by Jeanni Ritchie
The weather is colder, the holidays are over, but there are still plenty of events in Central Louisiana this January.
The Alexandria Museum of Art has free admission on the second Saturday of each month. Check out the Realism exhibit by Albino Hinojosa, Perspective: The Art of Joe Ray, and Enduring Concepts.
River Oaks Square Arts Center is still displaying their 9th annual 5x5x5 show.
The Arts Council of Central Louisiana puts out a weekly newsletter of all arts events in the area. For theatre, music, art, and more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at louisiana-arts.org.
While many benefits and outdoor events take a winter hiatus, grief knows no such breaks. Grief support groups will continue to be held throughout January, their resources invaluable for the grieving. I have been amazed at the work of Bereaved Parents of Cenla, CenLa Healthy Start, Calvary Baptist Church and Trinity Baptist Church’s GriefShare programs, While We’re Waiting support group, and Let Love Be My Motive’s Thrive Unburdened grief group.
Here are a few events happening in the community in January:
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Sunday Crew Cookout, AMVETS Post 7, 3409 England Drive, Alexandria. Traditional NYD meal- pork, cabbage, peas…bring a dish to go with it! Open to the public, 11 AM-7 PM.
Jan. 1: Let Love Be My Motive Grief Support Group, 1122 7th Ave. Glenmora, 6:30 PM. Also meets Jan. 15 and 29.
Jan. 2: Super Bingo 2025 Kickoff, VFW 3106 Canteen, 205 E. Harriet Street, Leesville, 2 PM.
Jan. 5: Epiphany Service, St. Frances Cabrini Church, 6:15 PM, Burning of the Greens, Official Blessing of the King Cakes.
Jan. 8: GriefShare, Trinity Baptist Church, 3905 Trinity Church Road, Pineville. 6 PM.
Jan. 10: CenLa Healthy Start Maternal Bereavement Support Group, Google Meet 10-11 AM. For more info call Nikki at 318-787-1452.
Jan. 10-12: January’s 18th Century Trek, 18th Century Louisiana Reenactors. Begins 1/10 at 9 AM at Wild Azalea Trail, 352 Castor Plunge Rd, Woodworth until noon on 1/12. Is anybody else getting Sweet Home Alabama vibes?!
Jan. 11: Caregiver Café by Broom Tree, Calvary Baptist Church, 5011 Jackson Street, Alexandria, 11 AM-2 PM. For families of children with disabilities.
Jan. 11: Entertainment Center Soft Opening (former Expo Hall next to the Coliseum) 5600 Coliseum Blvd, 6 PM. Newly renovated space. Performances by Rearranged (Little River Band Tribute), Knuckle Sammich, and The Cartoons! Tickets are $10 or $5 with 2 nonperishable food items. Food items will be donated to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. Tickets are available the Coliseum Box Office or at the door on the day of the show.
Jan. 12: Ignite the Mic “Pen Pals Open Mic Night” Hearn Stage, 1104 3rd St, Alexandria. 6:30 PM. Poets, singers, musicians, and more…sign up today! Contact 318-769-9903 to participate.
Jan. 13: LA Association of Sugar Artists Meeting, Atwood’s Bakery, 1125 MacArthur Drive, Alexandria. 10 AM, demo follows meeting.
Jan. 16: Paint with Your Kids, A&R Special Occasions, 1785 Elliot St. 5 PM. Painting, cocoa, snacks. (A&R also has rental space for small gatherings and birthday parties.) Contact 318-277-0536 for more info.
Jan. 17: Paddington in Peru opens at the Grand Theater.
Jan. 17: Back to School Game Night, LCU, 1140 College Drive, Granberry, 7 PM. Hosted by LCU UB.
Jan. 18: Live Entertainment Show at The Entertainment Center, 5600 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria. 7:30 PM. Check out the show featuring The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, and The Platters. Three Rock & Roll Hall of Fame acts – One Great Show!
Tickets available now at the Coliseum Box Office.
Jan. 23: DAV (Disabled American Veterans) monthly meeting, 6-7 PM. Join the DAV Louisiana Paul P. Benoit Memorial Chapter #7 for their monthly meeting at 2450 Hwy 28 E, Pineville. Contact the chapter at paulp.benoitmemorialchapter7@
Jan. 24: While We’re Waiting biblically-based grief support group for parents, The Book Nook, 6025 Monroe Hwy, Ball. 6-8 PM.
Jan. 25: Winter Art and Music Prayer Retreat, First United Methodist Church, 2727 Jackson Street, Alexandria, 9 AM- 4 PM.
Jan. 25: Choir Sing-Off, Bright Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 521 Baptist Street, Pineville, 2-6 PM. To register your choir for the competition email bmsmbaptist521@gmail.com. Public welcome to attend the sing-off!
Jan. 30: Pickleball Tournament, LCU Recreation, Walden Gym, 7 PM.
Jan. 30: Stay At Home Movie Night: Speaking of Sweet Home Alabama, Reese Witherspoon stars in the new Amazon Prime comedy You’re Cordially Invited. Order a pizza, get in your warmest pjs, and enjoy the newest offering from the rom-com queen.
Jan. 31: Dog Man, the popular Dav Pilkey book series for children, comes to the big screen. This was my #1 offering for parents of reluctant readers during my librarian days. I’m looking forward to the movie!
While that wraps January up, I have a couple of early February events you might want to get tickets for NOW!
Feb. 1: Monster Truck Winter Nationals, Rapides Parish Coliseum, 7:30 PM.
Feb. 5: Harlem Globetrotters 2025, Rapides Parish Coliseum, 7 PM. My dad brought us to see the Globetrotters at this very same coliseum as kids. I was at a Globetrotter event in Biloxi, MS in 2020 when word came out that the NBA had canceled all games for the rest of the season. For over a year I wondered if the game would be the last public event I ever saw! Thankfully it wasn’t. If you’ve never seen the Globetrotters in action, you have to go at least once in life!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
