Tonight’s matchup between the Red River Bulldogs and Many Tigers has been selected as the KTBS 3 Game of the Week! Sports reporter Alex Anderson will preview the highly anticipated showdown during the KTBS 3 Sports broadcast at 6 p.m.

The Pumpkin Patch at Pecan Row, 743 Highway 478 in Natchitoches, will welcome visitors Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18, for seasonal activities. Friday’s hours are 4-7 p.m., with Saturday’s activities scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday’s from 2-6 p.m. Admission is $10, and children receive a free small pumpkin. The attraction offers pumpkins and family-oriented fall activities throughout the season, with weekend openings continuing during October.

Willow Grove Missionary Baptist Church will host Strong Women of Faith Pink Sunday on Sunday, October 18, at 10 a.m. at 4425 Highway 1 North in Gahagan. The special service will bring the community together for worship, encouragement and breast cancer awareness, featuring guest speaker Sis. Jessica N. Hinson Miller and Pastor Martin Washington Sr. Survivors, caregivers, families and community members are invited to attend.

Red River Parish residents are invited to participate in the Stroll to the Polls event on Saturday, October 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Front Street in Coushatta. The event encourages churches, Greek organizations, Krewe members, trail riders, line steppers and registered voters to come together and make their voices heard. Free food and drinks will be available, along with round-trip transportation to the polls. DJ BJ will provide entertainment as the community gathers to encourage voter participation.

The LSUS Pioneer Heritage Center in Shreveport will host its 29th annual Pioneer Day on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature nearly 70 living historians demonstrating what life was like in northwest Louisiana during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can explore seven historic structures, including a log dogtrot cabin, blacksmith shop, general store and doctor’s office, while watching demonstrations of blacksmithing, woodcarving, pottery making, leatherworking, basket weaving, sewing and other traditional crafts. Some vendors will also have handmade items available for purchase. Pioneer Day offers families an opportunity to experience local history firsthand while helping preserve traditional skills and crafts for future generations. Admission is $5 for adults, and students of all ages are admitted free.

The Smokin’ on the Red BBQ Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a parade on Saturday, October 24, in Campti. The parade begins at 10 a.m., with the lineup starting at 8 a.m. Churches, businesses, schools, organizations, riding clubs, families and community groups are invited to participate with floats, decorated vehicles, horses and ATVs. Parade registration is now open at https://form.jotform.com/262864936449070. Organizers encourage everyone to join the celebration and help make the festival’s 30th anniversary memorable.

The 46th Annual Sabine Freestate Festival will take place November 6–8 in Florien, celebrating the area’s rich history and heritage. The three-day event will feature western shootout reenactments, historical demonstrations, live music, a parade, car show, No Man’s Land BBQ Championship, children’s activities, and more. Saturday’s festivities include an 11 a.m. parade, barbecue competition, entertainment and a $500 treasure hunt. The festival offers fun for the whole family with free admission and parking. For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.sabinefreestatefestivcal.com.

Mansfield State Historic Site will host a special screening of Red River, a short film by Joshua Powell, on Saturday, November 7, at 3 p.m. The film explores the history and emotional stories of the Civil War’s Red River Campaign and was partially filmed during the annual Battle of Pleasant Hill and Battle for Jefferson reenactments. Following the screening, guests will have an opportunity to learn more about the film, its historical inspiration and its connection to the region’s past. The event will take place at Mansfield State Historic Site, located at 15149 Highway 175 in Mansfield.

Food lovers can sample a variety of sweet and savory treats during the State Fair of Louisiana’s Food Crawl, scheduled for November 4 and November 11. Each Food Crawl ticket includes admission to the fair, an official State Fair T-shirt and 11 food samples from participating vendors. The event offers visitors a chance to enjoy some of the fair’s favorite foods while exploring the festivities.

Crumbl Cookies, known for its oversized cookies and rotating weekly flavors, has reportedly closed 57 stores nationwide this year as the company struggles with declining sales. Despite the closures and corporate layoffs, approximately 1,000 Crumbl locations remain open across the country including 14 in Louisiana.

Kroger plans to lay off approximately 3000 employees as the grocery giant increases its focus on artificial intelligence. The announcement raises concerns about the impact of advancing technology on jobs and the future of the retail workforce.

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