GOOD TIMES ROLL
Good afternoon, Monroe! Fall lands on the calendar this week, and it's bringing a planet show, a full dance card downtown, and a river that's a little lighter than it was on Saturday.
In today's Meet Monroe:
- 71 bags out of the water, thanks to nearly 100 neighbors
- International Observe the Moon Night, plus Saturn at its closest
- A new chapter for the library on Oliver Road
- Wine Walk, River Beats, and a comedy show at Enoch's
Let's get right into it.
The water went still, the cypress started turning, and the walk took twice as long as we planned. Worth it.
Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards race down the Ouachita River, roughly 200 of them, in a 7.7-mile timed course or a 2.9-mile Mini Mouse Paddle. Both routes finish at Lazarre Park, where the after party is free to everyone, and proceeds go to the Kiroli Foundation and the Academy of Collaborative Education. Saturday, September 19, River Rat starting at 9 AM and the Mini-Mouse at 10 AM. Registration starts at $40.
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Fall Brown Bag
Kirby Rambin performs live at the Pavilion at Seventh Square. Door prizes given away. Free.
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Steve Cagle & Mike Weathersby at Clawdaddy's
Steve Cagle and Mike Weathersby play live music at Clawdaddy's Crawfish And Oyster Bar.
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Ouachita River Blues Society Open Jam at Enoch's
Food, drinks, and live music with ORBS at Enoch's Irish Pub and Cafe.
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The Rocky Branch Davidians
The Rocky Branch Davidians performing live at Enoch's Irish Pub & Cafe.
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River Beats & Food Truck Eats
Jeremiah Richey plays live music with food trucks on-site at Alley Park while River Rat paddlers pick up their race packets. 5-7 PM. Free.
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Dream Team at El Paso
Dream Team plays live music with good food at El Paso Mexican Grill.
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Star Bar Live Music: Clay Labeff
Clay Labeff performs live music at Star Bar.
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Cal Presley Band at Enoch's
Cal Presley plays live music with food and drinks at Enoch's Irish Pub. 9 PM.
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Old Union at El Paso
Old Union plays live music at El Paso Mexican Grill.
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Flying Heart Live: Hidden Tracks
Hidden Tracks plays live in the Beer Garden at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub.
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Hold My Stout Comedy
Comedy show with food and drinks. Doors open at 5pm at Enoch's Irish Pub and Cafe.
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ULM Jazz Ensemble
Dr. Eric Siereveld directs the ULM Jazz Ensemble in a Fall concert at Brown Auditorium.
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Wine Walk
Shopping and sipping at Antique Alley, West Monroe. They'll serve complimentary wine to anyone 21 and older. 5-8 PM.
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Constitution Day at ULM
War powers panel discussion with faculty, a Daughters of the American Revolution representative, and a Mock Trial Preview Day in the ULM Terrace. Free.
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I-20 Career & Opportunity Expo 2026
Employers, educational institutions, and career resources gathered at the West Monroe Convention Center. Free.
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Pub Run
Fleet Feet Monroe hosts a pub run to run, walk, hang out, and enjoy the night with your running community at Flying Heart.
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Downtown Demonstration Public Update Meetings
Feedback sharing and the latest updates for Downtown West Monroe. Food truck on site at Alley Park.
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BIG SHOT & BLUE TICK
Big Shot & Blue Tick perform live following the ULM game, and LSU vs Ole Miss will be on all TVs at The Yard.
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Market on the Square
Market on the Square at the Farmer's Market at Seventh Square.
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Community Breakfast: Retail Strategies
Community breakfast featuring the team from Retail Strategies talking about turning community potential into business investment. Registration required. West Monroe Convention Center. Free.
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ULM SOCCER NELSA NIGHT
ULM Women's Soccer plays Old Dominion with a reserved tailgate area, a half-time appreciation photo on the field, and a full-time autograph session at Brown Stadium. Free.
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ULM vs. SE Alumni Tailgate
Food, drinks, games, and prizes with alumni and Warhawk fans at Pecan Grove. Free for Alumni Association Members and kids 12 and under, $10 guest fee.
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ULM Football vs Southeastern
Fans wear white for University of Louisiana Monroe football vs Southeastern at FMOL Health | St. Francis Stadium, 3:30pm - 6:30pm CDT.
