Amid all the tailgating and bar-hopping that Baton Rouge isfamous for, a different kind of party is drawing crowdsdowntown.
It’s a fais do-do on a grand scale, complete with livemusic and beer, and this week it is on the corner of Third Streetand Florida Boulevard.
The “Live After Five” series is a weekly free blockparty starting at five o’clock every Friday night sponsoredby the Downtown Merchants Association.
The idea of having a big party downtown came to them about sixyears ago, said Gay Boudreaux, the secretary treasurer of theDMA.
“We came up with the idea to have a Friday-night concert,with cold beer where everyone could have a good time,”Boudreaux said.
The first concert had about 75 people, but now their numbershave increased dramatically, Boudreaux said.
“People have realized that it’s safe and well-litand everyone’s having a good time,” Boudreaux said.
The concerts have two seasons, one in spring and one in fall,and each season has six concerts, Boudreaux said.
The DMA hosts the “Live After Five” concerts inorder to raise money for downtown improvement projects such asbenches and trash cans, Boudreaux said. Also, the DMA sponsorsseveral community projects, such as the Christmas lighting on NorthBoulevard.
“All the money we make is put back into downtown BatonRouge,” Boudreaux said.
The DMA sells soft drinks and beer at the concerts, but notfood, Boudreaux said.
“We sell the cokes and beer to drum up business for thedowntown restaurants,” Boudreaux said.
The response has been so good that corporations like Coca-Colaand local busnisses, such as Mockler Beverage, a local beveragedistribution company, have offered sponsorship for the series,Boudreaux said.
Music, fun and good food bring the businessmen downtown afterwork, so that is the main crowd; but, several families also comeout, as well as LSU and Southern University students, Boudreauxsaid.
People are drawn in by the live music, Boudreaux said.
The performers at the concerts are a mix of several differenttypes of music, said Tracy McKee, the event planner for the”Live After Five” events.
“We really like to get Louisiana-based acts,” McKeesaid. “But, lately we’ve been expanding into regionalmusic as well.”
The budget does play a role in the selection of artists, McKeesaid. But, often attendees request certain groups or performers,and the DMA tries to book them.
The community response to the “Live After Five”series has been huge, McKee said.
Near the stage, two lines of people make an alley for people todance down, much in the tradition of old cajun dance halls.Children are running around everywhere playing and having a goodtime in a well-lit, safe area. Old couples slow dance to the musicfrom the Boogie Kings, this week’s act, and people sing alongto old songs they know.
“Last year, this was one of the best times I had,”said Maxine Foster, an international business sophomore. “Icame out with my aunts and uncles and I have a really goodtime.”
Near the big parking lot where the band is playing on a stagelent by Mockler Beverage, the restaurants were packed. Peoplewaiting in line at Harrington’s Cafe did not seem to mind, aslong as they could hear the music.
“[The concerts] have really helped our business alot,” said Craig Harrington, the owner of Harrington’sCafe. “It’s been a major increase in our nighttimebusiness.”
Parrot Beach Bar, a new bar under construction near the party,was also taking advantage of all the potential customers.
Taylor Finchum, a business sophomore and bartender at ParrotBeach Bar, was in the crowd passing out flyers and trying to drawin business, while enjoying the music.
“I’m from Lake Charles and we have things like this,and this is really great,” Finchum said.
The concerts are “the only way to end a long week ofwork,” said Allen Wagner, a University of Louisiana graduatewho works for the Baton Rouge Symphony downtown.
Wagner and others he works with downtown found out about”Live After Five” from a flyer hanging in their officeand decided to come down and check it out.
Even as the concerts draw to an end, the crowd is stillenergetic.
“I think this is a great opportunity for people in BatonRouge to come and hang out,” said Sonya Griffin, a marketingassistant and LSU graduate. “It’s good, clean fun. Ijust wish they did it year-round.”