Light Up the Lake Returns to Start Off the Holiday Season in SWLA

🐊 KNGT 🐊 | Lake Charles, LA — Christmas season is comin’ in hot across Southwest Louisiana, and Lake Charles is gearing up for Light Up the Lake. If you’ve never been, this is one of them all-day things where you show up for a little bit... then end up stayin’ the whole dang time because there’s so much goin’ on.

The fun kicks off earlier in the afternoon with the Holiday Art Walk. The Arts and Humanities Council always does it right, and this year ain’t any different. There will be plenty of things to do and plenty of local vendor. Feels like Christmas should feel.

Then you got Santa’s Workshop. Kids go wild in there. Crafts, games, pictures with the big guy in red. And he looks legit, too. Not like one of them rushed mall Santas who’s already over it. This Santa looks like he just stepped off a Coca-Cola ad. If you got little ones, go ahead and block off some time, ‘cause they ain’t gonna wanna leave.

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And we’re not even halfway done yet. You’ll hear live music floatin’ through the streets from the Lake Charles Community Band and the Last Minute Big Band. Nothin’ like Christmas music played by real folks right here from SWLA. Makes the whole place feel cozy.

Now here’s the new part this year, and it’s a good one. They’re bringin’ in a Christmas Walking Parade. Yep, a full-on parade before the big lighting ceremony. More floats, more fun, more folks showin’ up and showin’ out. If you wanna be in it, they even got an online form so you can sign up and join the party.

Once the sun starts to slide down, that whole lakefront turns into somethin’ out of a postcard. Boats light up the water for the Lighted Boat Parade. All the colors glowin’ off the lake... it’s somethin’ else.

So grab ya Mawmaw, ya Pawpaw and a thermos full of hot chocolate and will see you at the Lakefront this Saturday!