Magnolia LNG

FOX29/the Lake Charles CW

Union Pacific Foundation

Southwest Beverage

Deep South Productions

Parker Brand Creative

Tobacco Free Living

Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society

McDonald's of SWLA

IBERIABANK

Coca-Cola

Fusion Five

Knight Media Printing

Acadiana Profile Magazine

Tom Sawyer

Louisiana Lottery

First Federal Bank of LA

Beverage Sales

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

ASI Office Systems

Louisiana Solar Industry

The O'Carroll Group

LakeCharles.com

Thrive Magazine

Lake Charles Vapor

LCP

J&R Carriage

The Lab Design Group

Tipitina's Foundation

Botsky's Premium Hotdogs

MyPlace American Pub

Allstate - Dean Day

Empire of the Seed

Redfish Rentals

Digikast

Shearman Media

Automotive Alignment & Brake Service

Chesson Law Office

The Dev Department

Light Up the Lake Christmas Celebration

Saturday, Dec. 6, 12pm-7:15pm

Our staff suggests diving into the holiday spirit and taking the family downtown this Saturday for the City's annual Light Up the Lake Christmas Celebration, complete with a parade, live music concerts, kids' activities, and fireworks! Call 337-491-9159 for details. 

White Lights Night

Thursday, Dec. 4, 4pm-8pm

Cottage Shops District

2712 Hodges St., Lake Charles

Visit the Cottage Shops on Thursday night for the annual White Lights Nights and shop for your holiday gifts at the district's stores which will also serve refreshments. Participating stores include Accessory Zone, Brousses, Catina Couture, Haven, Louisiana Market, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Mimosa Boutique, The Painted Peace, The Perfect Gift, Pink and Blue Avenue, Tecis, Threadworks, and The Wine Store. Call 337-439-7693 for details.

Needle Crafts Meet Up

Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30pm

Stellar Beans

319 Broad St., Lake Charles

If you knit, crochet, or any needle craft, here's a great opportunity to meet others who share in your interests! Bring your latest project to work on and enjoy the company and coffee here at Stellar Beans. People begin to gather around 6:30 p.m.! Call 337-564-5739 for details.

MSU Holiday Art Sale

Friday, Dec. 5, 8am-4pm

Shearman Fine Arts Center Grand Gallery, MSU Campus

4205 Ryan St., Lake Charles

The annual holiday art sale will be held from 8am - 4pm on the first floor of the Shearman Fine Arts Annex. McNeese art students and faculty will be displaying over 300 artworks. Call 337-475-5060 for details.

Kiwanis Christmas Lighted Parade

Friday, Dec. 5, 6pm

Beginning at Cypress Street in Sulphur

The colorful, giant balloons and Chritsmas light parade begins at 6 p.m. Call 337-527-0357 for details.

Annual Sowela Student Art Show, Opening Reception

Friday, Dec. 5, 7pm

Black Heritage Gallery, Central School

809 Kirby St., Lake Charles

The Sowela Graphic Art Department presents the annual student art exhibit in the Black Heritage Gallery with an artist reception on Friday, Dec. 5 from 7pm to 9pm. The exhibit will run through December 31.

Christmas Under the Oaks & Holiday House

Dec. 5-6

Brimstone Museum Complex

923 Ruth St., Sulphur

Festival dates are Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6, with shopping available at the Holiday House Friday and Saturday. The Holiday House will also feature a preview party, Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. with tickets at $40, available for advance purchase. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Carnival rides start at 4 p.m. on Friday, and run from noon - 10 p.m. on Saturday. Friday, enjoy Louisiana's only lighted balloon parade at 6 p.m. down Cypress St. Call 337-527-0357 for details.

Hope Holiday Market

Dec. 5-6

First Baptist Church of Maplewood

4421 Maplewood Dr., Sulphur

The public is invited to two days of holiday shopping at the Hope Holiday Art Market. Hours are 11am to 7pm on Friday, Dec. 5 and 9am to 2pm on Saturday, Dec. 6. Hosted by Hope Christian School.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9am

Prien Lake Mall

496 W. Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Children will enjoy breakfast with Santa in the Food court as well as crafts and story time. Free admission. Call 337-477-7487 for details.

