Rouge et Blanc

This year, Rouge et Blanc will be held on the eve of Halloween, and Banners at McNeese is making the most of the proximity to this annual night of mystery and intrigue by offering patrons the option of dressing creatively for the occasion. 

Many of you sorely missed your chance to dress up for Mardi Gras this past year, so Banners has transformed Rouge 2021 into a masquerade! “Ticketholders, we welcome you to join in the festivities with your creative flair,” says Brook Hanemann, executive director of Banners.

While some patrons will arrive in classy traditional Rouge-attire, many attendees are busy dusting off masks and costumes to make this event the most playful in Rouge et Blanc history. Expect to see imbibers dressed Breakfast at Tiffany’s style, decked out in roaring 20s garb, outfitted like Greek gods of wine, and attired in full masquerade regalia. “So come out dressed to impress,” Hanemann adds. “Who knows, there may even be a prize.”

The Purpose behind the party

Everyone knows Rouge et Blanc is one of the best annual events on the Southwest Louisiana party scene. But do they know WHY Banners at McNeese works so hard to plan this amazing event year after year? 

The answer is simple – so that Banners, a financially self-sustaining organization within McNeese State University, can continue to provide the community with access to exceptional arts and humanities programming and education through arts integration that is unique to the area. Banners’ programs focus on lifelong learning and an appreciation of cultural diversity, working to enhance the quality of life in the communities of Southwest Louisiana

When you purchase a ticket to Rouge et Blanc, you support community services provided by Banners. For example:

Banners Cultural Season

Through their Cultural Season, Banners presents a series of performances each spring. Those performances include classical and jazz music, readings, dance companies, illusionists, academic lectures, film, world music, and more. Each Season’s line-up is chosen by a group of volunteers who review possible artists and choose the best options for our community. Their volunteers also participate as ticket takers, hospitality providers, outreach assistants, and photographers.

Banners Engages

One of the most important responsibilities of Banners is to engage local students in educational programming through arts and humanities performances. Banners Engages includes live presentations at no cost to public and parochial schools, appearances at Parish Public Libraries, demonstrations to students of McNeese State University, and other community venues. This program works to increase the number of students who experience live cultural programming, increase the number of hours of arts and humanities programming, and supplement the curriculum with prepared materials. It helps to ensure that children develop creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking. Studies have also shown that children involved in the arts are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, be elected to class office within their schools, and win awards for school attendance. Each year, more than 17,000 students reap the benefits of having Banners educational outreach performances as part of their learning environment. With approximately 60 outreach programs annually, Banners brings arts and humanities to K-12 schools throughout Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis Parishes and the students of McNeese State University.

When you support Banners at McNeese by attending Rouge et Blanc or purchasing a season subscription, you help provide our community with access to exceptional arts and humanities programming – as well as furthering the education of our children. 

Rouge Et Blanc at Oak Crossing

Rouge et Blanc is taking place at a beautiful new location, Oak Crossing. Spread over 20 scenic acres, Oak Crossing offers a stunning setting for the region’s premier wine and food event, under the shade of majestic, hundred-year-old oak trees. Oak Crossing’s natural beauty makes it a popular location for events and weddings, with unique indoor and outdoor venue options.

www.oakcrossing.net    (337) 421-4200

Parking at the park

A limited supply of Rouge et Blanc parking passes are now available at banners.org, and open to public purchase. This pass guarantees a paved space on-site at Oak Crossing, right next to the action. Patrons with passes should enter from Ham Reid Road on the south side of the grounds. Your hangtag should be on display, then simply follow the directions of security officers and volunteer lot attendants. 

Additional festival-style parking in the grass will be free and limited to first-come, first-served. Once this grass lot is full, an auxiliary lot with shuttle service may be available at nearby locations, such as the Center for Orthopedics (1747 Imperial Blvd) or at Trinity Baptist Church (1800 Country Club Rd).

Imbibing for a Cause

Did you know that every wine order placed through Rouge et Blanc also supports the year-round cultural and educational programming offered by Banners at McNeese? 

Ordering wine at special discounts through Rouge et Blanc also guarantees your ticket to next year’s festivities. Each patron who purchases $250 or more of wine (not including tax) at a qualifying Rouge et Blanc event becomes a member of the Imbiber program. 

This membership earns you the opportunity to purchase two gold tickets to next year’s Grand Tasting during our month-long ticket pre-sale, exclusive to Imbiber patrons. If you missed out on tickets this year, here’s a tip: stay tuned to the Rouge et Blanc pages for the upcoming release of their brand new wine order page, which is accessible whether you’re at the event or not. 

It just doesn’t get better than helping your local community by buying wine at significant discounts! 

For more information on Rouge et Blanc and the Imbiber program, visit banners.org. 

Play it Safe

The Rouge et Blanc staff and Thrive magazine want you to have a good time at this annual premier party. But we also want you to be safe. We strongly encourage you – if you’ve been enjoying the wine all afternoon — please don’t drive yourself home. There are plenty of other options.

Have a designated driver in your group. 

Arrange to have a friend or family member drop you off at the event and pick you up when it is over.

Hire a chauffeur. Many young drivers appreciate the opportunity to earn a little extra cash.

Make it fun by asking friends to join you in hiring a limo service.

Call a cab, such as Yellow Cab at 337-433-8282. Or check online for other taxi options – there are several. 

Call Uber or Lyft. With a tap on an app, a driver can take you home . . .  or wherever the next party might be.