Area law enforcement agencies and first responders will host "National Night Out" on Tuesday Aug. 6. The family friendly, free event will take place on both sides of the Calcasieu River from 6-9 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center and 6-8 p.m. at the West Cal Arena in Sulphur.

More than 20 balloons will launch during the inaugural Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival, set for Friday and Saturday at Chennault International Airport, 3650 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave.“These guys are professionals,” Brandon Beard, festival organizer, said. “They do this all ar…

Lake Charles native Shae Nycole recently performed at the 25th annual Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. The independent R&B artist performed her original pieces “Zydeco” and “Eff Love” as well as covers from Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Frankie Beverly and Maize.“Once the beat cam…

As part of Southwest Louisiana's "7 Days of Juneteenth Freedom Festival," Historic City hall Arts and Culture Center will conduct a gallery talk with sculptor Martin Payton in the third floor gallery on Tuesday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m. Payton will be present to give an overview and history on h…

KINDER — The 24th annual Coushatta Pow Wow will bring a taste of Native American culture to Allen Parish this weekend.

Attendees at the Calcasieu-Acadiana Annual Dog Show are in for a treat in that more than 700 dogs are vying for the Best in Show award this year.

The Bayou Bell Choir, Southwest Louisiana’s community hand bell ensemble, will host three free concerts beginning Friday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. in Paxton Hall of First United Methodist Church. The concert will feature crowd favorites from the groups’s first 20 years of performances ranging fr…

The Art Associates Gallery at Central School will host an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 24, for the new exhibit “Stefan Borssen: Automatic.” Borssen, a local abstract artist, will be presenting 10 works in the exhibit.All 10 canvases are acrylic based mixed media pieces ranging from…

Singer native Gyth Rigdon took second place in "The Voice" finale Tuesday.

The Calcasieu Parish Short Film Festival will feature 30 independent films from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Brimstone Museum Complex in Sulphur, 900 South Huntington St.Patrick Bennett, festival director, said the films include a variety of genres, such as comedy, drama and action. All…

CSE Federal Credit Union will present its sixth annual “An Afternoon with Music-Makers” at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in the Bucaneer Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center. The free event will feature instrumental and vocal selections from local artists, student musicians and Mickey Smith Jr.’…

"Long Swamp: Life in the Etowah River Valley," a traveling exhibition showcasing an American Indian archaeological site in Northwest Georgia, has arrived at Sowela Technical Community College's Lake Charles campus.

The Lake Charles Symphony will host their inaugural Bingo de Mayo fundraiser 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Cash and Carry building.“We thought we’d spice it up a bit and go along with the Cinco de Mayo theme this year,” Michele Miller, executive director, said.The Barbe High School Buccanee…

Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale will present its final concert of the season, “Nelson Mass,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, in McNeese State University’s Tritico Theatre.Formally titled “Missa in Angustiis” by composer Joseph Haydn, the concert will f…

The sixth annual Cars for Christ Car, Truck and Bike Show is taking place a little later this year. The show, which usually takes place in March, has been rescheduled every single year — sometimes twice in the same year — due to rain. So this year, organizers Joe and Beth Bowers are attempti…

The City of Lake Charles will host opening receptions for three new exhibits at Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center on Friday, April 26 from 5-9 p.m. Opening during Spring Art Walk, guests will enjoy free admission and refreshments in the third floor gallery while viewing work Louisi…

The Arts Council of Southwest Louisiana will celebrate the Lake Area’s vibrant art community during its annual downtown Spring Art Walk from 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 26, The bazaar atmosphere will be a showcase of local artistic talent including visual, theatrical, literary and musical talents…

Glad Tidings Church will host is fifth annual Car and Truck Show on Saturday, April 20. A free, family-friendly event, over 100 awards will be given for entries in the contest.Entrants will compete for plaques and bragging rights in categories including best paint, best interior, best motor,…

The Louisiana Pirate Festival announced its lineup for the annual celebration in a joint news conference with the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau on Tuesday. The four-day festival will take place May 2-5 along the shores of Lake Charles and at the Civic Center.

CyPhaCon, the Lake Area’s pop culture-themed media event, is returning for its ninth year April 12-14 at the Civic Center.Featuring panels and visits from science fiction/fantasy and anime celebrities, guests will have access to 120 hours of fan-based programming.“Some of these shows and gen…

SULPHUR — The 2 Crafty Chicks are at it again.

The LaGrange High Performing Arts Department will present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid, Jr.” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.People of all ages will enjoy the performance featuring beloved songs from the cinema original like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the…

Live at the Lakefront, the free outdoor concert series, continues at 6 p.m. Friday at the Civic Center’s Arcade Amphitheatre with homegrown favorites The Flamethrowers playing highenergy covers of popular, classic and modern hits.The six-piece band’s various musical backgrounds and tastes ca…