Weekend Happenings

Prior to moving from the big city to a smaller town, a concern I had was that there wouldn't be much to do, comparatively. Not yet knowing anything about Lake Charles, I associated the town with industry. How much fun could there be?

I could not have been more wrong. And I'm so glad to say that! Lake Charles embraces a vibrant cultural scene, with music, arts, and festivals galore. If I could clone myself, there still would not be enough of me to see and do everything I'd like around here.

Take this weekend for example. Tonight begins a music fest called Live @ the Lakefront. For the next three consecutive Fridays, Arts and Humanities Council and the City of Lake Charles host bands at the lakefront outdoor amphitheater. And I'm thrilled because this evening, one of my favorite artists, Wendy Colonna, takes the stage. See a video of her music here. Click here for more info on Live @ the Lakefront.

I belong to a kayaking club called the Pelican Paddlers, and I'll be out on the Calcasieu River Saturday morning with them. More on that in a future post. There's a gardening expo this weekend at Burton Coliseum. I promise to write more on the joys of gardening in southwest Louisiana sometime soon, too.

There's the Iowa Rabbit Festival, but I went to that last year. Read the post I wrote last year here.

Saturday evening, I'm so excited to attend the long-awaited dual production of The Sleeping Beauty by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet and the Lake Charles Symphony. Info on this event is everywhere -- they've done a grand job of marketing. But look here if you need more.

Nearly simultaneously, our beloved Banners series presents Rhythmic Circus, one of Andrew's favorite shows. Feet Don't Fail Me Now! We haven't yet figured out the logistics of attending both of these events Saturday night.

But it promises to be fun! What are you doing this weekend?

If it's Springtime in Louisiana . . .

it must be Banners Series Season! Soon after my family and I moved to Louisiana, we discovered Banners, a cultural/arts organization associated with McNeese State University. Each spring, Banners presents various concerts with acts from across the country and around the world. Initially, we thought Banners was Lake Charles' best kept secret. We were astonished that, for $150.00, we got two tickets to over twenty concerts and lectures. But in recent years, the Series has become so popular, it can be difficult to find a parking spot or a seat in the theater. We've learned to get there early! The entertainment is so varied and diverse; musical acts range from classical to Cajun to country and everything in between. A few years ago, one of our favorite performers was Jake Shimabukuro, an incredible ukulele player. Dance performances vary from ballet to belly dancing. Andrew's favorite show last year was Rhythmic Circus, a group of fast flying-footwork tap dancers. The lectures discuss topics from politics and religion to the environment and social issues.

This afternoon, we saw MozART Group, a comedic string quartet from Poland. Check out their website here and see a video clip here. I found them to be massively entertaining. That's the great thing about Banners. Even when I think I'm going to enjoy a performance, I usually love it more than I thought I would. And we're just getting started with this season! See www.banners.org for more information.