Christmas Open House

Saturday, Dec. 6, 10am-2pm

Phototek of Lake Charles

4430 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles

The public is invited for a Christmas Open House at Phototek of Lake Charles. There will be watercolor originals, prints/notecards, Christmas ornaments, McNeese art, custom printing/framing by Phototek, and photography gifts by The Bigger Picture. Refreshments will be served. Guests are encouraged to donate $1 for Community Christmas/Salvation Army for a chance to win an original 16x20 watercolor by Susan Hebert. For details, call 337-515-8693.

French Market Bazaar

Saturday, Dec. 6, 10am-3pm

St. Theodore Holy Family Catholic School

785 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy., Moss Bluff

St. Theodore Holy Family Catholic School's annual French Market Bazaar is on Saturday, December 6th in the Enrichment Center on the grounds at 785 Sam Houston Jones Parkway in Moss Bluff. The bazaar is from 10am to 3pm and will feature country/Christmas crafts, wreaths, home decor, Christmas decor, gifts, religious item, cosmetics, jewelry, hair bows, raffle, homemade goodies and gumbo, etc. Admission is free. Call 337-855-3465 for details.

Light Up the Lake Christmas Celebration

Saturday, Dec. 6, 12pm-7:15pm

Lake Charles Civic Center

900 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles

Santa Claus is coming to town during the annual Light up the Lake Christmas Celebration Saturday, December 6, 2014. Beginning at 1 p.m. local groups will join Santa for the journey from Mill Street, south on Ryan, concluding at 7th Street. Follow the parade to the Lake Charles Civic Center for the festivities. Santa's Workshop will take place from 2-5 p.m. with tiny tots in the Exhibition Hall and ages 6-12 in the Coliseum. The Community Band Christmas Concert will begin at 3:30p.m. in the Civic Center second floor Mezzanine. Gather around the front lawn at 5 p.m. for the lighting ceremony with entertainment including the Barbe Show Choir. An assortment of boats reflecting the spirit of the season will parade past spectators along the Lakefront Promenade in a lighted boat parade at 6:30 p.m. At 7:15 p.m. tune into 92.9 The Lake FM for the simulcast music as the fireworks extravaganza will light up the lake. Call 337-491-9159 for details.

Cinderella's Holiday Dining

Saturday, Dec. 6, 12pm

Children's Theatre Company

809 Kirby St., Ste. 313, Lake Charles

Children join their favorite storybook characters such as, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Prince, Snow White, Pinocchio Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin for an unforgettable experience. Character meals include pizza, dessert and a drink. The seating incorporates a visit from each of these famous characters as they make their way around the dinner table. Children will also enjoy photographs and autographs from these well-known characters. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite costume. Hot coco and gingerbread will also be served. This magical encounter occurs on Saturday, December 6, 2014 with seating at 12:00 noon. The cost is $25.00 per person (everyone must have a ticket including adults and infants).  Seating is very limited and reservations must be made by calling the theatre box office at (337) 433-7323 or visiting www.childrenstheatre.cc. 

Small Boat Travel Presentation

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2pm-3pm

DeBakey Room, Central Library

301 W. Claude St., Lake Charles

Award winning Pacific Northwest author Christine Smith and her husband, Captain Jeffrey Smith will be giving a slideshow presentation at the Central Library on Saturday December 6th from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. The Smiths' presentation is based on their numerous travels in Washington State's San Juan Islands, Canada's Inside Passage and Alaska, as well as Christine's book, More Faster Backwards: Rebuilding David B. After the presentation there will be refreshments and Christine and Jeffrey will be available to answer questions about traveling to Alaska by boat and wooden boat restoration. Call 337-475-8792 for details.

Christmas Concert with Francesca Battistelli

Saturday, Dec. 6, 7pm

Trinity Center

1800 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles

A special Christmas Concert with Francesca Battistelli and special guest Shaun Groves. Concert starts at 7pm. Admission is $12 and tickets are sold online only at www.tbclc.org. 

