Things to do in Monroe | June 11 – 17
This week: a garden grand opening where kids can get their hands in the dirt, a ribbon cutting for new paddling trails on the Ouachita, live music all weekend, and the World Cup kicks off with a watch party in town. Oh, and someone's winning free nachos for the rest of 2026 (details in Sports & Outdoors). Scroll on, Monroe.
Hands up for the new Family Garden on Hall Street
| Sunrise | 6:00 AM ↑ |
| Sunset | 8:15 PM ↓ |
| Moon | Waning Crescent |
| Temp | 84°F / 28.9°C |
| Sky | Partly cloudy |
| Humidity | 66% |
| River | Ouachita — 4.4 ft |
| Air | Good 36 AQI |
The Children's Coalition cut the ribbon on the Origin Bank Family Garden on Wednesday, and we were there. Kids got their hands in the dirt, planted in the raised beds, and went home with seed paper packets and veggies from the garden. The garden lives at 117 Hall Street. Keep an eye on their page for garden days.
Cheniere Lake Area 3 is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration for the new Ouachita Paddling Trails. You can try out different kayaks with free demos from Ouachita Paddle & Provisions, then join a guided paddle tour from the new launch. Free kayak rentals are available for the tour if you reserve in advance. It's a great way to explore the trails. See you on the water!
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Open Mic Night with Jordan Sheppard
Jordan Sheppard hosts open mic night at Enoch's Irish Pub. Bring your guitar, your poetry, or just your ears. Free to attend, and the food is worth the trip.
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DeFrance Live at Enoch's
DeFrance brings live music to Enoch's Irish Pub on Friday night. Free show, good drinks, solid way to kick off the weekend.
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Tammy Martin & Dave Hill @ Flying Tiger Brewery
Tammy Martin and Dave Hill play live at Flying Tiger Brewery starting at 6 PM. Grab a craft beer and settle in. Free.
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Hidden Tracks at El Paso!
Hidden Tracks brings 90s alt-rock classics and surprises to El Paso Mexican Grill at 6 PM. Free show.
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Matt Dean Live at Star Bar
Live music on the Star Bar rooftop from 8 to 10 PM. Handcrafted cocktails, good vibes, no cover.
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Bayou Bowl Trivia & TraXs!
Trivia night at Bayou Bowl starting at 5 PM. Unlimited bowling for $10 and themed bar specials.
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Mahjong on the Mezz
Weekly game night at The Hotel Monroe. Table service, snacks, and infused water included for $35.
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Landry's Vineyard & Winery Tour
Wine tastings start at 11 AM and guided tours begin at 2 PM at Landry Vineyards. $10 tasting fee or $25 for the full tour.
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Biedenharn Garden Cinema: Ella Enchanted
Family movie night in the Biedenharn gardens. Gates open at 8:20 PM, movie starts at 8:30 PM. Admission is $10.
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VAMN!
Art discussion group meeting at noon. Bring what you're working on, get feedback, share ideas. Free.
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Know Brainer STEAM Camp
Science and arts camp for 4th and 5th graders at ULM Museum of Natural History. Runs 8 AM to noon, Monday through Friday. $125 per camper, 24 spots available.
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Spring-Summer Beginner Gardening Class
Lesa James teaches a beginner gardening class at Henrietta Johnson Recreation Center, perfect for all ages. Free and a great way to learn about growing your own food.
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Krewe of Janus Texas Hold 'em Rebuy Tournament
The Krewe of Janus is dealing in for a Texas Hold 'em tournament at their float den. First place takes home over $1,000 with a full table. Free to walk in, with rebuys available.
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Market on the Square
West Monroe's outdoor market is back on the square. Local vendors, handmade goods, and fresh finds. Free to browse, hard to leave empty-handed.
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World Cup Watch Party: USA vs Paraguay
FieldHouse Bar & Grill is hosting a watch party with Twin Cities FC and NELSA. Kickoff at 7 PM, and if you wear a USA, NELSA, or Twin Cities jersey you get 10% off your ticket. Bonus: guess the total goals of this World Cup on their Facebook page and you could win free nachos every week for the rest of 2026.
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Basketball All-Star Game
Charity basketball game at St. Frederick's High School. Tickets are $5, kids under 12 get in free.
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Monroe Greenheads vs Arkansas Diamonds
The Monroe Greenheads take on the Arkansas Diamonds at Monroe Civic Center. First pitch at 7:05 PM. Free.
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Jalapeño Summer Series
Free motocross racing at West Monroe MX and Family Fun Park. Saturdays are practice, Sundays are race days.
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Junior Warhawk Skills Camp
Free baseball clinic for ages 6-13 from 9 AM to noon. Head coach Ford Pemberton and the Warhawk staff run the drills.
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Lil' Hawks Summer Softball Camp
ULM's softball squad hosts a summer camp for kids ages 5-12. Runs from 9 AM to 3 PM with lunch included. Coach Fichtner and the Warhawk players lead the drills.
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Bryant Vincent Football Camp
Football camp at Malone Stadium from 5 to 8 PM, led by ULM's coaching staff. For rising 9th through 12th graders. $55 pre-register, $65 walk-up.
For your eyes only, Sonqollay. It means "thank you with all my heart" in Quechua.
Monroe is now home to the first fully certified gluten-free hotel in the United States. Hotel Monroe earned the designation from the National Celiac Association: every kitchen, every menu, zero gluten on site. People with celiac disease can finally eat without fear on vacation.
"You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting." Mary Oliver's Wild Geese. Permission to just be.
See you out there, Monroe.
— Meet Monroe Team
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