Lake Charles is conveniently located off I-10, between Houston and New Orleans. The developing downtown and welcoming community make it the ideal place for a fun, easy getaway. Plan a long weekend with Southwest Louisiana's annual festival and fairs celebrating our Creole and Cajun heritage and food, stellar performances by regional and national acts at our multiple casino resort concerts, and thrilling sporting events and expos showcasing Louisiana's best outdoor recreation. In addition to these exciting annual events, the Lake Area hosts a fun, family-friendly Mardi Gras and 10-day Chuck Eats Restaurant Week extravaganza. 

Special Episode: Louisiana's Playground Podcast

In Southwest Louisiana, we celebrate, well, everything! Summer is packed with festivals, sporting events, and Casino concerts. Hosts Brady and Anna are here to give you the rundown of what to expect from Lake Charles’ biggest celebrations over the next few months.

April - June

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The 3rd annual This is Home Fest will be Saturday, April 22, 2023! This time this is Home Fest is teaming up with the Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival for a unique festival experience. Two stages with all-star lineups, food booths and beverages, Louisiana crawfish, and fun…

The Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is bringing back the annual 2023 Spring Art Walk on Saturday, April 29, from 2 – 6 p.m. with multiple arts and music events happening simultaneously including the Downtown Lake Charles Jazz Festival and art openings…

The Louisiana Pirate Festival will take place May 4-14, 2023. The event is a multi-day festival held on the grounds of the Lake Charles Civic Center and Seawall. Pirates take over the city for two weeks for Contraband Days. The festival includes carnival rides, live music…

Holly Beach Crab Festival Jun 09

The Holly Beach Crab Festival takes place June 9-11, 2023, at Holly Beach, located along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. The event features kids' games and events, a crab cookoff, crab bingo, live music, axe throwing, food vendors, sand castle building lessons, a…

SWLA Pride Fest at Castaways Jun 09

Welcome back to the 3rd annual Castaways Pride Fest, June 9-11, 2023, celebrating love & diversity in SWLA! 🌈 Friday, June 9: ⏰ 4 pm till late 💵 $10 cover charge (for a great cause!) 🏳️‍🌈 Charity Night featuring an amazing drag show 🎭 Hosted by the fabulous Erica…

Juneteenth Freedom Festival Jun 16

Join Southwest Louisiana June 16-19, 2023, for four days of festivities centered around celebrating the history of African Americans and Juneteenth! Friday, June 16, 2023 - 5th Annual Movie Under the Stars This year’s movie will be “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” In this 2017…

Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off Jun 27

Join us on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to discover our next culinary champion! In conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, Visit Lake Charles will host a Chuck Tastes Restaurant Night featuring tastings from Lake Charles area…

July - September

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Cajun Music and Food Festival Jul 15

The festival is held inside the Burton Coliseum in South Lake Charles on the corner of Gauthier Road and Gulf Hwy. The festival gets underway on Saturday, July 15, through Sunday, July 16, 2023. Get ready for great food, arts & crafts, live & silent auctions, cold beer…

The 2023 Marshland Festival details have not been announced yet. This year's festival will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, which guarantees an inside and air-conditioned experience. This year's line-up brings back some familiar faces and also introduces some new ones to…

Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Sep 14
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The Louisiana Food & Wine Festival, a world-class culinary and beverage celebration, will take place in Lake Charles, Louisiana on September 14 – 17, 2023. It will be a showcase of culinary, beverage, and music that highlights Louisiana’s unique culture and heritage…

Gallery Promenade, the Arts Council of SWLA’s annual art space showcase, returns on Friday, September 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. with 16 galleries, studios and businesses opening their doors for an evening celebrating the spaces that work year-round to provide cultural resources…

October - December

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Rouge et Blanc Wine & Food Festival Oct 07

The Banners Series is excited to announce the return of Rouge et Blanc on Saturday, October 7th, 2023, from 2 pm-6 pm. Save the date for Southwest Louisiana’s premier fine wine and gourmet food extravaganza, a sold-out event fifteen years and running. This year’s Grand Tasting…

The Cal Cam Fair will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary, 1922-2022, this October! Sulphur’s annual Cal-Cam Fair is a fall tradition for many Southwest Louisiana residents - and for good reason. Sponsored by the Cal-Cam Fair Association, the fair will take place…

Chuck Fest Oct 14

Chuck Fest will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Downtown Lake Charles and will feature a full lineup of everything Louisiana. From bands to beers and more, Chuck Fest will a celebration of Louisiana culture! What initially began as an idea to celebrate Luna Bar and…

January - March

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  • Recurring daily

January 13-14, 2023, in downtown Cameron, LA. Held annually. The "oldest and coldest" Southwest Louisiana festival, as it's billed by organizers, caters to all ages and interests, featuring parades, a gumbo cook-off, pageants, a 5k and 1-mile run/walk, dances, Cajun music…

Celebrating the economic and culinary impact rabbits have in Southwest Louisiana, the annual Iowa Rabbit Festival is a one-of-a-kind event. The festival will be held at Burton Complex, 7001 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles. The family-friendly event has some of the best music in the…

The 2023 Live at the Lakefront concert series is back by popular demand and continues to be a fantastic free-to-the-public music and art festival. For the 11th anniversary, Live @ the Lakefront (L@LF) will feature local bands, live art demonstrations, an outdoor art market , and…