Painting With a Purpose

Sunday, Dec. 7, 2pm-5pm

Painting With a Twist

4421 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles

Painting with a Twist, an art and social studio in Lake Charles, LA will host a Painting with a Purpose charity event to benefit National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). A talented team of instructors will guide you step by step through the featured painting, Happy Holidays, and at least 50% of your $45 reservation fee will be donated to National Alliance on Mental Illness. For details, visit www.paintingwithatwist.com/lakecharles. 

Handel's Messiah

Sunday, Dec. 7, 3pm

Bulber Auditorium, MSU Campus

4205 Ryan St., Lake Charles

The Lake Charles Messiah Chorus' 74th performance of George Frideric Handel's Messiah is set for 3pm on Sunday, Dec. 7 at the MSU Bulber Auditorium. The performance will include four soloists who are all McNeese students and will feature limited selections. Call 337-477-0662 for details.

Lunch and Learn

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 12pm

Gibson-Barham Library, Imperial Calcasieu Museum

204 W. Sallier St., Lake Charles

The Imperial Calcasieu Museum will host its Lunch and Learn lecture series for the Jos�-Mar�a Cund�n exhibit - Tuesday, December 9th, 2014 at 12 noon in the Gibson-Barham Library. McNeese Art Historian Bridget McDaniel will give a lecture on the artist & box lunches will be provided by Jo's Party House. The lecture and lunch are $10. Please contact the Museum to make a reservation, (337) 439-3797 or impmuseum@bellsouth.net. Seating is limited!

Activities at the Children's Museum

327 Broad Street, Lake Charles

Call 337-433-9420 for details

Fri., Dec. 5: Snowman Painting, 3:30pm

Sat., Dec. 6: Get Animated with CyPhaKids, 11am & 12pm

Tonight: Mark Henry, Ember at L'Auberge, 6pm; Nichole Marceaux & Twisted Face, Mikko Live (Coushatta), 9pm; Classix Band, Gator Lounge (Delta Downs), 9pm; DJ Eric Scott, Jack After Dark, 11pm

Friday: Mark Henry, Ember at L'Auberge, 6:30pm; Paul Gonsoulin, Loggerhead's, 7pm; Street Side Jazz Band, Luna Bar & Grill, 7pm; Bob Hebert, Stellar Beans, 7pm; John Leger & the Biloxi Cajuns, Mary's Lounge, 8pm; The Scheme, Jack After Dark, 8pm; Larry Tillery & the Vagabond Dreamers, Cooler's Icehouse, 8pm; Acoustic Pie, Cigar Club, 9pm; Keith Kire, Longhorn's, 9pm; Classix Band, Gator Lounge (Delta Downs), 9pm; Travis Matte & the Kingpins, Mikko Live (Coushatta), 9pm; DJ Eric Scott, Jack After Dark, 11pm

Saturday: Mark Henry, Ember at L'Auberge, 6:30pm; Sean Hager, Stellar Beans, 7pm; LA Bayou Band, Loggerhead's, 7pm; Kenny Spears/Keith Kire, Longhorn's, 8pm; The Dog Hill Stompers, Caribbean Cove (Isle of Capri), 8pm; The Dirty Seeds/Large Marge/Vermillion Whiskey/The Killawatts, The Center Stage, 8pm; Mount Sherpa/when the word was sound, MyPlace American Pub, 9pm; Ryan Bunch, Cigar Club, 9pm; Bernie Alan & Bayou Katz, Mikko Live (Coushatta), 9pm; Bernie Alan, Mikko Live (Coushatta), 9pm; DJ Eric Scott, Jack After Dark, 11pm

Sunday: Street Side Jazz Band, Luna Bar & Grill, 11am; Clint Faulk, Loggerhead's, 4pm; Twangster's Union, Mary's Lounge, 5pm

