Florien, Louisiana ✦ Nov 6–8, 2026
Sabine Freestate Festival.
Western history, smoky BBQ, and a weekend in Florien.
Florien’s 46th annual Sabine Freestate Festival brings together western reenactments, a parade, live music and the No Man’s Land BBQ Championship. Explore three days of community events, with pageant and clue dates leading up to the weekend.
WHEN
Nov 6–8, 2026WHERE
Florien, Louisiana · Activities at several local venues; see the scheduleTHE DETAILS
Admission & visitor notes ↗PICK YOUR DAY
The festival schedule.
All times Central.
Times may change.
Freestate Festival · Friday, November 6
Veterans, education & opening night
8 AM
Veterans breakfast
9 AM
Education Day & veterans program
Guest speaker from American Warrior Initiative.
12 PM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
4 PM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
5:30 PM
No Man’s Land BBQ head cooks meeting
Train Depot
6 PM
Shootout #1 / Clue #6
Staged western shootout.
6:30 PM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
7 PM
Freestate Bingo
FHS Old Gym
7 PM
Block party dance — DJ Dex
11 PM
Festival grounds close
Freestate Festival · Saturday, November 7
Parade, BBQ & a full day of festival fun
7 AM
5th Annual Ben D. Peterson Memorial Trail Ride
10 AM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
11 AM
Parade
Immediately after the parade
Queens announcement & posting of colors
Colors posted by Sabine Rifles Camp.
Immediately after the parade
Clue #7, Toledo Cruisers car show & Shootout #2
Includes a staged western shootout.
1 PM
The Wonderdog Show
1:30 PM
Studio B Dance Company
FHS Auditorium
1:45 PM
Skeet shoot tournament
2 PM
Car show awards / Clue #8
2:30 PM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
3:15 PM
The Wonderdog Show
3:30 PM
Acoustic jam session with the Stewart Family
4:30 PM
Shootout #3 / Clue #9
Staged western shootout.
5 PM
No Man’s Land BBQ championship turn-in
5 PM
Bad Bob the Bone Butcher
5:30 PM
Calf dummy roping
Freestate Stockyards
6:15 PM
Mutton bustin’
Freestate Stockyards
6:45 PM
No Man’s Land BBQ champions announcement
7 PM
Shane Pons Band
9 PM
Cypress Royale
11 PM
Festival grounds close
Throughout the day
Saturday activities
Roller car rides, laser tag, championship minnow racing, putt-putt golf, historical demonstrations, Chuckwagon Will Travel and LA Mechanical Bulls. Individual hours and prices are not listed.
Freestate Festival · Sunday, November 8
Gospel, community & the final clue
10:30 AM
Gospel singing
11 AM
Community church service
1 PM
Shootout #4 / Clue #10
Staged western shootout.
6 PM
Movie night
Movie title to be announced.
Before the festival · entries & early events
Freestate Festival · Saturday, October 17 · Lead-up
Miss Sabine Freestate Pageant
Time not listed
Miss Sabine Freestate Pageant
FHS Auditorium
Time not listed
Clue #1
Freestate Festival · Monday, October 26 · Lead-up
Poster auction & grand marshal unveiling
Time not listed
Official poster unveiling & auction
Florien Civic Center
Time not listed
Grand marshal unveiling
Florien Civic Center
Time not listed
Clue #2
Freestate Festival · Tuesday, November 3 · Lead-up
Clue #3
Time not listed
Clue #3
Freestate Festival · Wednesday, November 4 · Lead-up
Clue #4
Time not listed
Clue #4
Freestate Festival · Thursday, November 5 · Lead-up
BBQ entry deadline & clue
Deadline time not listed
No Man’s Land BBQ cook-off entry deadline
Time not listed
Clue #5
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Make a day of it.
A weekend in Florien
The festival runs November 6–8, 2026. Friday and Saturday list an 11 PM grounds closing time. Sunday’s final advertised activity is movie night at 6 PM; the movie is still to be announced.
The flyer does not give gate admission or individual activity prices. Ask the organizers about parking, accessibility and exact locations before traveling.
No Man’s Land BBQ Championship
The entry deadline is November 5; no deadline time is printed. Head cooks meet November 6 at 5:30 PM at the Train Depot. Saturday’s turn-in is at 5 PM, with champions announced at 6:45 PM. Email the organizers for entry requirements and fees.
Saturday with the family
The parade starts at 11 AM. Dog shows, dance, stockyard activities and evening bands fill out Saturday’s program. Roller car rides, laser tag, minnow racing, putt-putt, historical demonstrations, Chuckwagon Will Travel and LA Mechanical Bulls are also listed throughout the day.
History & the clue trail
The festival commemorates the area known as No Man’s Land between 1806 and 1821. Staged western shootouts are scheduled all three festival days. The flyer lists ten numbered clues, beginning October 17; rules and prizes are not specified.
Contact the organizers
Email sabineparishfreestate@gmail.com for entries, visitor questions or updates. The official website lists the contact address as 220 W Port Arthur Ave, Florien, LA 71429. This is the organizer’s contact address; individual activities use the venues shown in the schedule.
SOURCE NOTES · CHECKED September 16, 2026
Schedule transcribed from the organizer’s 2026 festival flyer supplied by the site owner. The official Sabine Freestate Festival website confirms the 46th annual 2026 event and lists the organizer email and contact address. Descriptions are independently written. Admission, most activity locations and lead-up times are not listed on the flyer; check with organizers for those details and schedule changes.
Written and organized independently by SatCom. This guide is not affiliated with the festival organizers.