Ouachita Live, Season Finale: Joe Krown Trio plus Papa Mali close the season at Alley Park on Friday, September 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. New Orleans grooves, food trucks and spirits on site, free to attend. Bring a chair, and cash for the donation jar.
Monroe Symphony League Fall Book Fair: October 3 through 10, with a $2 entry fee per day.
Art Crawl & Downtown After Dark: Galleries in both downtowns open Thursday, October 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. Meet local artists, food trucks and spirits on site, free and open to all.
Fall Market On The Alley: Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alley Park. Local artisans, makers and tasty treats with live music. Free!
Holiday Open House & Champagne Stroll: Downtown shops kick off the holiday season Sunday, November 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. with refreshments and specials.
Save the Date: The 11th Annual Dragon Boat Festival paddles back in on April 10, 2027.
| Sunrise | 6:52 AM |
| Sunset | 7:14 PM |
| Moon | Waxing Crescent |
| Temp | 93°F / 33.8°C |
| Sky | Mainly clear |
| Humidity | 58% |
| River | 18.33 ft, flood stage 40 ft |
| Air | Good 41 AQI |
A New Chapter on Oliver Road: Something new is taking shape at the Ouachita Parish Public Library Main Branch under a campaign called Think Outside The Book. New spaces, new technology, and more ways for the community to learn, create, and connect are on the way at 1000 Oliver Rd. Ribbon cutting details are coming soon.
Vintage Christmas, in September: Kringles On The Alley just unpacked a load of vintage Coca-Cola Christmas collectibles, including a few rare pieces that don't turn up often. Worth a stop at 210 Trenton Street in West Monroe if you collect, or if you know somebody who does.
Crews on the Move in West Monroe: The city's engineering and construction list is filling up with Stella Street sewer rehabilitation, Kiroli Road sidewalks and pedestrian improvements, and Crosley Street rehabilitation. Questions go to Andrea Pate at 318-396-2600, and the meetings stream on the City of West Monroe YouTube channel.
Tacos for a Dollar Fifty: El Paso Mexican Grill runs happy hour every day from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays bring $1.50 tacos, Wednesdays $11.99 fajitas, and Thursdays happy hour all day. Live music lands Friday and Saturday. 3211 Sterlington Rd.
Hi loved ones. Be careful with whatever virus is going around, and keep yourselves strong and vibrant.
Friday took us to ULM for the free Air Force band concert. The piece we loved most was "Laisse les bons moments rouler," or "Let the Good Times Roll." Blues, jazz and drums, and the perfect combination of the night. We were glad to see not only adults but young kids and little ones out there. One officer, a real patriot, sang three songs, and his voice was beautiful. They didn't hand out a program, so every song was a small surprise.
One of the last messages of the night stayed with us: protect each other, because in moments of hardship is where the best of people shines by coming together. They gave special thanks to the first responders of 9/11. It was a deeply emotional, patriotic concert.
Saturday we couldn't make the Kiroli Community Celebration, so we walked the Levee with Luni and Susie instead. It was Luni's first long walk, and we had a good long sharing.
Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, and we want your help: which plate in town do we absolutely have to try before it ends?
71 Bags, One River: Nearly 100 volunteers turned out for Water Sweep 2026 and pulled 71 bags of trash out of local waterways and the land around them. Texas Roadhouse West Monroe handed certificates to everyone who showed up, and Cynthia Talbert and Scott Stamper each took home a $50 gift card to Restaurant Cotton.
Six Cinnamon Rolls, No Strings: Caster and Chicory is giving away six cream cheese cinnamon rolls. Comment on their Facebook post by 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, to be in the running. 405 Natchitoches St.
Dolly in Ouachita: The Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana shared photos from Kiroli Park Day 2026, along with a look at what they do all year: the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ouachita and a new activity booklet for families.
Let the Good Times Roll. Shirley and Lee recorded it in New Orleans in 1956. It's the piece we loved most at Friday's concert at ULM, and it sounds just as good on a porch two days later.
📊 Quick Poll
Which one are you doing this weekend?
(Reply to this email with your pick. I read every one.)
| 🍷 Wine Walk | 🛶 River Rat Paddle | 🏈 ULM Football |
| 🎶 River Beats | 🍽️ Restaurant Week | 🎙️ Comedy at Enoch's |
THANKS!
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See you out there.
P.S. Saturday is the night to look up at the Moon. Monday, Saturn puts on its best show of the year.
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