‘Antiques Roadshow’ to make a stop in Baton Rouge

The Emmy-winning PBS series Antiques Roadshow will appraise the prized family heirlooms, tchotchkes and thrift store finds of Baton Rougeans this summer. The Capital City is one of eight cities selected for the show’s 18th season, and local leaders have been trying for nearly as many years to bring the show—plus its 10 million viewers a week—to town. “That’s 10 million viewers who have an interest in antiques, who have a propensity to travel—all of them will see Baton Rouge,” says Visit Baton Rouge President/CEO Paul Arrigo. LPB CEO Beth Courtney notes that new developments downtown have helped Baton Rouge meet the strict requirements for host cities of the show, such as the number of available hotel rooms nearby and the capacity of the event center. According to WGBH, which produces the show, about 28% of guests travel more than 100 miles to attend tapings and about 42% stay in local hotels. WGBH says the show will spend about $200,000 while in Baton Rouge. The show previously visited New Orleans in 2002. PBS will give out 3,000 pairs of tickets to the Baton Rouge event, and all are free and randomly drawn. Click here for complete details on how to apply. The show tapes at the Baton Rouge River Center on Saturday, July 27, the sixth stop on the tour. The 18th season is set to premiere in January 2014. —Benjamin Leger