BOATS AND BOWS
Catfish biting at 7 a.m. in Kiroli Park, evening swims along the Ouachita River sandbar, and a huge outdoor weekend ahead with the Sportsman's Expo and Gar Rodeo weigh-ins.
Here is everything you need to know this week.
Morning at Kiroli Park's reopened pond. Calm water, early casts, and a little patience.
One of the biggest outdoor weekends in North Louisiana takes over the West Monroe Sports and Events Center with nearly 100 vendor booths, boats, ATVs, archery gear, and youth activities. Across town at Lazarre Park, the West Monroe Gar Rodeo runs all weekend with weigh-ins for bowfishing, jug fishing, and youth divisions.
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Austin George & Bailey George at Flying Tiger Brewery (acoustic/roots)
Acoustic favorites on the patio. 6 PM.
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Kaela Taylor at Enoch's Irish Pub (singer-songwriter)
Thursday evening acoustic set and local neighborhood vibes. 7 PM.
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Ouachita Live feat. Chancie Neal & Her Band at Alley Park (country)
Outdoor concert series kickoff with food trucks and drinks downtown. Bring a lawn chair. 7 to 9 PM. Free.
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Tammy Martin at Tailgators on the River (country/rock)
Riverfront patio show with friends joining in. 8 to 11 PM.
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The Red Flags at Flying Heart Brewing (rock/covers)
High-energy rock covers in the beer garden. 6 PM.
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Jackson Culp Band at El Paso (country/rock)
Friday night patio music and tacos. 6 to 9 PM.
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SpaceMilk at Enoch's Irish Pub (jam/indie)
Debut show under their new moniker with good vibes and lively jams. 9 PM.
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Jarrett Bailey at Heirloom (R&B/soul)
Elevated dining with smooth live vocals at The Hotel Monroe. 6:30 to 9:30 PM.
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Jackson Culp at Heirloom (country/acoustic)
Intimate acoustic set paired with fine dining at The Hotel Monroe. 6:30 PM.
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The Red Flags at El Paso (rock/covers)
Saturday evening tunes on the patio. 6 to 9 PM.
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Jesse Dale Middleton & Hands On at Monroe VFW (country)
Classic country dancing and live tunes. 7 to 11 PM. $10 cover, BYOB.
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Hidden Tracks at Enoch's Irish Pub (rock/covers)
Saturday night pub energy and classic covers. 9 PM.
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4th in Line at Flying Heart Brewing (country/rock)
Sunday evening tunes in the beer garden to wrap up the weekend. 6 to 8 PM.
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Landry Vineyards Winery Tour & Tasting
Cellar tastings open at 11 AM, followed by a guided tour with Jeff Landry at 2 PM. $10.
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Ouachita Green Awards Luncheon
Annual awards luncheon celebrating community beautification leaders at the West Monroe Convention Center. 11:30 AM.
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Dragonfly Landing Celebration at Forsythe Park
Edmund Williamson's beloved Dragonfly returns home. Ribbon cutting at 6 PM with live music, face painting, and kids activities. 5 to 7 PM.
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Thursday Night Trivia at El Azteca
Live trivia hosted by Challenge Entertainment with weekly gift card prizes. 7 PM. Free to play.
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Museum Relocation Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and renovation kickoff for the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum at 2404 Broadmoor Blvd. 9 AM.
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Coffee with a Cop at PJ's Coffee
Casual morning conversation with West Monroe Police officers. No speeches, just coffee. 7:30 AM.
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Open Mic Night at Lea's of Monroe
Local poets, singers, and acoustic players take the mic with CA Studio. Doors open at 6:30 PM. $5 donation.
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Sherlock Holmes Auditions at SYAA
Youth auditions for ages 8 to 18 for The Baker Street Irregulars. Prepare a 30-60 second monologue. 2 to 4 PM.
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Market on the Square
Fresh local produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts at the West Monroe Farmer's Market. 9 AM to 2 PM.
