Workers from throughout the U.S. National Park Service have been moving trees and repairing buildings in Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, 17 miles south of New Orleans off Barataria Boulevard.

Interpretive ranger Wanda Lee Dickey said the Visitor Center Trail, Bayou Coquille Trail, Pecan Grove Trail and Twin Canals Trail are now open for hikes and walks. The Palmetto Trail remains closed.

"On the trails that are now open, we have some places that are blocked off because of tree damage," she said. "People can bring their canoes and go into the Twin canals and Kenta canals."

Wildlife is slowly returning to the Barataria Preserve. "We are coming into winter," said Dickey. "I was out there last week and saw three alligators, two pileated woodpeckers and several warblers. As the weather gets colder, you will see less wildlife."

Barataria Preserve is open daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by the center and ask rangers about trail and canoe trail openings and a map of the area. Call the preserve at (504) 589-2330, ext. 10.

New Orleans plans Down by the Riverside, a free Thanksgiving concert Saturday, Nov. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. in Woldenberg Park on the Mississippi River downtown.

Performers will include Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Jon Cleary, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, John Boutte, Wanda Rouzan and the Hot 8 Brass Band.

Activities begin with a Second Line parade at 10 a.m. led by the Hot 8 Brass Band, starting at Sweet Lorraine's, 1931 St. Claude Ave. in the Bywater district, the area where some of Hurricane Katrina's most serious damage occurred. The parade will wind through the Bywater and Faubourg Marigny neighborhoods before reaching the park.

The concert will be broadcast live on radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM and online at http://www.wwoz.org . Sponsors include Putumayo World Music, Southern Comfort, Abita Brewing Company, Community Coffee, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, White Oak Productions, Home Team Productions, Michael Murphy Productions, WWOZ-FM, JamBase.com, Louisiana Export Office, NOLA.com, Four Winds Specialty Printing and International House Hotel.

The Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, a unit of Jean Lafitte National Park, is still offering cruises in traditional Louisiana wooden boats. Cruises depart from the center's Bayou Lafourche dock at 314 St. Mary St.

Boat trips are offered to Madewood Plantation Sunday and Monday for a tour of the house and grounds and lunch in the dining room. Tour departs at 10 a.m. and costs $28 plus tax. A Saturday cruise to the E.D. White Historic Site explores the role of Thibodaux in regional and national history. Tour departs at 10 a.m. and costs $8 plus tax.

Tours are limited to 18 people so reservations are suggested. Tours for private groups on other days are available by calling the center. People are advised to dress to enjoy a day outdoors and prepare for cooler weather and autumn wildlife along the banks of Bayou Lafourche. Call (985) 448-1375.

Spend a day in Breaux Bridge Saturday, Nov. 26, and take in the warm, friendly atmosphere of the town on Bayou Teche. The Fall Shop and Dine day will be a downtown open house and more. For the first time there will be an old-fashioned bazaar in City Park with arts, crafts, food and children's choirs entertaining.

Then, stick around for the "big event" at a scenic park on the bayou named Park des Pont des Pont Breaux. Gates will open at 4 p.m. for pictures with Santa. About 7 p.m. a boat parade with lighted and decorated boats will float down the bayou. Local bands will provide music. This is one of South Louisiana's unique events that reflect the Acadian culture. It's very family oriented. Bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the parade and camera to capture memories.

Wilda Smith, Chamber of Commerce director, said this year's event kicks off Saturday, Nov. 26. "We start with coffee at the court house from 10 a.m.-noon honoring our Grand Marshall Raymond "Doc" Jeffress who is a sports columnist for the Jackson Independent," she said.

Visitors are invited to join local residents for arts, crafts and food downtown in the afternoon and the annual Christmas parade which starts at 4 p.m.

