Events in Westlake Louisiana

Looking for top-notch, inexpensive family entertainment, great food, a beautiful outdoor experience and some of the best music in the world? Two words: Louisiana festivals.

More than 400 Louisiana festivals occur each year – which makes it easy to see why Louisiana is often called the Festival Capital of America. We celebrate just about every crop harvested, every indigenous dish, every type of music that's played here – ranging from Cajun and zydeco to Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, Louisiana's own swamp pop, country, salsa and more. Excellent Louisiana food is a given at any festival. And as always, Louisiana festivals offer abundant opportunities for meeting new friends.

Themed festivals range from a Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula and Tomato Festival in Chalmette to the great Festival International in Lafayette; from the big Contraband Days Pirate Festival in Lake Charles to the Holiday Festival of Lights in Natchitoches. From the Red River Revel in Shreveport to the Catfish Festival in Washington. Of course, you'll want to visit the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or the big family-fun French Quarter Festival.

And for the biggest of them all? That's right, Louisiana is home to Mardi Gras! But that's another story – and a very large one across the state!

Bordering Lake Charles is Westlake which was originally named “Rio Hondo,” and from Westlake up the Sabine River was also known as “No Man’s Land” to pirates and renegades since it officially belonged to no one before the 19th Century. Today, Westlake is a quiet town with beautiful scenery at Sam Houston Jones State Park where RVers can camp, or you can go for the day, hiking, feeding the geese or watching your kids or grandkids at the playground. On the shores of Lake Charles in Westlake, sits the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel, where you can melt into island time and lounge near an outdoor pool area, complete with a hot tub and rock slide. Entertainment options such as fun karaoke nights, concerts, an arcade, gaming action and restaurants. Westlake is also home to the National Golf Club of Louisiana and the Westlake Family Fun & Food Festival.