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==Arts and culture== [[File:Old City Hall LC.JPG|thumb|City Hall Arts and Cultural Center]] Lake Charles has a [[Creole peoples|Creole]] and [[Cajun]] culture because of its location in [[Southwest Louisiana]]βan extension of [[Acadiana]]. The city has its own [[Lake Charles Symphony|symphony orchestra]], the Lake Charles Symphony. It was founded in 1938 and hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lcsymphony.org/history.html |title=History |access-date=January 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214004222/http://www.lcsymphony.org/history.html |archive-date=February 14, 2010 }}</ref> which has a capacity over 2,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=5-38 |title=Rosa Hart Theatre / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana |website=Cityoflakecharles.com |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> The Lake Charles Little Theatre was founded in 1927 and is the second-oldest community theater in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelclt.com/|title=The Lake Charles Little Theater Home|website=The Lake Charles Little Theatre 337-433-7988|access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> Lake Charles is home to a number of museums and art galleries. The largest, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, features a permanent historical exhibit with artifacts and an art gallery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID%3D769 |title=Imperial Calcasieu Museum - the Leading Fine Arts and Cultural Center of Lake Charles, LA |access-date=January 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726174220/http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=769 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> Its grounds are home to the Sallier oak tree, which is around 400 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID%3D781 |title=Imperial Calcasieu Museum - the Leading Fine Arts and Cultural Center of Lake Charles, LA |access-date=January 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726174224/http://www.imperialcalcasieumuseum.org/default.asp?contentID=781 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is used as exhibition space; moving art exhibits are displayed at this public art gallery each month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-29 |title=Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana |website=Cityoflakecharles.com |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> It also hosts the Charlestown Farmers' Market, which provides a venue for local farmers and merchants to sell goods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/division.php?fDD=3-33 |title=Charlestown Farmer's Market / City of Lake Charles, Louisiana |website=Cityoflakecharles.com |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> The Central School Arts and Humanities Center, located in the historical Charpentier District, is owned by the city. ''Charpentier'' is French for "carpenter", a reference to the carpenter-architects who built the mixed-style homes in the district. Central School features the Black Heritage Art Gallery, which is on the [[Louisiana African American Heritage Trail]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astorylikenoother.com/explore/sites/16.php|title=African American Heritage Trail|date=October 26, 2017|website=Astorylikenoother.com|access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> as well as the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which features extravagant costumes and an interactive float. It has the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the South.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lake Charles |url=http://www.swlamardigras.com/year-round/mardi-gras-museum.cfm |title=The Mardi Gras Museum in Lake Charles |website=Swlamardigras.com |access-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722212306/http://www.swlamardigras.com/year-round/mardi-gras-museum.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other studios and cultural activities include the Art Associates Gallery, Studio 347 Gallery, the Lake Charles Symphony, and the Lake Charles Community Band. [[McNeese State University]] produces the annual Banners Series of various musical and theatrical performances. Banners also hosts lectures and presentations from notable persons and academics. Local theaters include the Lake Charles Little Theatre, the Artists Civic Theatre and Studio<!-- (ACTS) -->, and the Children's Theatre. === Louisiana Pirate Festival === {{Main|Contraband Days}} Many festivals are held at the Civic Center. The most popular, the Louisiana Pirate Festival (formerly Contraband Days), is hosted on the Civic Center grounds and lakefront. The festival is a 12-day annual festival held during the first two weeks of May. The celebrations are filled with savory Cajun food, family fun, and live entertainment, including several national acts. The festival is regularly attended by more than 200,000 people, making it one of the largest celebrations in Louisiana. In a reference to the legends of piracy on the lake and Contraband Bayou, the festival begins when the pirate [[Jean Lafitte]]<ref name="historicalmarker" /> and his crew capture the city and force the mayor to walk the plank. === Mardi Gras === [[File:Lake Charles Mardi Gras Museum 05.jpg|thumb|right|Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu]] [[Mardi Gras]] in Lake Charles has a long history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street downtown. Throughout the two World Wars, Mardi Gras was downsized which led to a lack of participation by the area's youth. However, an interest in redeveloping the festivities arose, and the first Mardi Gras Ball in Lake Charles was staged in 1964. The full revival of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles was not realized until 1979, when several [[Krewe]] captains formed the "Krewe of Krewes", with the primary purpose of parading and promoting Mardi Gras for local residents. In 1985, Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu, Inc. was formed by a group of civic-minded volunteers to further aid in the preservation of this festival.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lake Charles |url=http://www.swlamardigras.com/about/history.cfm |title=Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras History in Lake Charles |website=Swlamardigras.com |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> Mardi Gras in Lake Charles regularly draws in crowds of 150,000. ===Cultural events=== Some of the city's cultural events include Chuck Fest, Martin Luther King Festival, Livestock Show & Rodeo, Black Heritage Festival, Garden Festival, Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, Downtown at Sundown, Memorial Day Avenue of Flags, Crawfish Festival, Asian/American Culturefest, Cajun French, Creole, Zydeco Music & Zydeco Trail Rides, Food Festivals, Marshland Festival, Gatorman Triathlon, Music & Food Festival, Arts Fest, and Riverside Fall Festival.<ref>{{cite web | title = Community Links | publisher = City of Lake Charles | url = http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=70 | access-date = May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Meeting of the Downtown Development Authority | publisher = City of Lake Charles | date = October 1, 2012 | url = http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/documents/7ed9bb90_162d_996f_6068_62368e6daa01.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = 2012 Riverside Park Fall Festival | publisher = City of Lake Charles | url = http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=2111 | access-date = May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Meeting of the Downtown Development Authority | publisher = City of Lake Charles | date = September 4, 2012 | url = http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/documents/17f74d04_2938_e277_1b97_be3c5871bd06.pdf}}</ref> ===Libraries=== [[File:Calcasieu Parish Public Library.jpg|thumb|right|Central Library]] Lake Charles has four libraries. The largest, with over 400,000 volumes, is Frazar Memorial Library, on the McNeese State University campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.mcneese.edu/info/welcome.htm |title=Welcome@McNeese Library |access-date=September 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116175447/http://library.mcneese.edu/info/welcome.htm |archive-date=November 16, 2010 }}</ref> The first library, Carnegie Memorial Library, was financed by [[Andrew Carnegie]] and opened in 1904.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calcasieulibrary.org/about |title=Calcasieu Parish Public Library |access-date=January 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412160602/http://calcasieulibrary.org/about |archive-date=April 12, 2010 }}</ref> It also houses the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library. It, Central Library and Epps Memorial Library are part of the [[Calcasieu Parish Public Library]], which has 13 locations in [[Calcasieu Parish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calcasieulibrary.org/branchhistory |title=Calcasieu Parish Public Library : History of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library Branches |access-date=April 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724150257/http://calcasieulibrary.org/branchhistory |archive-date=July 24, 2010 }}</ref>
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