Spring in the Twin Cities of Northeast Louisiana ushers in a full calendar of festivals and events for curious visitors and in-the-know locals alike. If you’ve been looking for a reason to plan a getaway to a diverse and rewarding part of the state just a few hours’ drive from home, Monroe-West Monroe’s spring events lineup has all the outdoor, culinary, and live music action to keep your spring season singing. Here’s what’s on the schedule.
Landry Vineyards Spring Concert
Landry Vineyards’ popular outdoor concert series returns on Saturday, March 21, with local band Flashback5 playing Top 40 covers, sing-along rock classics, and danceable tunes. The vineyard’s tasting room will be open from 11 am, local food truck Big MCs will be grilling, and the band will be onstage from 4 pm–7:30 pm. Bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs and settle in for a fun evening out of doors. monroe-westmonroe.org/events/landry-vineyards-concert/
Wild Wild West
Head to downtown West Monroe on Friday, April 10 to enjoy Wild Wild West, an unforgettable evening of food, music, and boot-scootin’ Western charm to benefit the WMWO Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group. From 6 pm–10 pm, picturesque downtown West Monroe will host a street dance featuring live music, BBQ, and abundant Western flourishes. Shine up your cowboy boots and show up ready for the hoedown. Learn more at monroe-westmonroe.org/events/wild-wild-west-in-downtown-west-monroe/
Mac & Cheese Festival
On Saturday, April 11, the first-ever Mac & Cheese Festival promises a saucy show at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the museum. Between 11 am and 6 pm this family-friendly feast lures the faithful with samples of various homemade and restaurant mac & cheese dishes. Attendees can also expect live music, and bounce houses and activities for the kids. More at monroe-westmonroe.org/events/mac-cheese-festival/
Wine Over Water
Dive headfirst into Ouachita Parish’s robust food and wine scene during the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s (ULM’s) Wine over Water event on Thursday, April 16. Set against the bucolic backdrop of Bayou DeSiard on ULM’s campus, the event promises bites courtesy of local restaurants, pours from local vineyards and craft breweries, and stellar live entertainment, too. Guests also get to enjoy scenic boat rides on the bayou courtesy of B&L Marine. Proceeds benefit The Spirit of the Warhawk scholarship. Buy tickets and learn more at monroe-westmonroe.org/events/wine-over-water-2/
Dragon Boat Festival
Give back to the youth of Northeast Louisiana by climbing aboard or lining the banks when the annual Dragon Boat Festival churns the waters of Monroe’s Bayou DeSiard on Saturday, April 18. This exciting, family-friendly event pits racing teams of 12–16 paddlers (plus 1 drummer) against one another to raise funds for the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, which offers vital programs and resources to children and their families across the region. Find out more about the daylong event at monroe-westmonroe.org/events/dragon-boat-festival/
Nestle into charming downtown West Monroe on the weekend of April 23—26 when popular Ouachita RiverFest adds live music performances, artisan vendors, food trucks, and the famous annual duck race to West Monroe’s abundant charms. New Orleans’ renowned Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots will headline the music stage this year, fusing zydeco, blues, gospel, jazz, and African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Festival schedule and full lineup at monroe-westmonroe.org/events/ouachita-riverfest-2/