Tuesday: Mickey Smith, Loggerhead's, 6:30pm

Wednesday: Chris Miller, Loggerhead's, 6:30pm; Joe Ecker, Cigar Club, 8pm

Holiday Art Market

Dec. 12-13

Central School Arts & Humanities Center

809 Kirby St., Lake Charles

The Arts Council of SWLA invites the public to the annual Holiday Art Market on Fri., Dec. 12 from 3pm to 7pm and Sat., Dec. 13 from 10am to 4pm. Local artists will sell affordable original artwork for holiday gifts, including pottery, prints, photography, and original paintings. The SJ Welsh Art Club will also sell student work to raise funds for the club, and 10% of the event's proceeds will go to fund scholarships for the CPSB's Summer Arts Camp 2015. For details, call 337-439-2787.

The Little Drummer Boy

Dec. 11-13, times vary

Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center

900 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles

Ticket Info: www.lakecharlescivicballet.com 

The Lake Charles Civic Ballet (LCCB) announces upcoming holiday performance dates for the beloved classic, The Little Drummer Boy, presented by L'Auberge Lake Charles and KVHP Fox 29/The Lake Charles CW7.  Performances are December 11, 12, and 13, 2014 at the Rosa Hart Theatre. School performances will be held Thursday, December 11 and Friday, December 12 at 9:30am and 11am, and tickets for school matinees are just $5.00 per student. On Saturday, December 13 there will be an 11am Matinee and 6pm Gala. Tickets for these performances are $10.00 for students and $15.00 for adults. Tickets may be purchased at the door, online at www.lakecharlescivicballet.com, or by calling Ladonna McKnight at 337-474-0311.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 11-14

Shearman Fine Arts Performing Arts Theatre, MSU Campus

4205 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Ticket Info: www.lakecharlesnutcracker.com 

Enjoy this holiday classic from Tchaichovsky with Thursday and Friday performances at 9am, Saturday performances at 2pm & 7:30pm, and a Sunday performance at 2pm. It will be performed in the style of Ida Winter Clark and produced by Emily Coleman. For details, visit www.lakecharlesnutcracker.com or call 337-475-5027.

Lake Charles Symphony's Holiday Home Tour

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1pm-4pm

Sylvan Oaks Subdivision, Sulphur

Ticket Info: www.lcsymphony.org 

The Lake Charles Symphony is bringing back its Holiday Home Tour this year. In celebration of the City of Sulphur's Centennial we are featuring homes located in the Sylvan Oaks Subdivision. The date is Sunday, December 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Homes will be delightfully decorated for the holiday season with docents on hand to offer interesting and/or fun facts about each home. The tour will conclude with a reception at the Brimstone Historical Museum. Enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres, holiday cocktails and beverages, and peruse the permanent exhibit illustrating Sulphur's 100 years of fascinating history. Also, an ensemble of orchestra members from the Lake Charles Symphony will be on hand playing your favorite sounds of the season. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.lcsymphony.com or by calling the Symphony office at 337-433-1611.

Holiday Black Tie Dinner Gala & Silent Auction

Sunday, Dec. 21, 6pm

Jean Lafitte Room, Lake Charles Civic Center

900 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles

On December 21, 2014, Jazz in the Arts will present in concert International Mezzo-Soprano and Jazz Vocalist Erica Papillion-Posey of Denver, Colorado. Erica is originally from the Lake Charles area and has traveled nationally and internationally performing for operas. All proceeds from the holiday dinner gala and silent auction will help benefit music education and scholarships for our young people. Tickets are $65 each or $500 for a table of eight. Call 337-794-5744 or visit www.jazzinthearts.com for details.

Cottonwood Art Festival - Deadline: Jan. 15, 2015

Event Date: May 2-3, Richardson, TX

Cottonwood Art Festival is located in Richardson, Texas where artists exhibit their work among towering oaks with lakeside beauty.  Cottonwood continues to uphold its reputation as a first rate show. 2015 marks the 46th anniversary for this event. Sponsored by The City of Richardson, Cottonwood Art Festival is a showcase for a large variety of fine art and fine craft and provides our patrons with the opportunity to meet and talk with the artist who created the work. Live entertainment, a Friday night gala for the artists and guests, a children's art area and much more. Visit http://www.cottonwoodartfestival.com/ for details. 

