The City of Lake Charles Sesquicentennial Planning Committee has announced plans for its fall Sesquicentennial Celebration Kick-off to be held Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1, 2017.

On Friday, September 29, from 5-9 p.m., an exhibit opening will be held at 1911 Historic City Hall (1001 Ryan Street). The exhibit, titled 150 Years of Lake Charles, is a 16-panel, multimedia display that covers the storied history of Lake Charles from its early years through present day.

On Saturday, September 30, at 6 p.m., the Sesquicentennial Parade of Festivals will roll through the streets of Downtown Lake Charles. The parade will line up on Mill Street and travel south down Ryan Street to 7th Street/Dr. DeBakey Drive. Area festivals and events as well as businesses/organizations/churches who have been in existence 50 years or more are invited to participate. To request a parade entry application form, click here.

After the parade, a Community Event will be held at the Arcade Amphitheatre, 900 Lakeshore Drive, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Dance the evening away to the sounds of Louisiana Express while enjoying the tasty menu items from local food trucks on site. Stroll along the Lakefront Promenade and experience a Street Fair packed with local performers and entertainers. Cap the night off with a spectacular fireworks display over Lake Charles. The event and fireworks are funded by sponsors through the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.

All three events are free and open to the public to attend. As these are family events, they are alcohol free.

On Sunday, October 1, local churches are invited to participate in a community-wide prayer service at their individual church.

American Press Sesquicentennial Calendars are still available for a $5 donation at Historic City Hall. Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Sesquicentennial Celebration is sponsored by American Press, Chalkley Family, CHRISTUS ST. PATRICK Health System, Coca Cola, IBERIABANK, Imperial Health Center for Orthopaedics, JD Bank, Lake Charles Memorial Health System, Rick and Donna Richard, Empire of the Seed Historic Properties, Stine, Entergy, Healthy Image Marketing Agency, Pumpelly Oil, Knight Media, Inc., Lake Area Medical Center and Lakeside Bank.

For more information on the Sesquicentennial Celebration, visit www.celebratelakecharles150.com, www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesLouisiana or contact Katie Harrington at 491-1382 or katie.harrington@cityoflc.us. To view the event poster, click here.