Live at the Lakefront kicks off Friday, March 22, and here are a dozen reasons to plan to attend this music, art and food party that’s been a hit in Downtown Lake Charles for the last 12 years.

First of all there’s the music – nine entertainers in all. Friday’s lineup is Cats & Aliens. Infinite Bus and the headliner for the first night of Live at the Lakefront is LVVRS (pronounced lovers), a band based out of Lafayette. Founding member, now no longer in the band, is Lake Charles native Zac Lyons.

This pop/rock band’s sound merges stylish disco pop with a 1970s rock’n’roll flair and their music has been compared to Fall Out Boy and Maroon 5. The band performs mainly original songs with a few hand-picked covers mixed in, according to River Gibson. Lead singer.

LVVRS just released their debut five-song record Midnight Fantasy on February 16, which coincides with the anniversary date of the band’s formation on Valentine’s Day 2018. All four band members appear in the A24 film The Iron Claw in theaters now. They act and perform a song from the soundtrack live in scenes with Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White.

In addition to enjoying free entertainment from nine different shows free of charge,  Live at the Lake Front showcases work from local artists, crafters and home-based businesses. To see the art and support local artists is the 10th reason to go.  Vendors from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. include Keeping You in Stitches, Hilliard Home, Swaco Socks, Squirrelly Scribbles, Cats of Chase Charity, Art Story, Marie & Lane Designs, Laser It Studios, Color Street, Romantic Pretty Pieces, All Made Up, and Paint and Fire.

 Number eleven, enjoy some great food from Kona Ice, the Village Coffee Wagon, Creole Hidden Gardens, Lunchbox Food and Snack, Oh Taste and See Diner, Mia’s Lemonade, Wing Junkiez, JJ’s Jammin Food Truck and Gumbo Extravaganza.

The final reason to go, and the reason to bring the whole family is the Kid Zone, 6 p.m – 8 p.m.

Week two musical entertainment will be The Last Hour, Rome Murray Jr., with headliner Leah Nicole. Week three wraps up festivities with the St. Louis Show Choir, Calcasieu Good Time Family Band and headlining, Flamethrowers.

Alcohol sales benefit the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, event announcer.