As temperatures rise this Spring, events and attractions will be in full bloom throughout Shreveport-Bossier.

Lose yourself amid the beauty and fragrance of roses at the Gardens of the American Rose Center. In just a few short weeks, a beautiful canvas of color will unfold as the Gardens observe its annual Celebration of Spring Bloom. During your visit, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along meandering garden paths filled with more than 20,000 roses and other beautiful garden features.

Walk or have lunch among glorious and endless rows of azaleas at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport's Highland neighborhood. This popular attraction features 40 beautifully landscaped acres that are blanketed by azalea gardens and serene water features. Once you've toured the grounds, go inside for a look at the gallery's impressive collections of works by western art legends Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

Spend an afternoon admiring art and journeying through the sensory garden at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center. It's beautifully situated in downtown Shreveport, along the riverfront and adjacent to RiverView Park. The center features a variety of art exhibits and a domed botanical garden conservatory with tropical, seasonal and native plants.

Have a group that's interested in visiting Shreveport-Bossier? Contact Tourism Sales Manager Erica Howard at 1-800-551-8682 ext. 104 for group rate information and more details.

Also find more group information here.


That's Entertainment
Horseshoe Casino & Hotel to Host Legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, Comedian Ron White

Horseshoe Casino & Hotel will welcome legendary band Earth Wind & Fire for an extraordinary concert on Friday, April 24 at the Riverdome.

Since the '70s, Earth Wind & Fire has won the hearts of a wide array of music lovers stemming from R&B, pop, jazz and even rock. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire's nearly 40-year history includes eight double-platinum albums, two platinum albums and three gold albums. They have been nominated for 20 Grammy Awards, and eight are currently sitting on their shelves.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $95 and $105, and seating is reserved.

Also in April, the Horseshoe will host funnyman Ron White for two shows on Friday, April 3 at the Riverdome.

Ron "Tater Salad" White is best known as the cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman from the "Blue Collar Comedy" phenomenon. But White has established himself as a star with two Grammy nominations, a gold record, two of the most top-rated specials in Comedy Central history, a book on the New York Times Best Seller List, and CD and DVD sales totaling more than 10 million units.

Doors for the first show will open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 6:30 p.m. Doors for the second show will open at 8:30 p.m., with the show starting at 9 p.m. Tickets on sale now for $65 and $75, and seating is reserved.

To purchase tickets for both shows, visit www.riverdome.com, call 888-512-SHOW (7469) or visit the Horseshoe Gift Horse® Gift Shop. Fans must be age 21 or older to attend.


Discover Your Inner Wine Connoisseur at the CORK Wine Festival

Toast to good times and warmer weather at the fourth annual CORK Wine Tasting Festival, Saturday, April 4 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport.

CORK is a Red River Revel Wine Event, presented by Eldorado Resort Casino - with all proceeds going to benefit the Red River Revel Arts Festival, also held at Festival Plaza in October.

CORK continues to grow every year, after its start in 2006 as a one-day event.

The popular event will feature 80 wonderful wines, delicious food pairings from the area's finest eateries and an auction. For the wine enthusiast, CORK is offering several wine tasting seminars to provide knowledge on everything from choosing the correct glass to a grape's influence on the taste of great champagne.

Get your tickets today! Visit www.corkwinefestival.com.


New Shopping, Lifestyle Center to Open in Bossier City

Bossier City will soon be home to The Villaggio - a new lifestyle center that will offer a unique blend of specialty retail, dining, office, and single and multi-family residential districts.

The Villaggio will offer families and individuals the freedom to mix business and pleasure as they live, work, shop, dine and indulge in entertainment and cutting edge features as a part of the development, which is expected to open this summer.

The development is owned by The Good Companies, which also developed the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. The company recently announced that Shuck's, a full service restaurant, will be one of the first businesses to open at The Villaggio.

The restaurant operator, well known for over 50 years in south Louisiana, will open outside its home base for the first time in Bossier City. In addition, The Villaggio will be home to several retail concepts that are new to the region.