Celebrating MLK: Festival brings city together

Published 11:20 am Thursday, January 15, 2026

Lake Charles will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the annual Martin Luther King Festival.

A series of community events scheduled for Friday invite residents to participate in programs focused on unity, service and celebration.

The weekend begins with the Annual MLK Memorial Breakfast at 8 a.m. Friday at L’Auberge Casino Resort, 777 Ave. L’Auberge.

After breakfast, first‑place winners of the student MLK Essay Contest will give presentations in which they will share reflections on King’s legacy and the responsibilities of the next generation.

A surprise guest speaker will deliver the keynote address, offering a “powerful and timely message reflecting the spirit, challenges and hope of our times,” according to a news release.

Festival activities resume at 11 a.m. Monday at the Lake Charles Event Center.

The annual MLK Parade features churches, school bands, civic groups, small businesses, motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle riders and community organizations.

The parade route will start at the Event Center, travel along Broad Street, Enterprise Boulevard, Mill Street and Lakeshore Drive, and return to the Event Center.

Family Day activities will begin at noon on the Event Center grounds, offering food, entertainment and space for community gathering.

Also on Monday, the festival will host the MLK Gumbo Cook‑Off. Cooking teams, restaurants, chefs and home cooks will gather to compete for first place in the first gumbo competition of the season,

The cook‑off will take place inside the Event Center’s Exhibition Hall. The competition will proceed regardless of weather.

Organizers emphasize limited space and encourage early registration.

Interested teams may contact Antonio Duhon at 337‑607‑7337.

All events are free and open to the public.