Tickets go on sale today for the Fall Arts and Crafts Show at the Louisiana State Penitentiary set for December 4th. Since the Angola Prison Rodeo has been canceled for the last two years due to the pandemic, Corrections Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc said they wanted to give inmates an opportunity to show and sell the crafts even without the rodeo.
“We just felt like we needed to do something it’s just a one-day event, they work year-round in their hobby craft shops to get ready for the rodeo, they are ready,” said Leblanc.
The bi-annual prison rodeo is traditionally held in April and October was called off far in advance when COVID cases were on the rise, but LeBlanc said now that COVID numbers are more stable they wanted to hold a scaled-down event to boost morale and give attendees a chance to buy one-of-a-kind goods.
“They’ll be an opportunity maybe that people won’t have on the street to get some Christmas gifts and things like that they might not be exposed to,” said LeBlanc.
Handmade items like jewelry, leather goods, paintings, and furniture will be for sale at the festival. Tickets are five dollars for the 9 am to 2 pm event and right now attendees must be ages 14 and older and bring proof of vaccination.
With anticipated shipping delays for holiday gifts this year LeBlanc said this is the perfect opportunity to complete your shopping locally and be sure you have plenty of space in your vehicle to carry them home.
“And people come in with trailers and they load their trailers up with rocking chairs, tables, there’s just all kinds of furniture that they make,” said LeBlanc.
You can purchase tickets at AngolaRodeo.com or at the gate on the day of the festival.
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