Laurel Street Palooza celebrates the arts tonight – What to know about the Arts Council’s annual party

Laurel Street will again be the site of an annual party for Baton Rouge’s art scene tonight. The Arts Council’s 14th annual Laurel Street Palooza kicks off at 5:30 p.m., featuring a street party, silent auction, food from 20 local restaurants, drinks and music from The Michael Foster Project, Righteous Buddha, Ben Bell & the Stardust Boys, Kirk Holder and Artemis.

Tickets are still on sale for $40 in advance online and $45 at the door.

This year’s celebration takes place at the Arts Council’s two-floor building at 427 Laurel Street and in the Chase Tower across the street at 450 Laurel Street.

Bands will perform in both buildings, and food and drink will also be provided at both locations. The silent auction takes place in the Arts Council building. Weather permitting, more activities will take place outdoors.

According to organizers, the event will still go on despite rain in the forecast this evening.

The annual event highlights two locals who have been dubbed royalty thanks to their efforts and dedication to the Baton Rouge arts scene. Jim Brandt and Mary Ann Sternberg are this year’s King and Queen Palooza.

Brandt, a longtime advocate and volunteer of the Arts Council, served as Community Fund for the Arts Chair in 2012 and currently serves on the board of directors of the Capital Area Transit System, the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System, the Center for Planning Excellence and the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families.

Sternberg is a founding board member of the Arts Council in 1973 and piloted its public relations programming, including serving as head of public relations for the first three Arts Festivals—now known as FestForAll. Currently, she is on the board of WRKF Public Radio and is the chair for the Ernest Gaines Literary Award.

For more information on this year’s party, click here.

Check out the Laurel Street Palooza promo video below: