Shreveport, Louisiana

What is there to do in Shreveport, LA?

Shreveport is probably best-known for its flashy riverboat casinos, but the city is overflowing with other activities and adventures. The annual Louisiana Film Prize for short films and the Louisiana Music Prize are festivals that attract thousands of visitors to Shreveport. Downtown festivals, such as the Red River Revel and the Mudbug Madness Festival, anchor Shreveport's entertainment scene.

Wine lovers will enjoy the yearly Cork Wine Festival, and Shreveport also hosts the State Fair of Louisiana, which attracts thousands of visitors and participants each year. There's also an LGBTQ film festival held in Shreveport each year.

The metro area also features a number of big-city entertainment options and attractions, including the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the oldest continually running professional orchestra in Louisiana. Other Shreveport attractions include the Shreveport Aquarium, R.W. Norton Art Gallery, the Red River Entertainment District, Robinson Film Center, American Rose Center gardens and Sci-Port Discovery Center, a children's science center. Shreveport's crown jewel is the world-famous Municipal Auditorium, once home to "The Louisiana Hayride" radio program. The auditorium helped launch the careers of many musicians, including Elvis Presley, who performed there in October 1954.

Regional attractions include the Boom or Bust Byway, a scenic drive on Highway 2 that runs through the area north of Shreveport and offers a glimpse of the oil industry's history. During the early summer, the trail is lined with colorful wildflowers. Additionally, there are recreational bicycle trails, walking paths and parks within the city.

A craft brewery market has opened up in recent years, thanks to businesses such as Great Raft Brewing and Red River Brewpub. In line with Shreveport's eclectic identity, the food scene offers a variety of choices, from barbecue and steak to crawfish boils and po'boy sandwiches. 

What's the weather like in Shreveport, LA?

As a whole, the Ark-La-Tex region experiences pleasant weather year-round. Located more than 200 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, Shreveport avoids most of the hurricane hazards that other regions of Louisiana face. Typically, any hurricane that strikes the coast will lose steam by the time it reaches Shreveport. Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are routine in the metro area, though major tornado events are rare.