Ruston: Festivals, Art and History

Ruston combines an annual summer festival with art and history. If you’re looking for hotels in Ruston, the reason for your trip can help guide your plans: the Louisiana Peach Festival adds a seasonal highlight, while galleries, museums, and public art offer other points of interest. Plan your stay around the festival, and check that year’s dates, as they vary.

The Louisiana Peach Festival

The Louisiana Peach Festival takes place every year in the summer in downtown Ruston. The festival includes live music, an art market juried by a panel, food vendors, and activities for children. Program details may vary from year to year.

Art in galleries and public spaces

In the Cultural District in downtown Ruston, walkable streets invite visitors to explore galleries, artist studios, public art, venues, and historic architecture. Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design has two gallery spaces for artists working in media that include painting, drawing, video, printmaking, installation, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textile art, and digital works.

Museums and regional history

The Louisiana Tech Museum is located on the fourth floor. Its collection includes more than 10,000 artifacts originally belonging to the Caddo tribe, as well as archaeological, architectural, anthropological, and geological objects. The North Louisiana Military Museum offers a different historical perspective, covering military history from the Civil War through the War on Terror. At the Lincoln Parish Museum, the “Walls That Talk” exhibit features seven murals about the history of Lincoln Parish. The Louisiana Tech Archives and Special Collections present exhibits on the history of Louisiana Tech, Camp Ruston, and pre-Columbian Indigenous ceramics. Access options may vary; check before your visit.

The historical focus differs at each site: the Louisiana Tech Museum centers on a diverse collection, the North Louisiana Military Museum spans a broad period of military history, and “Walls That Talk” explores the history of Lincoln Parish through murals.

Public art

As a public art installation in Ruston, The Bulldog Project features 22 large bulldog statues, each designed by a local artist. Some statues from the second round may not yet have permanent locations.

Things to do in Lincoln Parish

In the wider Lincoln Parish area, visitors can kayak, canoe, or fish on the lake at Lincoln Parish Park. Also in Lincoln Parish, the Waterfall MTB Hub at Lincoln Parish Park provides access to five flow trails designed for riders of all skill levels. Lincoln Parish Park also has a 10-mile mountain biking trail for advanced riders and beginners; trail conditions may vary.

Peaches and regional food

The Mitcham Farms Peach Store offers peach-themed gifts, peach jam, jellies, cobbler mix, and peach candy; seasonal product availability may vary. The festival takes place annually in the summer; its dates vary from year to year. The Ruston Farmers Market offers direct sales from producers to consumers and supports a local food network in North Louisiana.

For a broader travel overview: Lincoln.