March 23: Strongest Youth Competition at Perez Field. Register on site at 9 a.m. Contest begins at 10 a.m. Free and open to the public. Age categories: 8-9; 10-11; 12-14; and 15 and up. Events include log toss, tire flip, sled pull and more. Call (337) 531-6004 for more info.
March 23: Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators Cook-off, noon-4 p.m. Festival Plaza, Shreveport. Gumbo like you've never tasted.
March 23: 6-9 p.m. Zoo brew and wine, too. Alexandria Zoo. Guests 21 and over can sip on Louisiana craft brews and wine, rock out to live music, play games, and get up-close with some of the zoo's animal ambassadors. Tasty food truck fare available for purchase.
March 25-27: Intramural Sports 7 by 7 soccer tournament. 6-9 p.m. Soldiers Athletic complex. Open to all active-duty, Family members, retirees, Department of the Army civilians 18 and up. Register at Eventbrite.com. For more info call (337) 531-2056.
March 28: 10 a.m. Pinning ceremony for National Vietnam War Veterans Day, Main Post Exchange. Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces at any time from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, can receive a lapel pin. For more information call (337) 531-1001.
March 28: Travel expo at the Main Post Exchange. For more information call (337) 531-2728.
March 29: Spring open at Warrior Hills Golf Course. 11:30 a.m. shotgun start. $45 for non-members, $35 for members. Prepay by March 28 and save $5. Price includes greens fee, cart, range balls, prizes and lunch. Call (337) 531-1982.
March 29: 80s Right Army Night, the Warrior Center, 4:30 p.m. "Let's Make a Deal." Food, fun and prizes.
March 30: Army Ten-Miler qualifier #2, 6:30 a.m. Marion Bonner Trail. Open to active-duty, family members, retirees and DoD civilians 18 and up. Register online at Eventbrite.com. Call (337) 531-2056 for more information.
March 30: Live at the Rapides Coliseum -- Jeff Dunham's Passively Aggressive Tour. Get tickets at the coliseum box office or at Ticket Master.
April 2: Ultimate Frisbee competition hosted by Intramural Sports, 6 p.m. Soldiers Athletic Complex. Max 20 per team. Each team member must register individually at Eventbrite.com. Open to all active-duty, Family members, retirees, Department of the Army civilians 18 and up. Call (337) 531-2056 for more information.
April 3: Toastmasters International meets from noon to 1 p.m. at Fort Polk's Education Center, bldg. 660, room 208 at 7460 Colorado Ave. For more information call (337) 208-8557.
April 5: Wine and tapas at Warrior Center, 6-9 p.m. Sample wine, enjoy snacks while listening to jazz. Reservations required. Tickets available at Mulligans. $25 per person 21 and over. Call (337) 531-4440.
April 6: Herb Day at Kent Plantation House in Alexandria, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Arts and crafts festival and yard sale.
April 6: JRTC and Fort Polk Dye Hard Warrior Color 5K Fun Run. 9 a.m. Starts at Showboat Theatre. Register at www.eventbrite.com
April 6: The Acadiana Poboy Festival, Lafayette. Celebrates the legacy of the humble poboy sandwich. Historic downtown Lafayette. More than 25 vendors selling some of the best poboys Acadiana has to offer, plus refreshing beverages, unique arts and crafts, kids activities, and live entertainment.
April 6: Annual Tartan Festival, Minden, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission: $7 for adults, $3 ages 6-12, under 6 free. Dog show competition, children's area with story-telling and hayride, blacksmith, a 1-mile Celtic run, clan tents, genealogy, Scottish Highland beef burgers, and music, music, music.
April 6: Cork - A Red River Revel Wine Event, Shreveport, 2-5 p.m. Festival Plaza. Adults can taste more than 80 wines from around the world with great jazz entertainment and sample food from local restaurants. Call (318) 424-4000.
April 6-7: Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival. Melrose Plantation (near Natchitoches). Two days of arts and crafts at the historic Melrose Plantation! Tour the big house, the Africa House, and Louisiana's only national treasure, the Yucca House, featuring original Clementine Hunter murals.
April 6-7: Flea Fest, Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Semi-annual bargain and vintage-lovers festival has grown to be one of the largest events in the state! Unique flea market and shopping festival, which takes place over two days - and on four covered acres.
April 11-13: DeQuincy Railroad Festival (near Lake Charles). DeQuincy Railroad Museum. Festival-goers can take a step back in time at the 36th annual Louisiana Railroad Days Festival, celebrating the history of the railroad where in 1897.. Take a tour of the historic Railroad Museum built in 1923.
April 13: Operation Earth Friendly Catfish Cove Fishing Derby, Fort Polk. 6:30 a.m.-noon.
April 12-14: The Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival. Lake Charles Civic Center. Celebrate in downtown Lake Charles at one of the spiciest events in Southwest Louisiana! With crawfish season in full swing, vendors will be on site selling over 10,000 pounds of hot, boiled crawfish. Other featured events include live music, a queen's pageant, the Crawfish Scoot 3k & 5k, and a carnival at one of the largest indoor and outdoor festivals.
April 12-14: If you love strawberries: Pontchatoula Strawberry Festival. Largest free festival in Louisiana! Offers a weekend of carnival rides, continuous entertainment, games, delicious food and craft booths Ffreshest strawberries from local farmers prepared in a variety of ways. Antique collectible shops in this charming town know as America's Antique City.
April 12-14: CyPhaCon, Lake Charles Civic Center. Sci-fi and gaming culture convention. Lots of kids activities.
April 13: Party for the Planet, Alexandria Zoo, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Discover more about the environment, wildlife, and our natural resources with interactive booths, rock climbing wall, up-close animal encounters, live music, keeper chats and more.
April 13: Movie Night at Fort Polk's Warrior Field, 7:30 p.m. "Spiderman-Into the Spider-verse." Free.
April 13: Bossier City Battle of the Badges (boxing) 7-11 p.m. at Horseshoe Casino.
April 13-14: Baton Rouge Blues Festival. One of the oldest blues fest in America.
April 17: Toastmasters International meets from noon to 1 p.m. at Fort Polk's Education Center, bldg. 660, room 208 at 7460 Colorado Ave. For more information call (337) 208-8557.
April 21: Easter brunch at Warrior Center. Reservations required. $19.95 per person. Kids 6-12 $9.95. Kids 5 and under free. To reserve call (337) 531-4440
April 24-28: 34th annual Festival International de Louisiane, downtown Lafayette. Featuring six music stages, arts and crafts vendors, local food and other family-friendly activities. Learn more at www.festivalinternational.org
April 25: Hiring and education event for military community. 10 a.m., Warrior Fitness Center. Information about education and career opportunities for Soldiers, spouses, retirees, veterans and Department of the Army civilians For more information call (337) 531-1591.
April 25-May 5: Famous New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. 0-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome 400,000 visitors each year. The Louisiana Heritage Fair showcases unforgettable music on multiple stages, delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around the world demonstrating and selling their work.