The 15th annual Family & Youth Festival will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Lake Charles Civic Center. The theme is “Healthy Communities Begin with Healthy Children.” Admission is free.

“This event is a thank you to the community for their support throughout the year,” said Roxanne Camara, Family & Youth senior coordinator of special events. “It’s an opportunity to have a fun day with your family. It’s an alcohol-free event, and it’s inside the colosseum, so it’s air-conditioned.”

Music will be provided by the band Cloud 9, representing the Lake Charles branch of Young Band Nation. Members’ ages range from 10 to 17, according to Marcus Johnson, the owner of Lake Charles Young Band Nation.

The music will include classic rock like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Cars, along with songs from current artists such as Adele. This will be the group’s first year playing at the Family & Youth Festival.

Festival events will be sectioned into zones. The Fun and Happening zones will feature arts and crafts, golf, bowling, hat-making and spin-art. New to the festival is the Discovery Dome, provided by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The dome features information on dinosaurs, Earth science and space. The Get Moving Zone will feature zydeco aerobics and Zumba.

For the preteen set, the Future Zone will include exhibits by the McNeese State University’s Department of Agriculture, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Carlyss and Lake Charles fire departments, Citgo and Sasol.

The event will also have resources for parents to learn about local organizations, such as United Way.

Last year’s festival drew more than 2,000 people, organizers said. Family & Youth, a United Way agency, was founded in 1970.

According to its website, the agency’s focus is “to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to advocacy, counseling and education for the people of Southwest Louisiana.”

“We just want everyone to come out, and it’s free of charge this year thanks to our supporters,” said Camara. “Come out and bring your families to enjoy the day.”

(Special to the American Press)