Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival October 4

One of Northeast Louisiana's most unique and interesting festivals will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, October 4 in West Monroe.

The Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games will take place on October 4 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe.  The all-day festival is family friendly.  There is no admission to attend the festival, but there is a 50 cents per person fee to enter into Kiroli Park.

The festival features a day filled with authentic Celtic music performed by well-known bands such as The Pure Drop, Emerald Accent, Traveling Murphys and a special performance by the Jackson Irish Dancers.

Not familiar with Celtic music?  Check out the link below as our very own WMWO Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Tom McCandlish and his pal Josh Madden performed at a recent Brown Bag Lunch Concert.  The duo played a selection of Irish tunes that had toes tapping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJCXHDfL6bE

The festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Besides musical performances throughout the day, there will be plenty of food vendors and crafters.  One of the highlights of the festival is the sanctioned Scottish Highland Games, where athletes in kilts compete in such events as the caber toss and throwing telephone poles.

The Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival is one of the oldest and longest-running festivals in the Northeast Louisiana area.  Bring the family and experience first hand the unique food, music and traditions that are part of Celtic heritage.

For more information, call the WMWO Chamber of Commerce at (318) 325-1961 or "like" the Celtic Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NELACelticFest

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Ouachita Green will host annual Water Sweep on September 20

Ouachita Green and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host the 9th Annual Water Sweep this Saturday, September 20 at boat landings throughout Ouachita Parish.

The Water Sweep event is held every year to raise awareness about the cleanliness of our local waterways, particularly along the Ouachita River, an area that brings economic development to the community while providing recreational activities to the public.

Members of the ULM Fishing Team and Ski Team have stepped forward as spokespeople this year to let the public know the importance of a clean waterway.  Not only does a clean waterway have aesthetic appeal, but it creates a safe environment for boaters and marine wildlife.

Volunteers are asked to participate this Saturday by removing litter along the banks of area waterways and debris that may be floating in the water.  Those who can volunteer can work by land, but those with boats are greatly needed along the waterway.

Various boat landings will be equipped with cleanup supplies and water for volunteers.  Staging sites will be set at Lazarre Park, Moon Lake, Forsythe Boat Landing, Bawcomville Recreational Area, Sterlington, Bayou DeSiard and Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge.

Staging sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.  To sign up as a volunteer, please visit:

 

http://watersweep.org/Volunteer.html

 

There are a number of sponsors for this year's Water Sweep.  Sponsors include Angus Chemical/Dow Chemical, Coastal Conservation Association, The Radio People, and the organizations that make up Ouachita Green - Keep Monroe, Keep Ouachita Parish and Keep West Monroe Beautiful.  

Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series kicks off in September

The West Monroe Brown Bag Lunch Concert series continues during the month of September.

Every Wednesday during the lunch hour, a local band will perform at the Pavilion located at 7th Square in West Monroe, directly behind the West Monroe Farmer's Market.

These free concerts are a great way to take a break during the work day and enjoy fresh air and the company of other business and community leaders and area residents. 

Local musicians perform each week, offering a variety of musical styles.  The Waterboys will perform a mix of classic favorites and alternative hits on September 10; Strauss Youth Academy of the Arts performs Broadway hits on September 17 and Josh Madden and Tom McCandlish perform on September 24 with a tribute to Celtic tunes and American rock 'n roll standards.

The concerts are conveniently located in the heart of West Monroe and amenities are provided to help you relax and enjoy the music.  Each week, local sponsors and partnering organizations provide beverages and light snacks for concert goers.  Refreshments such as bottled water, cookies and coke/rootbeer floats are provided to attendees at no cost.  If you don't want to bring your own lunch, food trucks are on site to sell you lunch.  The Pavilion offers plenty of shade, and the City of West Monroe provides chairs.

The concerts are organized by the City of West Monroe and West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce.  Sponsors are the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Centric Federal Credit Union and Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union.

Make plans to attend this month's Brown Bag Lunch concerts and listen to some of the great musical talent found right here in our own community.  If you need more information, call the WMWO Chamber of Commerce at (318) 325-1961.