Art

 August 8: Creative Round Table, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:30pm. Are you an artist or creative in Central Louisiana? Are you looking for a place to come and talk to other creatives? Join us for the Creative Round Table! Being an artist can be isolating, but we can lift each other up! Do you want to learn about grants and artist calls? Talk about process? Maybe you want to learn how other artists market their art or ship their art? Well, come on! Let’s talk about it! No need to register. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 12: Second Saturday at the Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria). Enjoy the Alexandria Museum of Art without admission charge on the second Saturday of the month. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 15: Sip & Paint with Keisha, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria), 6:00pm-8:00pm. Sip wine and eat snacks as you learn how to paint with acrylics with instructor Keisha Swafford. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Please pre-register. Cost: $25.00. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 19: The Muse Abstract Art, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria), 1:00pm-4:00pm. Teens can learn and practice abstract art techniques from color field painting to drip and splash painting! This workshop is open to all teens between the ages of 13 and 19. Registration is required and space is limited. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 24: Courageous Conversations, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria), 6:00pm. Join AMoA and facilitator Connie Cooper, LSUA Chief Diversity Officer, for this first of a series of conversations on the subjects that challenge us. The topics for this dialogue will be drawn from the works presented in the 36th September Competition. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 26: Papermaking Workshop, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria), 10:30am-12:30pm. In this workshop led by Hannah Chalew, participants will make hand-made paper from sugarcane and paper waste combined with single-use disposable plastic waste to explore the possibilities of making art from recycled materials and what a renewable resource can be. Participants are invited to bring plastic waste from their own lives or collected on the way to the workshop for inclusion in their paper. Space is limited and registration is required.  Cost: $60.00 AMoA Members; $80.00 Non-Members. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 31-October 21: River Oaks Square Arts Exhibitions, River Oaks Square Arts Center (1330 2nd Street, Alexandria). Melanie Sherman is set to captivate audiences with her exhibition entitled, “Transitional Spaces: Navigating the In-Between” in the Bolton Davis Gallery. Artistic Director James Aubrey Bolen III offers an immersive experience into the heart of the Kisatchie National Forest with “Saunter” in the Galerie des Amis and Shannon Fender presents “People & Places” in the Stokes-Harris Gallery. Call: 318-473-2670. riveroaksartscenter.com

September 5: Creativity Launch Pad—Drawing, 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

August 18: Charley Rivers Concert, Fifth Ward Community Center (152 Schoolhouse Road, Marksville), 8:00pm. Rivers was born in Alexandria and raised in Simmesport. At nine years old, Charley received his first guitar from his mother. He sang in his church choir and it wasn’t long before he was entertaining family and friends. Cost: $15.00. Call: 318-264-8944 or 318-305-7793.

September 1-2: Cane River Zydeco Festival, Downtown Natchitoches Riverbank. Celebrate this popular accordion-based musical genre in the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Live entertainment by DJ Rob Real, Marcus Ardoin & Da Zydeco Legends, and Lil Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers. The event will also feature a Poker Run along Cane River Lake. Cost: Free Friday; $20.00 Saturday. Call: 318-332-7455.

September 2: Rock Show NOLA: The Journey Experience, Paragon Casino Resort Mari Center (711 Paragon Place, Marksville), 8:00pm. The Rock Show will take you back to the days when Journey topped the charts playing all your favorite hits. Cost: $25.00+. Call: 800-946-1946.

September 9: Never A Story of More Woe, Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center (1202 3rd Street, Alexandria), 7:30pm. The Rapides Symphony Orchestra and Play On Theatre Company will perform music by Twentieth-Century Russian composer Serge Prokofiev that accompanied a 1940 ballet version of “Romeo and Juliet”. Play On Theatre Company, led by their director Kody Walker, will present some of the scenes in Shakespeare’s original text between movements of Prokofiev’s ballet score. The Symphony will also perform a suite of music from one of opera’s most famous tragedies, George Bizet’s “Carmen” as well as the overture to Giuseppe Verdi’s tragic opera “La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny). Cost: $25.00 Adult; $15.00 Senior; $10.00 Student; $50.00 Family. Call: 318-442-9709. RapidesSymphony.org

Theatre

August 19: Cabaret at the Diamond Grill, Diamond Grill Tudor Room (924 3rd Street, Alexandria), 4:30pm & 7:00pm. Join LBM Productions and the Diamond Grill for dazzling food and entertainment at one or both of two great shows! “Facets of Friendship” features Broadway hits about the journey of friendship and will be paired with heavy hors d’oeveres, charcuterie, quesadillas and more. “Brilliance and Shine” includes musical gems reflecting our challenges and triumphs paired with choice of beef tenderloin, shrimp scampi or chicken piccata, plus salad and dessert. Cost: $45.00 Facets of Friendship; $75.00 Brilliance & Shine; $100 Both Performances. LBMProductions.net

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 11, 18, 25 & September 1: Live Auction, Hayes Auction Gallery (5212 North Blvd, Alexandria), 6:30pm. Join in the excitement of live auctions every Friday night with previews starting at 5:00pm! Proxy bids are welcome. Call Earl Hayes: 318-730-8676.

August 8, 15, 22, 29 & September 5: 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 9: 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 12: 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 12, 19, 26 & September 2: Live Gator Feeding Shows, Paragon Casino Resort Gator Bayou (711 Paragon Place, Marksville), 1:00pm & 4:00pm. Visitors can enjoy educational and entertaining 30-minute live-feeding with the alligators in the “Gator Bayou” located inside the hotel’s atrium. Photo opportunities with a baby alligator and a “holding” snake will take place after each show. During these shows, gator specialist Gary Saurage will share fascinating facts about Louisiana’s signature bayou dwellers and Louisiana culture. Cost: Free. Call: 800-946-1946.

