Calcasieu Parish Libraries Across Southwest Louisiana Host Week o

KNGT | Lake Charles, LA — Well, here we are. Another week of summer vacation and if your house is anything like mine was when Hannah was younger, you've probably already heard, "I'm bored" at least a few hundred times. Good news, though.

The Calcasieu Parish Library system has another packed week of activities lined up all across Southwest Louisiana, and there's a little bit of everything on the schedule. Kids, teens, parents, grandparents... everybody can find something to do.

What's Happening at the Calcasieu Parish Library?

One thing that caught my eye right away was the Stuffie Sleepover happening in Moss Bluff and Carnegie. Kids get to bring a stuffed animal to the library, tuck them in, head home, and then somehow those stuffed animals have their own adventure overnight. I'm not sure what kind of shenanigans teddy bears get into after dark, but I bet it's more exciting than some of my Friday nights.

For the little ones, story times are happening all week long in Sulphur, Central, DeQuincy, Moss Bluff, Iowa, Starks, Hayes, Epps, and Vinton. Those programs are always a great way to get kids around books while giving parents a chance to get out of the house for a bit.

The library folks are also keeping kids busy with some pretty creative projects.They'll be building Bee Hotels in DeQuincy, making suncatchers in Iowa, creating bean mosaics in Hayes, painting ceramics in Moss Bluff, building with LEGO bricks in Sulphur and Vinton, and learning about pollinators along the way.

Now I gotta admit, I kinda laughed when I saw Indoor Garden Gnomes on the schedule in Starks. Somewhere out there is a grown adult about to spend their afternoon making a little gnome out of socks and faux fur, and honestly that sounds like a pretty good time.

Teens have plenty going on too. There's ASL Basics in Sulphur, Teen Scene at Epps, DIY Window Charms in Iowa, photo card decorating in DeQuincy, video game afternoons, Dungeons & Dragons, and even a mental wellness workshop to help deal with stress and anxiety. That's something every teenager could probably use these days.

For adults, the library has recipe exchanges, chair yoga classes, quilting workshops, Bingo for Books, photo organization classes, crafting sessions, and one event that sounds downright dangerous if you're hungry... a handmade pasta workshop where folks will learn to make fresh pasta from scratch. Just reading about it made me want garlic bread.

Thursday brings another Port Wonder Library Takeover Day in Lake Charles. Story times, crafts, family activities, and a chance to check out one of the coolest new spots along the lakefront.

Then the week wraps up with Family Movie Friday in Hayes and a Jigsaw Puzzle Competition in Sulphur. Four teams racing to finish a 500-piece puzzle sounds way more intense than it probably should be, but I have a feeling there will be some serious trash talk happening around those tables.

That's one thing I always like about our library system. It ain't just books anymore. It's crafts. It's games. It's learning. It's getting the kids off the tablets for a little while. It's meeting people. It's trying something new. And with summer rolling right along, that's not a bad way to spend a few hours.

So if you're looking for something to do this week, take a look at what your local Calcasieu Parish Library branch has going on. Chances are you'll find something fun just around the corner.