Chef John Folse will be one of the spotlight events during the 2014 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend on June 19-21 in Natchitoches.

The event titled “Folse, Fun and Fireworks” will be at 7 p.m. June 20 at the Landing Restaurant in Natchitoches.

Lisa Babin, president and CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, said “Folse, Fun and Fireworks” is part of the foundation’s efforts to raise awareness of the role fishing and hunting play in the Louisiana sports.

In an interactive dining experience, Louisiana native Chef John Folse shares his experiences and secrets learned in Cajun cooking with unique ingredients of Louisiana’s swamp floor and pantry. Diners will partake in a five-course dinner featuring recipes from “After the Hunt: Louisiana’s Authoritative Collection of Wild Game and Fish Cookery” by Folse, and prepared and served by staff of the Landing Restaurant.

Folse is the author of several cookbooks, children and adult books. He has reached kitchens around the world through radio and television cooking programs, catering services, and more. Folse’s partners with avid outdoorsman Brian Gibbons of Artisan Fine Wines to heighten the experience.

“A different wine will be paired with each of the five courses by Artisan Fine Wines and Brian Gibbons will provide two overviews of the wine selection,” Babin said. “The first one will cover the initial three wines served followed by a second presentation of the fourth and fifth wines served.”

Also, tour the showcase of hunting and fishing treasures collected by Grits Gresham, the first hunting and fishing inductee in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Babin said Gresham is the pioneer of corporate sponsors for hunting and fishing, and was known to have close relationships with many celebrities such as Bob Hope and Dean Martin.

Attendees will also have a chance to take a bit of history home in a hunting and fishing-themed silent auction that includes: autographed items by Hall-of-Famers Terry Bradshaw, Karl Malone, Archie Manning, Bob Petit, Todd Walker, Skip Bertman and others; a VIP trip to the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl; a two night stay at Deer Lake cabins; courtside tickets to New Orleans Pelicans game; a limited edition print “Rivalry” signed by Les Miles and Nick Saban; and many other items.

“Donations are used to provide new and updated exhibits in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum, develop programming for the museum, raise awareness of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and its outstanding inductees and in covering the cost of hosting the annual Induction Weekend,” Babin said.

The 2014 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend kicks off June 19 with the Inductee Press Conference at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum and concludes June 21 with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. A complete schedule of events is available at www.lasportshall.com, which includes the Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, New Orleans Saints/Gatorade Junior Training Camp, and the Folse, Fun and Fireworks fundraiser.

The foundation will honor Louisiana athletes Tom Benson, Venus Lacy, Pete Boudreaux, Shane Reynolds, Richard “Moon” Ducote, Beryl Shipley, Alan Faneca and Lionel Washington on June 21 with the induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Babin said special guests from across the country attend the LSHOF Induction weekend and encourages locals to attend. “In 2000, Sports Illustrated did a comprehensive study of sports and ranked Louisiana No. 6 in the nation on the number of caliber of athletes,” Babin said. “Come celebrate an area that Louisiana excels in and that is so vitally engrained into our culture.”

Cocktail attire is encouraged for “Folse, Fun and Fireworks.” A limited number of tickets are available for $125 per ticket and can be purchased at www.lasportshall.com or by mailing a check made payable to the LA Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. Check should be mailed to LSHOF Foundation, 500 Front St., Natchitoches, LA 71457. For more information, call the Hall of Fame Foundation Office at 318-238-4255 or Babin, LSHOF Foundation president at 318- 458-0166.