Lake Charles
Around Lake Charles
Photo: CTtcg · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Louisiana · 242k people
Lake Charles
Locals say Lake Area · “The Lake”, “Lake City”
Cajun heart, lake soul.
McNeese BlueMcNeese Gold
Welcome to the Lake Area! Whether you're here for the casinos, the fishing, or the boudin, you'll find a friendly community that loves to celebrate. Get ready for some good food and good times.
Clubs for Lake Charles
No clubs for Lake Charles yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lake Charles. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lake Charles. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Lake Charles The large lake that gives the city its name, popular for boating and fishing.
- Charpentier Historic District One of the largest collections of Victorian-era homes in the state.
- Golden Nugget Casino Major resort casino on the lakefront with entertainment and dining.
- L'Auberge Casino Resort Another large casino resort with a golf course and pool.
- USS Orleck A retired destroyer turned naval museum ship.
- Mardi Gras Museum Showcases the area's Mardi Gras heritage and costumes.
- Outdoors Fishing and boating on Lake Charles
- Outdoors Hiking and birdwatching at Sam Houston Jones State Park
- With kids Visit the USS Orleck museum ship
- With kids Spend a day at Prien Lake Park
- Evenings Casino nightlife at Golden Nugget
- Evenings Local honky-tonks and dance halls
- Locals love Boudin shops
- Locals love Casino buffets and slots
Through the year
- Contraband Days May Pirate-themed festival with music, food, carnival rides, and a parade on the lakefront.
- Sulphur Boudin Festival October Celebrates the local sausage with cooking contests, live music, and family fun.
- Lake Charles Art Walk Monthly Monthly downtown event with galleries open late, live music, and local artists.
- McNeese State Cowboys Football Games Fall Home games at Cowboy Stadium draw the community for tailgating and school spirit.
Humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild, short winters. Hurricane season runs June to November, so be prepared for storms. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for being outdoors, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Lake Area”
- Local name for the Lake Charles metro region.
- “Where y'at?”
- A common greeting meaning 'How are you?'
- “Lagniappe”
- A little something extra, like a bonus.
Getaways
- DeRidder Small-town charm and nearby state parks.
- Golden Triangle (Beaumont) Cross-state trip for Texas BBQ and the Big Thicket.
- Lafayette Cajun culture, live music, and renowned restaurants.
- New Iberia Tabasco factory tour and historic plantation homes.
Local flavour
Teams
- McNeese State Cowboys and Cowgirls NCAA Division I
Also rooting for LSU Tigers, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans
Eat and drink
- Gumbo Cajun staple, often with seafood or sausage.
- Jambalaya Rice dish with meat and vegetables, a Louisiana classic.
- Crawfish etouffee Crawfish in a rich sauce, served over rice.
- Boudin Smoked sausage with rice, pork, and spices; a local specialty.
- Cracklins Fried pork skin, a popular snack.
- Po'boys Sandwich on French bread, often with fried seafood.
Where people go
- Casinos Riverboat casinos are a major draw.
- Lakes Lake Charles and Calcasieu Lake for fishing and boating.
- Cypress swamps The Creole Nature Trail and surrounding wetlands.
- Festivals Louisiana Pirate Festival, Mardi Gras, and local food festivals.
- Historic districts Charpentier Historic District with Victorian homes.
- Boudin shops Local spots selling fresh boudin and cracklins.
Heritage and traditions
Lake Charles is proud of its Cajun and Creole heritage, from the lively Mardi Gras celebrations to the boudin and crawfish that define its food culture. Locals celebrate their resilience, especially after hurricanes, and their unique blend of French, African, and Southern traditions.
This time of year in Lake Charles
- McNeese football season Fall Cowboys games bring tailgating and school spirit in the fall.
- Sulphur Boudin Festival October A celebration of boudin with tastings, cooking contests, and live music.
Say it like a local: “Cher” — Dear, sweetheart (term of endearment)
Festivals
- Mardi Gras February or March Parades, krewes, and street parties across the metro, with a distinct Cajun flavor.
- Contraband Days May A pirate-themed festival celebrating the legend of Jean Lafitte, with music, food, and a carnival.
- Sulphur Boudin Festival October A celebration of boudin with tastings, cooking contests, and live music.
