MAIN STREET SPOTLIGHT: Olde Towne Slidell

Vibrant art, culture and memorable experiences await you.

BY CLAIRE CRISWELL

WITH A RICH HISTORY AND VIBRANT BUSINESSES at every turn, Olde Towne Slidell is a gem worth discovering. Olde Towne Slidell Main Street is a nationally accredited main street, and with one walk through the town, you will quickly see why.

You cannot make a turn or walk down a street in Olde Towne Slidell without encountering multiple exquisite murals adorning the walls, as well as inviting small businesses. "The best part about being a Main Street community is the connection we have with Louisiana's other Main Street communities,” says Beth Bowman, President of Olde Towne Slidell Main Street. “We share many of the same problems and successes and to be able to learn from one another is invaluable. Simply put, we all have the same goal: to help our community live up to its potential.”

Olde Towne Slidell Main Street has been, and still is, hard at work on many projects that will make this quaint area feel even more like home and ultimately enhance their already strong historic and economic integrity. Beautification efforts for refreshed signage and brick crosswalks are evident across the area, but that’s not all. This past summer, the Slidell Historical

Antique Association and community leaders unveiled the Antique Umbrella Alley. This permanent artistic exhibition and Slidell’s newest attraction showcases a collection of more than 80 vividly hued umbrellas elegantly suspended above First Street, nestled within the heart of Olde Towne’s Antique District. Visitors and shoppers can enjoy a colorful photo-op day or night while visiting the area’s many shops.

Over the past few years, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street has seen a plethora of successes, from their well-known Arts Evening to the addition of Carey Street Park. "Another benefit of visiting Olde Towne is the sense of community that you'll find here,” Bowman says. “The area is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with locals and visitors enjoying the small-town feel and sense of connection that comes from an attractive and approachable historic district.”

Events include the weekly Camellia City Farmers Market, the bi-annual Antique Fair, and the Olde Towne Crawls, bringing people together to celebrate the best that the area has to offer.