New Parade for Light Up The Lake in Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, La (press release) — This year, the City of Lake Charles will add a new Christmas Walking Parade to its annual Light Up The Lake celebration at the Lake Charles Event Center grounds. 

On Saturday, Nov. 29, guests can enjoy the Holiday Art Walk, beginning at 12 p.m. The art walk, presented by the Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA, will have local makers and artisans lining the grounds with handcrafted gifts, artwork and more.

Alongside the art walk, the festival will have food trucks, festive drinks, Santa’s Workshop with crafts and activities for kids and live music.

From City of Lake Charles

The Light Up The Lake celebration begins at 2 p.m. at the Arcade Amphitheater (1111 Bord du Lac Drive), with the Lake Charles Community Band playing classic holiday tunes. The Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf will follow with Christmas carols.

Festivities will pause briefly for the inaugural Christmas Walking Parade at 3 p.m. The music will continue afterward with the lively 20-piece Last Minute Big Band.

At 6:15 p.m., Mayor Simien will lead the countdown and officially flip the switch to illuminate the Lake Charles Event Center grounds and Millennium Park in holiday lights. 

Immediately after, captains and crews take to the water for the Lighted Boat Parade.

The finale begins at 7:30 p.m., with a fireworks display set to music on KBYS 88.3 FM McNeese Radio. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the show, though coolers and pets are not permitted.

Light Up the Lake is free for attendees thanks to sponsorships provided by Entergy, Visit Lake Charles, Lake Charles Toyota, Upscale Productions, CITGO, Raising Cane’s, M&C Oilfields, the Port of Lake Charles and KBYS 88.3 FM. For more information, please contact the City of Lake Charles at 337-491-9159.