A Note from Beaux
Hey y’all — Beaux here.
October’s starting to pick up around Southwest Louisiana, and this week has a little bit of everything.
Rouge et Blanc is back on the McNeese Quad, downtown has a free Fall Fest Saturday morning, and there’s a major Southwest Louisiana job fair Wednesday with nearly 50 employers expected.
I also found one of the more unusual plans of the week — an evening bat walk at Riverside Park — plus haunted history, two big concert nights, pumpkin-patch season and one October festival worth putting on the calendar now.
Here’s what I’d have on the radar this week.
— Beaux LeBeak
The Big Thing
Rouge et Blanc Returns to the McNeese Quad
Saturday, October 10 • McNeese State University
One of Lake Charles’ biggest food-and-wine events is back Saturday. Rouge et Blanc brings restaurants, wine vendors and live entertainment together on the McNeese Quad while raising money for Banners at McNeese State University and its arts and cultural programming.
Gold Tickets are $165 and include early entry at 3 p.m., while Red Tickets are $135 with entry beginning at 4 p.m. The main tasting wraps up at 7 p.m., and the event is strictly 21+.
Entry is by e-ticket, so have yours ready on your phone or printed when you arrive. Staff will scan it at the entrance before giving you your event lanyard and tasting glass.
Know Before You Go
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10
📍 McNeese State University Quad
🥇 Gold: $165 • Entry at 3 p.m.
🔴 Red: $135 • Entry at 4 p.m.
🔞 21+ only
Beaux’s Note
Ticket availability can change quickly for Rouge et Blanc, so check the official ticket page before making plans.
Weather looking questionable? The Grand Tasting is rain or shine. Banners says alternate plans are in place for adverse conditions, with updates sent to ticket holders by email.
Fall Fest brings local vendors, vintage cars, live music and a free Saturday morning downtown.
LCHappens illustration inspired by the City of Lake Charles event details.
Free Saturday Morning
Fall Fest Brings a Market & Car Show Downtown
Saturday, October 10 • Historic City Hall
If you want an easy Saturday-morning plan before the rest of the weekend gets going, Fall Fest is a good one to put on the list — especially since admission is completely free.
Historic City Hall and the surrounding block will fill up with the Charlestown Farmers Market, local vendors, vintage cars, live music, fresh coffee and plenty of fall atmosphere. There’s also a Show & Shine area under the oaks along Kirby Street.
It’s the kind of event you can make as quick or leisurely as you want: grab a coffee, browse the market, check out the cars and still have most of Saturday left.
Saturday, Oct. 10 • 8 a.m.–Noon • Historic City Hall • Free Admission
Worth Knowing This Week
Nearly 50 Employers Expected at Wednesday’s Job Fair
Wednesday, October 7 • Lake Charles Event Center
If you’re job hunting — or just ready to see what else is out there — the Southwest Louisiana Quarterly Job Fair is one of the most useful things happening locally this week.
Close to 50 employers are expected in the Buccaneer Room, giving job seekers a chance to meet employers face-to-face and potentially take part in on-site interviews.
There’s no preregistration required for job seekers, but organizers recommend arriving early, dressing professionally and coming prepared with several copies of your résumé.
Come Prepared
What to Bring
📄 Several copies of your current résumé
🪪 Photo ID
👔 Business attire is strongly encouraged
⏰ Arrive early to give yourself time with employers
Good to Know
Veterans Get Early Access
Veterans can enter at 9 a.m. for exclusive access to employers before general admission begins at 9:30.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Mobile Workforce Center will also be on site to help with résumés, job searches, online applications and skills assessments.
Wednesday, Oct. 7 • 9:30 a.m.–Noon • Veterans at 9 a.m. • Buccaneer Room • No Preregistration
An evening bat walk at Riverside Park offers a different way to spend Saturday outdoors.
LCHappens illustration
Something Different
Take a Bat Walk Through Riverside Park
Saturday, October 10 • Riverside Park
Here’s one you don’t see on the calendar every weekend. The City of Lake Charles is hosting a Nature in Focus Bat Walk Saturday evening at Riverside Park.
Bring a flashlight and head out for an evening walk through the park while learning more about the bats and other nighttime wildlife that call the area home.
The City hasn’t listed a registration requirement, admission fee or detailed weather policy on its current event announcement, so check the official page before heading out in case anything changes.
Saturday, Oct. 10 • 6–8 p.m. • Riverside Park • 1701 Fitzenreiter Rd. • Bring a Flashlight
Quick Hits
A Few More Things Worth Knowing
👻 Saturday Night
Haunted Candlelight Tours
Imperial Calcasieu Museum turns down the lights for an after-hours look at haunted history, local legends and unexplained stories from around Southwest Louisiana. The Oct. 10 tour runs 7:30–9 p.m., reservations are required, and the experience is recommended for ages 13+.
🎸 Concert Weekend
Foreigner Friday, Travis Tritt Saturday
Golden Nugget has two big nights back-to-back: Foreigner plays Friday, Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m., followed by Travis Tritt Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. Both shows are 21+.
🎃 Fall Favorite
Holy Trinity Pumpkin Patch Is Open
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Sulphur has pumpkins out through Oct. 31. Current hours are 3–6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturdays and noon–6 p.m. Sundays.
We’ve got Holy Trinity — plus the other nearby patches worth the drive — in our complete fall guide.
Plan Ahead
Chuck Fest Returns Downtown October 17
Saturday, October 17 • Downtown Lake Charles
Chuck Fest is back next Saturday with a full day of live music, Louisiana food, local art and community programming spread across downtown Lake Charles.
The festival is free all day, and the official 2026 music lineup is already out. We’ll give it the full LCHappens treatment in next Monday’s issue when the festival is the weekend directly ahead.
Save the date: Saturday, Oct. 17 • Downtown Lake Charles • Free all day
Keep Exploring
More From LCHappens
Seasonal Guide
Pumpkin Patches Near Lake Charles
Find nearby pumpkin patches, dates, hours, drive times and fall activities around Southwest Louisiana.
See the Pumpkin Patch Guide →Year-Round Guide
Best Things To Do in Lake Charles
More local ideas for weekends, families, visitors and days when you just want something to do.
Explore More Things To Do →Know someone who’d like LCHappens?
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