk and Country music, as evidenced by the incorporation of the steel guitar, is a melting pot of American musical traditions and sounds, creating something unique to the nation. 

The third informance was a special performance by members of Native Nations Intertribal, who performed traditional dances and songs. Festival goers were captivated by the beautiful regalia and fast footwork as the dancers moved to the beat of the drum. Native Nations Intertribal is unique because they perform songs and dances form a variety of Indigenous nations, each with their own unique styles, dress, and movements.  

To see clips of these amazing informances, check out 64parishes.org and our YouTube channel.