Art

August 13: Second Saturday at the Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria). The Museum is proud to welcome the community on the second Saturday of each month for open admission during regular business hours. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 17: Watercolors for Adults, Rapides Main Library (411 Washington St, Alexandria), 10:00am-12:00pm. Learn various acrylic painting techniques during this painting session led by Alice McBride. Registration is required. Cost: Free. Call: 318-445-2411 x 1022. www.rpl.org

August 26: River Oaks Opening Reception, River Oaks Square Arts Center (1330 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:00pm-8:00pm. Join River Oaks for the opening of Michaelene “Mikey” Walsh’s “Small Joys”, Chastity Sayer Smith’s “Changing the Horizons: An Artist’s Journey”; and Bob Howell’s “A Retrospective”. Cost: Free. call: 318-473-2670. RiverOaksArtsCenter.com

September 6: Creativity Launch Pad—Acrylics, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:30pm-7:00pm. Launch your creativity in this on-going adult (21+) art education series for any and all skill levels seeking a relaxed creative environment in which to learn, receive instruction, experiment with mediums with other adults. Launch Pad classes offer a rotation of mediums to provide a well-rounded art experience, designed for the beginner, intermediate and advanced students. All supplies are included. Classes meet on the first Tuesday of every month. Cost: $10.00 AMoA Members; $20.00 Non-Members. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

Music

September 3: RSO Presents Bernstein’s “Candide”, Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center (1202 3rd St, Alexandria). The Rapides Symphony resumes its 2022 concert season with a performance of Leonard Bernstein’s operetta/musical “Candide”. The music is fun and light, especially the overture, which has become a staple in the orchestral repertoire. The Symphony will be joined by a stellar cast of singers from around the USA. “Candide” includes adult themes and references. Cost: $25.00 Adults; $15.00 Seniors; $10.00 Students; $50.00 Family (2 Adults; up to 4 Students). Call: 318-442-9709. RapidesSymphony.org

Theatre

September 1-11: CPP Presents “Becky Shaw”, Hearn Stage (1102 3rd St, Alexandria). City Park Players is happy to present this Pulitzer Prize finalist dramedy by award-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo under the direction of Jared Guillory. In “Becky Shaw”, Suzanna sets up Max, her best friend, on a blind date with her husband’s co-worker, the mysterious Becky Shaw. What follows is a series of cataclysmic events that forever changes all their lives. This play includes strong language. Performances continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sundays at 2:30pm. Call: 318-484-4478. cpptheatre.com

Events

Ongoing-August: New Hope Al-Anon Group, Horseshoe Drive Methodist Church (1600 Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria), 7:00pm.  The New Hope Al-Anon Group meets each Tuesday and Thursday evening. Al-Anon is a mutual support group for anyone having experienced a problem with someone else’s drinking or addiction. You are free to ask questions or to talk about your situation or just listen. Every meeting is different. Each meeting has the autonomy to be run as its members choose, within guidelines designed to promote Al-Anon unity. Cost: Free.

August 5, 12, 19, 26 & September 2: Live Auction, Auction Barn at the Trotter Center (1634 Military Highway, Pineville), 6:30pm. Join in the excitement of live auctions every Friday night! Proxy bids are welcome. Call Earl Hayes: 318-730-8676.

August 6: Cenla Women’s Connection Garage Sale, 4021 Mayflower Blvd (Alexandria), 7:00am-1:00pm. We will have lots of different items such as furniture, small appliances, baby items, toys and games, shoes and clothing for all sizes, just to mention a few of the items we are selling.  Proceeds will support local hub ministries.

August 6, September 3: Experimental Aircraft Association 1st Saturday Breakfast, Buhlow Lake Airport (200 Lake Buhlow Road, Pineville), 7:30am-10:00am. Come enjoy a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes, grits, potatoes, milk, orange juice, and more! Anyone interested in aviation and general cordial chatter with lakeside ambience is welcome and invited to come to enjoy breakfast with us! Cost: $10.00 Donation.

August 6, September 3: Central Louisiana Dutch Oven Cookers First Saturday Gathering, Indian Creek Recreation Area (100 Camp Ground Road, Woodworth), 9:00am-12:30pm. A delicious day with Dutch oven cooking enthusiasts. There is no charge for food, however, donations are accepted. Regular park admission applies. Call: 318-625-1762.

