Southwest Louisiana’s year-round out of doors playground, Lake Charles has been designated as Louisiana’s “Competition Capital,” boasting over 70 annual occasions celebrating every little thing from Black heritage and the humanities to the area’s vibrant, multicultural culinary and music scene.
Colourful lights, the thumping of the bass drum, and the roar of cheering followers. Nothing will get everybody transferring fairly like concert events and stay music, and among the finest leisure for households, {couples}, and music lovers is free and readily accessible to downtown companies or the lakefront.
Fall is peek pageant season, and a crowd favourite is Chuck Fest! On October 22, the streets of downtown Lake Charles come alive with an array of musicians, artisans, and scrumptious meals. Chuck Fest is a pageant devoted to celebrating the wealthy cultural bounty present in Lake Charles, or “Lake Chuck.” The one-day occasion is free to the general public and options native restaurant favorites, Louisiana-made beer and spirits, and bands from all throughout Louisiana. Chuck Fest is equal-parts meals, drink and music, garnished with a twist of artwork, served chilled with neighbors.
And don’t miss the vacation happenings that rapidly comply with – yearly, the primary weekend in December is alive with city-wide occasions all through Southwest Louisiana. Sulphur’s Christmas Beneath the Oaks boats native artwork, music, meals, carnival rides, and “snow.” Lake Charles hosts a lighted boat parade with fireworks and extra. And, there’s a assortment of buying and performing arts all through the season! Take a look at visitlakecharles.org/CajunChristmas for particulars.
In comparison with its extra publicized neighbors to the east, Southwest Louisiana’s delicacies is a lighter tackle Creole cooking. Courting again to the 18th century, its culinary traditions are largely knowledgeable by its coastal waterways, swamps, and the Mississippi River—in addition to the area’s Cajun and African American influences.
Recent Gulf seafood takes heart stage, which you’ll style at spots like Restaurant Calla, with its craft cocktails and blue crab beignets, or native establishments Darrell’s Famous Po’Boys and Buffi’s Peaux Boys, the place buttery sautéed shrimp and spicy crawfish are piled excessive on crackly French bread.
Whereas there’s no scarcity of laidback eateries (don’t miss the bistro alternatives at Crying Eagle Brewing Co.), Lake Charles additionally excels at positive eating. You should definitely e book dinner at New American eatery 1910, or downtown’s Villa Harlequin, situated within the historic Noble Constructing. Villa’s government chef Amanda Cusey was not too long ago topped Queen of Louisiana Seafood, having received the fifteenth annual Louisiana Seafood Cook dinner-off along with her pan-seared crimson drum with tomato polenta and crawfish cream sauce. The primary chef from Lake Charles and the second girl to win the distinction, Cusey brings a considerate Italian contact to the Villa’s menu with dishes like prosecco risotto with oysters, crab, and crawfish arancini.
Intrepid diners may also combine out of doors recreation into their exploration of the area’s delicacies. There’s plentiful fresh- and saltwater fishing and chartered excursions, and Lake Charles Creole Nature Path All-American Street is a favourite amongst locals for shrimping and seasonal crabbing. In case you have transportation, the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail maps out the very best mom-and-pop shops, meat markets, and grocery shops to pattern this iconic pork-and-rice sausage. In October, Boudin Wars kicks off, when eating places and cooks battle for the title of “Greatest Boudin in SWLA,” whereas offering guests with samples and recipes.
If meals festivals are your factor, don’t miss Smoke & Barrel’s eponymous occasion on November 19. The non-profit group produces occasions that present neighborhood enrichment whereas elevating funds for charity. The namesake pageant showcases high bourbon producers and barbecue pitmasters from Louisiana and Texas (e.g. Blood Bros. from Houston, Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue in Crockett) with proceeds benefitting the United Manner of SWLA.
To assist rejoice, Visit Lake Charles is providing Austin Month-to-month readers an opportunity to win a two-night keep at Golden Nugget Lake Charles (with a $200 resort credit score), VIP tickets to Smoke & Barrel in November, a $150 reward card to pattern chef Amanda Cusey’s beautiful meals at Villa Harlequin, and swag bag crammed with all types of goodies. To enter, simply click here by October 16.
