Food and Wine at Disney's Epcot Center

Central Louisiana will soon be part of the international stage, even if it is confined to an amusement park. Beginning Sunday Oct 7th, the cities of Alexandria and Pineville will be on display at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center as part of the "Welcome to My Louisiana" experience. The event will put not only Cenla, but the entire state, on display during Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival.

"Worldwide exposure" is how Sherry Smith described the event. Smith is the director of the Alexandria-Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"It can't help but have a positive effect," she added.

Smith said the Louisiana-focused event was sparked by Walt Disney after the global entertainment company stumbled upon the Louisiana Culinary Trails' Web site. From there, Disney contacted various state offices and the program took off.

Until Oct. 11, Central Louisiana will be in the forefront of the "My Louisiana" event along with the Culinary Trails participants located in Region 5, Smith said. This includes Monroe, Ruston and Avoyelles Parish.

Smith will travel to Orlando Florida and act as an ambassador during that time. With her, she'll bring area artisans Rick Blue, who makes pine-needle baskets, Chef Chris Fett and musician Rusty Allen.

"It's a big deal," Blue said. "I do think it is an honor to show the world what Louisiana has to offer, especially after (Hurricane) Katrina."

While he's originally from North Carolina, Blue has lived in the Cenla area for 33 years.

"This is my Louisiana," declared Blue about his longtime home and mimicking the Epcot event title.

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy called the event and subsequent statewide exposure a "tremendous" thing.

"This is all part of what Mitch Landrieu as lieutenant governor has been doing with, I would say in the larger sense, the cultural economy," Roy said. "Louisiana is going to get to highlight all the regions of the state."

Roy estimated that Louisiana's cultural economy accounts for in excess of 144,000 jobs.

"These are real dollars that are created by something that Louisiana is really good at, which is marketing its culture, its food and its heritage," Roy added.

Smith said her goal while at the event will be to expose Louisiana's offerings and gain visitors.

"That's what it's all about."

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