It's time to Raise the Roost! At the LSU Rural Life Museum’s annual Red Rooster Bash, history meets hoedown.
Long before there was a museum, there was a red rooster. John Bateman's rooster, to be exact. Red Rooster started as a fundraiser to help build the Rural Life Museum itself, back when neighbors came together for barn raisings, brought their own food and drink, and turned the work of building something into a community celebration. That spirit of building community is still the reason we gather.
This year's Red Rooster Bash steps back to the years before Prohibition, when Louisiana's rural communities leaned on each other to build something new and toasted the effort with whatever was in the jar.
You'll wander the museum grounds after dark and visit a few different stops, each one part of the story:
The Tap House: historic beer styles brewed just for this event, including lager, porter, Kentucky common, and a rye ale.
The Apothecary: craft cocktails with names built around the Red Rooster story, plus a mocktail or two for anyone who wants in on the fun without the buzz.
The Dance Hall: line dancing lessons and live music that is sure to break in those new boots.
The Smokehouse: whole roasted hog and chicken, Southern sides, and cobblers and cakes for dessert.
The General Store: raffle items including a handmade American flag quilt and Beer Fest tickets, plus an old-school penny social and cakewalk.
Look for property-made keepsakes too, honey, cane syrup, and laser-engraved coasters among them. This ain’t your grandma’s sit-down gala. Grab your family and friends, walk the grounds, dance a little, and try a beer you've never had before. Somewhere between the tap and the dance floor, you'll understand why this rooster's still got something to crow about. Every ticket supports the LSU Rural Life Museum and helps preserve the stories, traditions, and history that make our home so special!
For more information, email rlm@lsu.edu.
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