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4-H STEM Program Parent Meeting
Ouachita Parish 4-H overview covering youth robotics, drones, and esports at 704 Cypress St. 5 to 6 PM.
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Bayou Jamb 2026 at Malone Stadium
North Louisiana high school football season kickoff games at ULM. Friday evening.
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West Monroe Pro Rodeo at Ike Hamilton Expo
PRCA bull riding, roping, and barrel racing at the Ike. 7:30 PM.
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West Monroe Gar Rodeo Weigh-Ins at Lazarre Park
Tournament weigh-ins and prize ceremonies along the river for youth and adult divisions. All day Saturday. Free to watch.
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Hellfighter's Ice Cream Run
Annual community motorcycle ride benefiting local outreach. Departs at 9 AM. $20.
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ULM Volleyball vs. Northwestern State
Warhawks home volleyball match at b1Bank Fant Coliseum. 6:30 PM.
Flying Heart Local Music Festival
Labor Day, September 7, noon to 7:30 p.m. in the Beer Garden at Flying Heart Brewing.
10th Annual River Rat Paddle Challenge
September 19 down the Ouachita River to Lazarre Park.
Road to Memphis Blues Challenge
September 27 at Flying Tiger Brewery ($20 entry).
The Ark-La-Miss Fair
Returns October 2 in West Monroe.
| Sunrise | 6:34 AM ↑ |
| Sunset | 7:50 PM ↓ |
| Moon | Waxing Crescent |
| Temp | 93°F / 34°C |
| Sky | Cloudy morning · Scattered rain |
| Humidity | 81% |
| River | Ouachita: 18.34 ft |
| Air | Good 42 AQI |
New Streets, Same Downtown
For the next 4-6 weeks, the City of West Monroe is testing a temporary downtown street and parking configuration along Trenton, Commerce, and Wood streets to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety. Look for temporary planters, signs, and crosswalks.
No Bricks This Time
The LEGO Brick Convention previously scheduled at the Monroe Civic Center has been officially cancelled. Ticket refunds are being processed to the original payment methods.
Raw Fish, Coming Soon
Sushi Shima, an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, is opening soon in West Monroe in the former Cheddar's location on Blanchard Street.
Kiroli Is Booking Again
Pavilion, birthday party, and event reservations are once again being accepted through West Monroe Parks & Recreation.
Hold the Charcoal
Due to dry conditions across North Louisiana, public charcoal grills in West Monroe parks are temporarily closed.
Open Around the Clock
The new Whataburger in West Monroe on Thomas Road is officially open 24/7.
Morning Catfish and Unprompted Kindness at Kiroli
We were at Kiroli Park at 7 a.m. for a morning on the reopened pond, and the catfish were biting early. While working on a tangled line, a seasoned local angler fishing nearby stepped in to help fix our pole. He was a true fisherman, having landed around ten that morning alone. While helping him with a catch, a conversation sparked, and to our surprise, he insisted on gifting us his entire morning haul right on the spot.
A few days later, we were back at 7 a.m. with family. Seeing the park so early was special. While packing up after helping another elderly angler untangle his gear, he generously handed over both of the catfish he had landed that morning. We tried saying no, but he insisted on sharing both.
We stopped by a neighbor's house after, enjoyed laughing through local stories, and shared a catfish with them. It’s those quiet, generous moments that make mornings out here so good.
Grace Place Food Pantry
Ongoing community pantry and food distribution operating at 1600 Jackson Street in Monroe.
Senior Pantry Donations
The Ouachita Council on Aging (OCA) is collecting non-perishable food (rice, beans, pasta, canned goods) for local seniors at 2407 Ferrand St in Monroe.
Local Hiring
MANILA Filipino Modern Dining (401 Bres Ave, Monroe) is holding open interviews Wednesday at 4:30 PM and Friday at 2:30 PM.
"Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau's reminder fits quiet mornings on the water like a glove. Sometimes it is just the sunrise on the pond, sharing a laugh, or untangling a line that makes the trip.
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