August 14: Professional Women’s Network of Cenla (PWN), Brocato’s (5515 Coliseum Blvd., Alexandria), 12:00pm-1:00pm. PWN meets on the second Monday of each month. No reservation needed. Lunch available for purchase. Call: 318-880-3033.

August 14, 21, 28 & September 4: Monday Night Bingo, Paragon Casino Resort Grand Hall (711 Paragon Place, Marksville), 6:00pm. Each Monday, join in for 10 games of bingo with up to $250 in free play up for grabs! The more you play, the more you can win! Space is limited, so grab your spot early. Registration begins at 5:00pm. Cost: Free for Club Paragon members. Call: 800-946-1946.

August 16-17: Save Cenla ASIST Training, St. Michael’s Catholic Church (604 S 5th Street, Leesville), 7:00am-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. 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 17: Taste of Interfaith, Emmanuel Baptist Church (430 Jackson Street, Alexandria), 6:30pm-8:30pm. Cenla Interfaith invites people across the community to learn about our work, eat some great food, and fellowship with community leaders in the area. The mission of Central Louisiana Interfaith is to build relational power in order to take action on issues that affect the common good of our communities. Cost: $25.00; $200 Table of 8. Call: 978-259-8551. cenlainterfaith.org

August 24: Cenla Author’s Club Meeting, Westside Regional Library (5416 Provine Place, Alexandria), 6:00pm Acclaimed Speaker/Writer/Educator Dr. Thomas Smith will be offering a Writer’s Workshop  for everyone to enjoy and to maybe learn a better way of writing and publishing great books. You do not have to be an author or prospective author to benefit from and enjoy this talk.  Cost: Free.

 August 24: Children’s Advocacy Network Gala, Randolph Riverfront Center (707 2nd Street, Alexandria), 6:00pm-9:00pm. The Gala will feature both a silent and live auction, and testimonials, along with dinner and a cash bar. Each year CAN serves approximately 1,000 abused and neglected children through advocacy, counseling, forensic interviews, and case management services. Cost: $100. childrensadvocacy.net/2023-gala

August 26: National Park Service 107th Birthday Field Day, Oakland Plantation (4386 Highway 494, Natchez), 11:00am-1:00pm. There will be games and activities for children of all ages at the park’s first field day! Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for weather and walking conditions. Pack a picnic lunch and drinks and enjoy a picnic at the covered pavilion or outdoor picnic tables. Cost: Free. Call: 318-352-0383 ext. 316.

August 26: Magical Market, Fighting Hand Brewing Company (1600 Military Highway, Pineville), 5:00pm-9:00pm. Magical Market is Cenla’s fastest growing community vendor event. Established in 2020 with the vision of bringing local artists, crafters, and fellow visionaries together in unity, Magical Market celebrates turning the mundane into magic through the beauty of unique creations. Find Magical Market on Facebook @magicalmarketlouisiana. Must be 21+. Cost: Free.

September 2: 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.

September 2: 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.

September 2: 9th Annual Open Car Show, Yellow Bayou Civil War Memorial Park, 9:00am-3:00pm. The VFW Post 7643 invites the community to enjoy food, drinks, children’s games, doors prizes, goody bags, and 50/50 Raffle Tickets. See cars compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards in 15 categories. Call: 318-359-6295 or 337-368-7382.

September 7-9: Tri-Parish Sales Along 84 Yard Sale, LA Highway 84. The Sales Along 84 event is open to all community members, businesses, churches, schools, civic organizations, and clubs within the three parishes–LaSalle, Catahoula & Concordia).  All that is needed to participate in the event is to select a spot along Highway 84 to setup. Participating vendors can be easily recognized by yellow balloon displays along the highway. Cost: Free. Call: 318-316-0781 LaSalle; 318-403-0334 Catahoula; 318-719-9333 Concordia.

September 9: FUSION Fest, The Wesley Center (2350 Methodist Pkwy, Woodworth), 9:00am-4:00pm. FUSION Fest will be an opportunity for church youth groups, grades 6-12, to gather in celebration of the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. It will be a day filled with fun, fellowship, and worship. Participants will enjoy swimming, inflatables, zip lining (space is limited), gaga ball, nine square in the air, corn hole, and more! This is an ecumenical event that is open to all church denominations. Cost: $35.00. Call:318-449-4500 ext. 0. TheWesleyCenter.com

Sports

August 8, 15, 22, 29 & September 5: Yoga in the Gallery, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:45pm. Classes taught by Learn with Laci. 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. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

August 12: Bowhunting 101, Woodworth Education Center (661 Robinson Bridge Rd, Woodworth), 8:00am-12:00pm. Bowhunting 101 will cover seasons and regulations, proper equipment, tree stand safety and placement, deer biology, and scouting methods. This class will include an outdoor teaching session for tree stand safety. As well as an outdoor discussion and a woods walk on what to look for when scouting for Whitetail deer. Pre-registration is required. LouisianaOutdoors.com

August 26: AKA 31, Paragon Casino Resort Mari Center (711 Paragon Place, Marksville), 7:00pm. The co-main event will feature two of the most tenured fighters in the state of Louisiana today when Chris Anthony battles the home-crowd favorite, Kalvin Hackney. Call: 800-946-1946.

*All events subject to change.