"We will have more than 100 parade entries from churches, civic clubs and schools," said Smith. "The theme this year will be the Songs and Sounds of Christmas. At dusk we will have a huge fireworks display on the Fair Grounds. Elvis impersonator Gene Shaw will have a float in the parade and will give a show at the Fair Grounds."

During Wonderland in the Pines, Jonesboro volunteers operate a concession stand every Friday and Saturday in Tony Roma Park where people can get hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn.

The city's tunnel of lights in the park will be available every evening until Dec. 24. Smith said more than 7 million lights are used for the annual Christmas event and the historic Court House is outlined in green lights.

The Dequincy Railroad Museum ushers in the holiday season Monday, Nov. 28, with a KCA Holiday Express Train, 5-10 p.m. Children and adults can join Santa at the decorated train for food, hot chocolate and spiced tea.

Rather than plan a getaway to balmy Bermuda, make a shorter trip to the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport. Tuesday, Nov. 29, the fine art museum premieres an exhibit on the art from the Masterworks Bermuda Collection.

Featured are 66 paintings by artists of the 18th to 20th centuries who make their way to Bermuda and islands south from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France and elsewhere. Many of the images evoke life by the sea, sun, warmth, tropical colors and the slow pace of life. The islands became a refuge for artists such as Houghton Cranford Smith, E. Ambrose Webster, Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe, all of whom are represented in the show.

Painters In Paradise will remain in the gallery through Feb. 5. Situated at 4747 Creswell Ave., the Norton is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesdays-Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The museum will be closed Dec. 23-26 and Dec. 31-Jan. 2. There is no admission. Call (318) 865-4201.

After meeting at 1 p.m. at the museum, the group will depart for a holiday tour of Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, an evening meal at Nobiles Restaurant, established 1895 in Lutcher and the Festival of the Bonfires featuring music, dancing and a crafts show. Participants will see the lighting of the bonfire along the Mississippi River levee. On the return a lagniappe surprise is planned. The estimated return time is 10:30-11 p.m.

Spaces are limited. Advance paid registration of $60 for the trip aboard a Dixieland Tours motor coach is required and may be paid in cash or by check. No refunds will be available. Call (225) 336-2422. The museum, at 845 N. Jefferson Ave. in Port Allen, is one mile from the I-10 bridge and minutes from downtown Baton Rouge.

If you want to keep the spirit of New Orleans alive, then spend a few hours each day looking at thousands of photo images on the CD, The Original New Orleans Scrapbook. Filled with photos of the city's skyline, museums, nightlife, festivals and concerts, the CD will bring smiles (and perhaps a few tears) to the viewer.

The CD is produced by a small Baton Rouge based company, The Original American Scrapbooks LLC, developed by entrepreneur John DeAngelo. He said photographers use a Canon digital Rebel camera. "There are more than 900 images on the CD," he said. "The pictures are not all perfect gems. We wanted to capture the ambience of New Orleans. They are meant to be viewed in one or two minutes -- in short segments."

"The CD takes you to our Web site online where you can access Mardi Gras images that are approved for family viewing. They are just nice pictures," said DeAngelo.

DeAngelo, who received the 2005 Innovator of the Year award from City Business magazine in New Orleans for creating Original American Scrapbooks, said the photos can be viewed and used for personal use, such as screen savers and greeting cards.

They are available for $29.95, plus $2.50 shipping on the Web site, http://www.NewOrleansScrapbook.com . The Web site also offers CDs on Mardi Gras, The D-Day Museum and the Southern Decadence Festival. A new CD product is the New York City Photo Album. For more information, call (877) CITY-PIC (248-9742).

During its Veterans Day celebration Nov. 11, the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans announced it will reopen for visitors on Saturday, Dec. 3.

While the museum's coffee and gift shop areas were broken into during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, none of the main exhibits were harmed.

The museum will offer free admission on opening day. Hours will be Tuesday-Saturday. Hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday hours are noon to 8 p.m. Louisiana residents will receive special discounts. Admission is always free for men and women in uniform.

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