The City of Lake Charles is making plans for the annual Red White Blue & You Celebration on Wednesday, July 4. Commander Daniel Cost of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles will serve as Grand Marshal in the parade that will begin at 6 p.m. Entry forms are now being accepted for parade units including floats, marching units, vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and golf carts.

From organizations and businesses to the neighborhood kids, all are welcome to join the fun. The parade will roll on Ryan Street from Mill Street to Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive. Parade information and registration forms are available at 337-491-1382 or by clicking here.  

The celebration continues inside the Civic Center Coliseum with concessions, face painting and a patriotic program.  The program begins at 6:45 p.m. with the sounds of Hailey and Brett Cooley. The Lake Charles Community Band, along with the Louisiana Choral Foundation and Friends, will also take the stage featuring a sing-a-long and a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces. Audience members are encouraged to bring their blankets or lawn chairs. Festival t-shirts, designed by Sowela student Aspen Keel, will be on sale for $5. If inclement weather prevails, the program will be moved to the Civic Center Coliseum.  

Mayor Nic Hunter said “We have many new sponsors this year and some of the current sponsors have increased their level, therefore we will have the largest fireworks show Lake Charles has seen.” 

The fireworks extravaganza, beginning at 9:15 p.m., will be choreographed to music. Tune into KBYS 88.3 FM on your car radio or listening device for the soundtrack simulcast.

Event Director, Denise Fasske said, “Because the fireworks are shot from a barge over the lake, we are able to shoot larger cannons for a more spectacular show than most cities.”  

The Red White Blue & You celebration is preceded by the Southwest Louisiana Patriot’s Ball presented by the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission on Saturday, June 30 at 6 p.m. in the Contraband Room of the Lake Charles Civic Center.  For ticket information, go to www.foundationswla.org.

Red White Blue & You has been voted one of the “STS Top 20 Events” among 12 states for the month of July by the Southeast Tourism Society which promotes travel to and within the Southeastern part of the United States.

This year’s Gold Sponsors include Coca-Cola, L’Auberge Casino Resort, Sasol of North America, and the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. Silver Sponsors are Waitr and Louisiana Lottery. Entergy, American Press, CHRISTUS Health, First Federal Bank, and Lake Charles Toyota are the 2018 Bronze Sponsors. Partners include JD Bank, Acadian Ambulance Services, Centerpoint Energy, Devall Towing, DW Jessen and Associates, IBERIABANK, MidSouth Bank, Phillips 66, Pumpelly Oil Co., Team Citgo, Turner  Industries, KBYS FM Radio 88.3 FM, and KPLC-TV.

For more information call 337-491-9159 or www.cityoflakecharles.com.