August 6: Round 1 by KYCEvents, Fighting Hand Brewing Co (1600 Military Highway, Pineville), 5:00pm. Comedian Angela Wagner, Running Out of Time from Lafayette, and Alexandria’s own Perpetual Deception will provide the live entertainment for this can’t-miss show! Open to ages 21+. Cost: $5.00.

August 8-9, 11-12, 22-23: Save Cenla ASIST Training, 8:00am-4:30pm. Suicide and mental health issues are a growing concern, especially in these trying times. Suicide is preventable. Anyone can make a difference. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is an evidence-based, two-day workshop in suicide prevention skills helps participants learn and practice a life-saving intervention model that is widely used by professionals and the general public. August 8-9: 704 N Soileau St in Ville Platte; August 11-12: LSU Ag Center in Mansura; August 22-23: CLTCC Huey P. Long Campus In Winnfield. Open to ages 16+. Mental health professionals can receive 12 CEUs after taking this workshop for $60.00 through livingworks.net (a $300 value). Sponsored by Central Louisiana Human Services District and CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund. Cost: Free. Call: 337-519-1888. SaveCenla.com/asist

August 9, 16, 23, 30 & September 6: Alexandria Farmer’s Market, First United Methodist Church (2727 Jackson Street, Alexandria), 3:00pm-6:00pm. The Alexandria Farmers Market is a weekly gathering that connects the community of Alexandria with the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural artisans of Central Louisiana. This connection strives to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of the region by providing access to fresh, healthy, local food for residents, fostering community relationships, and serving as a business incubator for growers and producers. Cost: Free. Call: 318-441-3407.

August 10: Child Safety Seat Check, Rapides Regional Medical Center Main Entrance (211 4th Street, Alexandria), 2:00pm-5:00pm. A trained child passenger safety educator will take a look at your car seats, make sure they are not under recall, make sure the seat is installed properly and show you how to install the car seat. The car seat check process takes between 15-25 minutes, depending on how many car seats are in the vehicle. The seat checks normally are held the second Wednesday of each month. Cost: Free.

August 13: Second Saturday Market, Huckleberry Brewing Company (4724 Sterkx Road, Alexandria), 1:00pm.  On the second Saturday of each month, Huckleberry Brewing Company will be hosting a vendors market on the Huckleberry grounds! Come check out some awesome local vendors at the Second Saturday Market! If you’re interested in participating as a vendor, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or through Facebook messenger!

August 13: An Evening with Mike Epps, Rapides Parish Coliseum (5600 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria), 8:00pm. Mike Epps is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available (early admission, floor seats, VIP party, free soda, water, & snacks). Cost: $45.00-$95.00.

August 19: Cenla Master Naturalist, Westside Regional Library (5416 Provine Pl, Alexandria), 6:00pm. The Cenla Master Naturalist is having a meeting to reform and begin classes again following the COVID shutdown. The meeting is open to the public. Cost: Free.

August 26: Cenla Author’s Club Meeting, Westside Regional Library (5416 Provine Pl, Alexandria), 6:00pm. This family of authors will help anyone and everyone who are trying to write, publish and/or promote their books at each and every meeting.  The Honorable Charles A. Riddle III, the District Attorney in Avoyelles Parish, will tell us about his monumental biography of Henry Waddell, 19th century District Attorney, the man who freed the enslaved freeman Solomon Northup of “Twelve Years A Slave” fame.  Everyone is invited; you don’t have to be an author to attend! Cost: Free.

Sports

August 9, 16, 23, 30 & September 6: Yoga in the Gallery, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:45pm. Register online by selecting the class you would like to attend. Out of courtesy for our class waiting list, please cancel at least two hours prior to class start time. Masks are required. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 20: Bulls, Bands, and Barrels, Rapides Parish Coliseum (5600 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria), 6:00pm-10:00pm. Bulls, Bands, and Barrels is bringing the rankest bulls, fastest barrel racers, and loudest bands to, featuring Zach Bryan with Caden Gillard. Caden Gillard plays the pre-party and Zach Bryan goes on following Bulls & Barrels. rpclive.org

*All events subject to change in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.