No Man’s Land celebration kicks off

The 200th anniversary of Sabine Parish and other western parishes becoming part of the State of Louisiana is being launched November 9-13 with a Bayou Renegade Rally for bikers. The first historical event will be held at Ft. Jesup in February.

The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission is working to develop a strong heritage/historical/ cultural tourism draw for tourists to the area and region. Other parishes sharing the same history and part of the tourism initiative for the celebration of No Man’s Land are Desoto, Natchitoches, Vernon, Beauregard, Allen, Calcasieu, and Cameron.

Judge Elizabeth Pickett of Many is given credit for initiating the idea of the No Man’s Land celebration by Linda Curtis-Sparks, Director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission. Judge Pickett felt it is a period of history to be studied and celebrated and the 200th anniversary was the right time. Judge Pickett shared the idea of developing this as a tourism product to bring visitors to the area. Legislation was created by the Louisiana Legislature in the mid-1980s creating the marketing group of Five Parishes West to work together to develop the region economically through tourism programs. The group has had several cultural studies done the last 12 years. Because of the shared culture and history of the region, this group began meeting and working with historians in 2016 to further define and develop the idea, historical timeline, and events. Because history relates the three years it took to write and ratify the Treaty that ended the period known as No Man’s Land, the regional tourism marketing group will celebrate from 2019 – 2021. This will mark the 200th anniversary of when these parishes became part of the State of Louisiana.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Sabine%20IndexID378/