Events in CenLA, LA

NSU takes on Southeastern Louisiana in a football matchup at Turpin Stadium on the Northwestern State University campus. Season tickets are available now.

This event showcases Abigayle Holt & Band.

This workshop offers Muse Teens a chance to develop origami skills with guidance from Paul Nettles. It is free for teens ages 13 to 19. Participants at the youngest end must have turned 13 within one month of the event. Registration is required to participate.

Created for people navigating religious trauma, this monthly support group meets at the CLASS office. New and returning participants are welcome, whether arriving alone or with a friend, and speaking up is optional. It brings together individuals with shared experiences who are continuing their journeys toward a healthier future.

Learn the basics of starting strawberry plants and how to help them thrive, with coffee and tea to enjoy during the discussion. To register, call (318) 964-2245.

Returning each year, this West Louisiana festival and fair honors forestry in the region.

At Hearn Stage at the Kress Theatre, this stage adaptation by William Goldman follows bestselling romance author Paul Sheldon after a car accident leaves him in the care of Annie Wilkes, a devoted admirer who will not let him leave. Recuperating in her isolated home, Paul is compelled to bring back her beloved character, Misery Chastain, and must write under relentless pressure as Annie’s anger over his latest book grows. Each page becomes a struggle for survival. Directed by Jared Guillory. This production includes adult language, violence, and intense scenes.

The Abigayle Holt Band performs live at Train Station Bar and Billiards.

A community art day at AMoA showcases large scale printmaking as printmakers and students from across the state work together to create oversized prints from linoleum and wood blocks with a steamroller supplied by Doggett Machinery. Attendees can make their own prints and enjoy food trucks, music, and a friendly community atmosphere.

This one-hour talk introduces the living tradition of Cajun folk healing as practiced by Louisiana traiteurs. It looks back to earlier French healing customs and related practices that continue in Europe, then explains how this knowledge is carried forward within families and local communities. The presentation describes what traiteur work involves, including prayer, sacred gestures, the laying on of hands, ritual practices, and the use of herbal and household remedies. Anyone interested in Cajun history, Louisiana folklore, traditional medicine, faith healing, genealogy, French heritage, or the culture of Acadiana will find a clear overview of a tradition that has quietly persisted for generations.

A selection on the 26-27 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers brings Built on Zydeco to the Kress Theatre in Downtown Alexandria. This Creole-led documentary honors the musicians, history, and wide influence of zydeco as a defining Louisiana sound. Filmed in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish, long regarded as the capital of zydeco, it explores how the music shapes Louisiana identity while sustaining a multigenerational community of artists, dancers, and listeners. The film follows Keith Frank, Terrance Simien, and Reginald “Buckwheat Jr.” Dural, alongside a dynamic circle of fellow musicians, blending immersive verite scenes, energetic performances, and candid interviews into a story of rhythm, resilience, and living Creole tradition. A Q&A with the filmmaker will follow the screening. Tickets are available at the door for $10, and students are admitted free. The creative team includes director Milton Arceneaux, cultural advocate and zydeco scholar Dustin Cravins, and producer Robert Chevalier, whose combined perspectives and community ties guide the project. Southern Circuit presentations receive support in part from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

An open roundtable brings artists and other creatives from Central Louisiana together for community and practical exchange. The conversation centers on grants and artist calls, the creative process, and ways artists market and ship their work. It offers a supportive setting for peer dialogue that helps reduce the isolation many artists experience.

North Louisiana’s leading outdoor music celebration brings a stacked country lineup to Natchitoches, Louisiana, beside the Northwestern State University Soccer Complex. Across two days, the festival showcases co-headliners Lee Brice and Dylan Scott, with Flatland Cavalry headlining, plus performances by Ian Munsick, Rodney Atkins, Bottomland, and more. Two-day passes are available for both VIP and general admission sections. Additional artists and details about the festival experience will be announced.

An illuminated procession will brighten the night as part of Art Walk. Volunteers who wish to help can email Cindy Blair at cindy@themuseum.org.

Discover a massive selection of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, invertebrates, feeders, and supplies at this two day showcase hosted at Randolph Riverfront Center. Attendees can browse and purchase from thousands of animals and related products, with concessions available throughout both days. Admission is $10 for a one day adult ticket or $15 for a two day adult ticket, $5 for children ages 5 to 12 for one day or $8 for two days, and children 4 and under are free.

NSU meets McNeese for a football game at Turpin Stadium at Northwestern State University. Season tickets are available.

NSU faces Nicholls in a football matchup at Turpin Stadium on the Northwestern State University campus. Season tickets are currently available.

The Annual Van Gogh Gala features mentor and star artists teaming up for an exclusive art auction that blends professional creativity with community spirit. Each work is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between a mentor artist and a star artist, with the collection presented in an accompanying exhibition. Additional details on the theme and costume ideas will be shared.

Enjoy a performance by Abigayle Holt & Band at Cayefuego Mexican Grill.

NSU Football takes on UTRGV at Turpin Stadium on the Northwestern State University campus. Season tickets are currently available.

An opening reception launches a new exhibition centered on the 11th Annual 5x5x5 Show National Call. The reception spotlights guest juror Tyler Barnes and includes Matt Dawson. Outreach programs are part of the event, featuring Rapides ARC, OLS Community Homes, CLSSC, Hope House, Matthews Memorial and The Honduras Cookie Project, with instruction by Lindsay B. Moore, Carla Guillory and Chastity Sayer Smith. Related classes are planned, and further details will be announced.

This preview event highlights LCU’s warm, easygoing community and provides an overview of its rigorous academic programs. Attendees can talk with faculty members and current students, get clear guidance on scholarships and financial aid, and learn about opportunities in athletics, ministry, and studying abroad.

NSU takes on Houston Christian in a college football matchup at Turpin Stadium on the Northwestern State University campus. Season tickets are on sale.

Food trucks roll into Alexandria Mall for a weekend packed with flavors, shopping, and family-friendly fun. Expect more than 40 food trucks and vendors serving gourmet bites and desserts, along with dozens of artisans showcasing handmade jewelry, artwork, and crafts. Activities are planned for all ages, creating a lively community setting. Admission is free with registration, which also provides an automatic entry into a free meal giveaway, limited to one meal per day, with winners notified by email.

Mistletoe Market takes place in downtown Natchitoches on 2nd Street at the City Bank & Trust parking lot during the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center of Natchitoches, all proceeds benefit expecting mothers. Vendor applications will open, and only registrations completed directly with the organizer will be honored. Any third party requests should be considered scams and will not be fulfilled.

The 2026 annual Christmas Porch Sale showcases original artwork perfect for holiday gifting, with free admission and a welcome for the public. Presented by River Oaks Square Arts Center, it highlights professional Louisiana artisans and fine craftspeople, and invites visual artists and makers who live or work in Louisiana to submit pieces for the sale. The event has grown steadily, bringing in new talent from around the region, and River Oaks also hosts a sales gallery featuring exclusive works from the Louisiana Crafts Guild. More than twenty artists are featured with individual sales stations, along with additional works by creators from across the South. Artists seeking to be featured who have not previously shown through River Oaks must provide a portfolio. This seasonal marketplace remains a key shopping stop for artists, members, and patrons.

The City of Leesville Jingle & Mingle Christmas Festival brings two days of family friendly holiday activities to the Leesville Recreation Complex. Highlights include an ice skating rink, snow-themed activities, a meet and greet with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Christmas festivities running throughout the day. Families and youth can take part in a variety of experiences, while vendors offer food and shopping. Vendor participation is currently being accepted for this community celebration.