Essence Festival Arts Marketplace - Deadline: Jan. 30, 2015

Event Date: July 2-5, 2015, New Orleans

The 2015 Essence Festival will feature a large variety of hand crafted art/crafts, the best New Orleans & southern cuisine, and a robust group of community, education and health service organizations providing information on how you can engage, impact and service your community and improve your life.  New this year, multi-month promotions of vendor listing in Essence Magazine and EssenceFestival.com, potential to advertise on Essence Magazine and EssenceFestival.com channel at a vendor rate. For details, visit http://www.essence.com/festival/marketing/vendor-application-2015. 

Area Farmers Market Seeking Art Vendors (Ongoing)

The Charlestown Farmers Market and the Cash & Carry Farmers Markers are seeking art vendors. The Charlestown Farmers Market takes place each Saturday from 8AM - 12Noon on Bilbo Street behind Historic City Hall. Visit www.cityoflakecharles.com for details. The Cash & Carry Farmers Market features local art and hand-crafted items on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 4pm-6pm at 801 Enterprise Blvd in Lake Charles. Visit www.cashandcarryfarmersmarket.com for vendor application.

Glacier National Park's Artist-in-Residence Program - Deadline: Jan. 31, 2015

The purpose of Glacier National Park's Artist-in-Residence Program is to stimulate and foster the artistic exploration of this natural and cultural treasure and to share the artist's inspiration with the public through educational programs. In this manner, contemporary artists can continue to explore the concepts first contemplated by earlier artists and inspire others through their artistic endeavors. Dates for the Artist-in-Residence sessions: June 1 -29, 2015; July 6 - August 3, 2015; August 31 - September 27,  2015; October 5 - November 2, 2015. For details, visit www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=2192. 

National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Awards - Deadline: Feb. 2, 2015

The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is inviting applications for the 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. The twelve award-winning programs will receive $10,000 and an invitation to accept their award from the President's Committee's Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama at a ceremony at the White House. After-school and out-of-school time arts and humanities programs sponsored by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations; educational institutions (e.g., preschools; elementary, middle, and high schools; universities; and colleges), arts centers, community service organizations, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to consider submitting an application. Visit www.nahyp.org for details.

Free Swim Soup Now Accepting Proposals for Microgrants

Free Swim SOUP is now accepting ideas for its next SOUP, a community dinner celebrating creative projects in Southwest Louisiana. Four ideas will be presented ranging from art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurship, education, technology, etc. Each presenter has fifteen minutes to share his or her idea and then field questions from the diners. Anyone in the Lake Charles community, as well as the Five Parish Area, is eligible to submit a proposal. If you have an idea for a community-minded project, or your business, non-profit, club, or organization requires monetary assistance to realize a goal, Free Swim SOUP can help provide funding with microgrants from $50 up to $1000 (depending on attendance and donation amounts). Visit www.freeswim.org for details.

New Orleans Theatre Association - Grant Applications Accepted Quarterly

Grants are available for any arts-related endeavors, but are particularly aimed at schools and educational institutes that are active in the performing arts, including music, drama, and dance, as well as related areas such as acting, directing, writing, and producing. Most grants will fall in the range of $500 to $5,000 but other amounts are available and there is no preset maximum amount. More information and a grant application form are available at www.neworleanstheatreassociation.com. 

National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts Office of Research and Analysis is accepting applications for Research: Art Works, which supports research that investigates the value of the US arts ecosystem and the impact of the arts on other domains of American Life. Visit www.arts.gov/grants to learn more.

Pollination Project

The Pollination Project invites applications from social entrepreneurs for seed grants of up to $1,000, which will be awarded to individuals for projects in the early stages of development that promote compassion toward all life, justice, community health and wellness, and social change-oriented arts and culture. Visit www.thepollinationproject.org/applicantinformatio/funding-guidelines/ to learn more.