By Ranna Hebert

Celebrating and promoting black-owned businesses, Lit and Loaded Nutrition and Biking Through the Lake have teamed up for the inaugural Juneteenth Weekend Extravaganza in Lake Charles.

The creator behind the extravaganza is Eleanor Papillion, owner of Lit and Loaded, who said she originally devised the idea to collaborate with Biking Through the Lake to “bring something better to the community.”

She said she was surprised Lake Charles did not already host events for Juneteenth Weekend and brought her thoughts to co-organizer Donnie Glyenn who supported her plans.

While Papillion’s doors will be open for business, she said her goals and aspirations for this weekend are not guided toward her small business but instead are “focused on other small businesses so that people see and understand that small businesses are here and we need to support them.”

The first celebratory occasion is set for 3:30-7 p.m. Friday, June 17, and will involve Black-owned businesses initiating pop-up shops.

Papillion said her goal is to bring everyone out to support “not just the North side shops, but Lake Charles, Louisiana, as a whole.”

There is no entrance fee for shoppers in hopes of bringing additional appreciation to local vendors and small business owners. According to Papillion, people who decide to join Friday’s events can expect a fun day of shopping filled with music and various food trucks.

Unique vendors such as realtors, Avery James Cosmetology and May Weather Boxing School will also be present. People can attend the pop-up shops at 1540 North Martin Luther King Highway.

The Juneteenth Extravaganza also features a Lit and Rolling Bike Ride on Saturday, June 18. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. All participants who decide to attend will be offered a Loaded Herbalife Tea. There is no charge for children between the ages of 7-11 who have a bike and adult supervision throughout the ride. A $15 entry fee is required per person to participate if using a personal bicycle. If an individual does not bring a bike to the occasion, they are available to rent for $30 per person. Rented bikes cover safety measures through the means of colorful LED rims, which also provide elements of creativity and enjoyment.

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Anyone interested in attending the Lit and Rolling Bike Ride can find the meet-up location on either @litandloadednutrition or @bikingthroughthelakellc on Instagram or Facebook.