- Lake Charles Art Walk Monthly Monthly gallery openings and street art in the downtown historic district.
- Jennings Cajun Music Festival September A weekend of Cajun and zydeco music, dancing, and local food.
- Louisiana Oil and Gas Festival April Celebrates the region's petroleum industry with exhibits, parades, and family fun.
Landmarks with a story
- Charpentier Historic District A National Register district with over 20 blocks of Victorian and early 20th-century homes.
- Mardi Gras Museum Housed in a historic building, it showcases elaborate carnival costumes and memorabilia.
- USS Orleck A Vietnam-era destroyer turned museum ship, docked on Lake Charles.
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception A historic Catholic cathedral in the heart of Lake Charles, with striking architecture.
- Imperial Calcasieu Museum A historic house museum with local art and artifacts, including a replica of the area's early days.
- Brimstone Museum In Sulphur, this museum tells the story of the region's sulfur mining industry.
Food traditions
- Boudin runs Locals drive to butcher shops or gas stations for fresh boudin, often eaten as a snack with crackers or in a sandwich.
- Crawfish boils Springtime gatherings where crawfish are boiled with corn, potatoes, and Cajun seasoning, then dumped on tables for communal eating.
- King cake During Mardi Gras, families share a braided cake with a hidden baby; the finder hosts the next party.
- Gumbo on Sundays A hearty roux-based stew with seafood, sausage, or chicken, often served over rice for family dinners.
- Cracklins Fried pork skins, seasoned and eaten as a crunchy snack, often bought alongside boudin.
Music and arts
- Zydeco and swamp pop Local musicians blend Creole, Cajun, and R&B, with legends like Boozoo Chavis and Johnnie Allan.
- Mardi Gras parade culture Krewes create elaborate floats and costumes, a major artistic expression.
- Cajun cuisine as an art Gumbo, boudin, and étouffée are crafted with pride, each family having its own recipe.
- Lake Charles Little Theatre Community theater productions in a historic venue.
A little history
- 1861 Lake Charles founded as a railroad town
- 1901 First oil well in Louisiana drilled in Jennings
- 1910 Great Fire destroyed much of downtown Lake Charles
- early 1900s Sulfur mining boom in Sulphur
- 1990s Casino gambling legalized, bringing riverboat casinos to the lake
Rivalries
- McNeese State vs. Lamar University College football rivalry with the Golden Triangle.
- Lake Charles vs. Beaumont Cross-state rivalry in sports and bragging rights.
- McNeese vs. Southeastern Louisiana Southland Conference basketball and football matchups.
- Game day McNeese State tailgating
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Charles
- Outdoors Kayaking through cypress swamps
- With kids USS Orleck
- With kids Prien Lake Park
Locals speak with a Southern Louisiana accent influenced by Cajun French, often dropping the 'g' in '-ing' words and using French words and phrases in everyday conversation. The drawl is slower than in northern Louisiana, and you'll hear 'cher' and 'mais' frequently.
Only here
- The first oil well in Louisiana was drilled in Jennings in 1901.
- Lake Charles is often called the 'Festival Capital of Louisiana'.
- The Creole Nature Trail is one of only a few All-American Roads in the state.
- The USS Orleck is a Vietnam-era destroyer you can tour, docked right in the lake.
New here? A few tips
- Be ready for hot, humid summers and a real hurricane season — know your evacuation route.
- Try boudin and cracklins from a local shop early; it's a rite of passage.
- Learn a few Cajun French words like 'cher' and 'mais' — locals appreciate the effort.
- Take a swamp tour to see alligators and cypress swamps; it's a must-do.
- Visit the Mardi Gras Museum even if you're not here during carnival season.
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Part of Lake Charles area
Nearby
Every areaDeRidderLouisianaLocal rooms for Beauregard Parish.Ville PlatteLouisianaWhere the prairies meet the pinesBeaumont–Port ArthurTexasWhere Cajun spice meets Texas pride.LeesvilleLouisianaWhere the pines meet the water.Deep East TexasTexasWhere the pines meet the waterOpelousasLouisianaWhere the bayou sings and the crawfish boilLafayetteLouisianaWhere the music is live and the boudin is hot.New IberiaLouisianaWhere the bayou runs with spice and sweetness
Lake Charles, LA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.