The city of Lake Charles will ring in the yuletide season this Saturday, Nov. 25 with the annual Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival. Every year, this community gathering serves as a staple holiday event.

Mayor Nic Hunter the festival is made so that each member of the family can find something to enjoy, and is a beautiful opportunity for connectivity.

“We are a strong, resilient community year-round, but the holiday season in particular offers us an opportunity for us to gather together in unity to celebrate the beauty of our City under the glow of holiday lights. From the Christmas concerts and lighting ceremony to the lighted boat parade and fireworks over the lake, we are fortunate to experience the magic of this special time of year in such a unique way.”

The holiday celebrations will begin with the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana Holiday Art Walk from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (See story below.) This year, the City partnered with the Council to support the Holiday Art Walk. Hunter said that this is a “great kick-off” to the Lake Charles #ShopLocalLC Challenge, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses.

“We have so many incredibly talented artisans locally and we really hope this partnership will lead to our community members supporting them through the purchase of their unique offerings.”

From 4 to 6:30 p.m., the party will move inside the Rosa Hart Theatre for two and a half hours of musical entertainment. The performance will start with the Girl Scouts of the Louisiana Pines to the Gulf, who will be singing caroling classics. Then, Rory Partin and his All-Star Big Band will take the stage.

They will bring “smooth, jolly sounds” that are influenced by Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and the Doobie Brothers. Michael Castille, City of Lake Charles director of community services, said that the Lake Charles native offers “a classic big band sound lending itself to feelings of nostalgia and holidays past.”

This is the second year in a row that Partin has been invited to perform at the festival.

“With the recent re-dedication of Rosa Hart Theatre, we felt it only appropriate to partner once again with the McNeese State University Banners Series, and welcome Rory back for another year, to fill the sounds of this historic venue with his classic holiday sound,” Castille said.

After the concert, Hunter will light up the grounds of the Lake Charles Event Center and Millennium Park with the lighting ceremony. Castille said that this year, the public can expect some new additions to the Winter Wonderland display inside Millennium Park and a “new, dynamic” Christmas tree display in front of the Lake Charles Event Center.

At 7 p.m., the Lighted Boat Parade –  a procession of festive boats – will begin in the water alongside the Lakefront Promenade. Then, at 7:45 p.m., the 15-minute holiday fireworks display begins. Spectators are encouraged to tune into KBYS 88.3 McNeese Radio for a simulcast of holiday music playing in time with the fireworks.

Spectators can bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax and watch the show. Ice coolers and pets are prohibited.

All parts of The Light Up the Lake Festival are free and open to the public.