DeRidder’s second and last Downtown at Sundown was held Thursday evening to large crowds and general revelry.

Downtown shops, like the Louisiana Shoppe and Treasure City, stayed open well after sundown; the Louisiana Shoppe had customers browsing the knickknacks and Louisiana-themed gifts to be found there; Treasure City even had a small sidewalk sale.

The Amerisafe Pavilion was filled to near-capacity, and the crowd listened, ate and swayed to the music of Beauregard’s Courtesy, whose members are James Bailey, Will Luttrell, Robert Stewart, Allen Hickman, Carolyn Palmer, Erika Anderson, Suzie Nugent and DeRidder Mayor Ron Roberts.

The mayor played solos on the trumpet with skill. After each solo, the crowd applauded wildly.

Other town luminaries, like City Council Member Gorden Jenkens and Director of Community Services Jerry DeWitt, were present and participating in the camaraderie of DeRidder’s Downtown at Sundown.

Misty Clanton, DeRidder Project Coordinator, said, “The turnout, the food and the music were all spectacular. The community really rallied and came to support Downtown at Sundown.”

“The event went beautifully,” he said. “I was particularly pleased that so many came, and that so many cultural events—the play at the Wooten theater, the art exhibits at RealArt DeRidder—are here in DeRidder. It’s a good opportunity for the citizens of this city to get out and enjoy a good time.”

Downtown at Sundown is a community event ultimately leading up to La Cuisine de Beauregard, a food festival scheduled for Nov. 14, which will feature many different ethnic foods for the community to taste.

Dewitt said, “The people here are excellent. We want to give them something new to do downtown, and for them to become reacquainted with the historic downtown area.”

Being a leader of the community has more to do than filling potholes and repairing roads.” Dewitt said. “It’s also about instilling community spirit. If we can do both, that is a job well done.”