DAY ONE - Wednesday, Sept. 17 - Boudin, Backroads, & Beaches
If you plan to arrive early, consider these activities for a quick and fulfilling day trip along the trails of Lake Charles:
Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail: This food trail is stacked with more than 30 stops throughout the region, and it’s ready to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Boudin is a staple snack, and traditionally, the ingredients include pork, liver, rice, onions, parsley, and dry seasonings like salt, red pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder. Bought by the pound, boudin is Southwest Louisiana's favorite finger food.
Creole Nature Trail All-American Road: This is a 180-mile, self-driving route through rural Southwest Louisiana. It’s where you can see wildlife in abundance, book private fishing excursions, explore walking trails, indulge in back road delicacies, and take in picturesque sceneries, and more. From beachfront waves and unique terrains to bird sightings and vibrant sunsets, this is the open-air experience that you want. Lake Charles is about 30-45 minutes from the Gulf, and this trail will lead you straight there.
DAY TWO - Thursday, Sept. 18 - Luck & Luxury in Southwest Louisiana
The festival kicks off with "Louisiana's Best Taste Awards" at 6:30 p.m. at Sowela Technical Community College. This interactive walk-around of delicious creations features some of the state's and region's best chefs! Claim your spot at this professionally judged event before tickets sell out. Live music and beverage tasting stations including wine, beer, spirits, and craft cocktails will make more a memorable evening. Before the main event, you can experience luck and luxury at our casino resorts: Delta Downs, Golden Nugget, Horseshoe Casino, and L’Auberge. There’s 24-hour gaming at each location, but if that’s not your thing, explore their amenities at your own pace. They have everything from golf courses, spa services, thoroughbred racing, sports betting lounges, pools, live entertainment, lounges, restaurants, and more. You can stay there, play there, or both. Either way, you win.
DAY THREE - Friday, Sept. 19 - Navigate Lake Charles Like a Local
The Fire on the Lake event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This quintessential Louisiana celebration of live fire cooking, overlooking the beautiful shores of Lake Charles. The event features a variety of slow-cooked, grilled, and smoked meats, Louisiana seafood and vegetarian creations from some of the south's most celebrated Pitmasters and chefs. Enjoy unlimited tasting bites, wine, beer and spirits while dancing the night away to lively Zydeco music. Before the festivities begin, make a day of it by exploring the charm of Downtown Lake Charles. Browse the unique shops, galleries, and historic architecture, or fuel up at one of our local favorites for breakfast or lunch. Here are a few spots that the locals love: The Bekery, Stellar Beans Coffee & Edibles, Biscuits N Jamz, Leonard’s Food Quarters, and Pujo St. Café.
DAY FOUR - Saturday, Sept. 20 - The Lake Charles Aesthetic: Cultural Arts & Eats
The Louisiana Food & Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. This is the festival’s main event, and you’ll receive endless wine tastings and food samples galore. But there’s a lot you can do before 2 p.m., so I recommend touring the Charpentier Historic District. You can take a comfortable stroll through historic neighborhoods, get some Instagrammable photos of the district’s street art, peruse through art museums and galleries like Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center, and more. And if you want to keep the party going after the grand tasting, swing by Crying Eagle Brewing to attend the last event of their summer concert series featuring CRYRS. It begins at 7 p.m.
DAY FIVE - Sunday, Sept. 21 - Sunday Funday Vibes
Use this morning to sleep in, you deserve it, but be ready to turn up your energy for the festival’s Sunday Jazz Brunch. You’ll probably eat your weight in beignets and bottomless mimosas, as well as sway to the best jazz music in Southwest Louisiana. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your Sunday Funday doesn’t have to end there. You can keep the party vibes going into the evening by taking the stage at Panorama Music House for Open Mic Night.
DAY SIX - Monday, Sept. 22 - More Wine? Wine Not?
The festival may have ended the day before, but you can still explore the neighborhood wine spots locations to grab a bite to eat and wine just the way you like it - by the bottle or glass. This is where you can find them: Bayou Boards by Gabrielle, The Wine Store, and Lake Street Liquor.
