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📅 Baton Rouge: Week at a Glance | May 18–25

📅 Baton Rouge: Week at a Glance | May 18–25

Why it matters: The Soul Food Festival anchors a packed Memorial Day weekend, Live After Five closes out its spring run on Friday and the Chuck Wagon Gang brings 90 years of gospel history to the Old Governor's Mansion midweek.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20

🎵 Music at the Mansion: Chuck Wagon Gang—5:30 p.m. 📍 Old Governor's Mansion, 502 North Blvd.

  • One of America's most beloved gospel and country groups marks its 90th anniversary with a live performance at the Mansion. Formed in 1936 and connected to both the Carter family and Governor Jimmie Davis—who wrote "You Are My Sunshine"—the Chuck Wagon Gang helped define the sound of Southern gospel. OGM Curator Joseph Ricci offers a special tour of mansion artifacts tied to Davis before the concert. Free. Reception follows. Free parking.

🗓️ Thursday, May 21

🌱 Red Stick Farmers Market: Memorial Day Cookout—8 a.m.–noon 📍 Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road (enter via Irene Drive off Kenilworth Pkwy)

  • BREADA and market vendors fire up the grills for a special Memorial Day celebration—locally raised meats, fresh tacos, homemade sides and free samples from across the market. A good reason to do your holiday weekend shopping local. Free and family-friendly.

🏛️ Cross Section: A Multidisciplinary Storytelling Event—6–8 p.m. 📍 River Center Branch Library, downtown

  • AIA Baton Rouge and ASLA Louisiana present four speakers sharing personal and professional stories across disciplines: Buddy Ragland (retired principal, Coleman Partners Architects), Josh Howard (founder, Baton Rouge Youth Coalition), Dr. Mette Gaarde (LSU Boyd Professor and quantum physicist) and Wes Kennison (founder and creative director, Version 47). Proceeds benefit education funds for both organizations. Tickets at Eventbrite.

🍽️ Soul Food Festival Pre-Party—7–11:30 p.m. 📍 Henry Turner Jr.'s Listening Room, 2733 North St.

  • A sneak peek at the weekend's talent—Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, Ervin "Maestro" Foster, King Solomon, Lisa Harris and her Tina Turner Tribute and more. Soul food buffet included. $25 advance; $30 at the door.

🗓️ Friday, May 22

🎵 Live After Five: Rouge Krewe—5–8 p.m. 📍 North Boulevard Town Square, downtown

  • The spring season finale. Rouge Krewe closes out six weeks of free Friday night concerts with high-energy favorites and dance hits. Bring a lawn chair. Free. Full lineup at the Downtown Business Association.

🗓️ Sat.–Sun., May 23–24

🍽️ 9th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival—11 a.m.–8 p.m. 📍 Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

  • Two full days of blues, soul, R&B, gospel and Christian music alongside a judged Soul Food Cooking Contest and the new Mustard Greens and Cornbread Eating Competition. Performers include Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, Adam Gabriel and the Shadow Road Band, Lisa Harris and her Tina Turner Tribute, gospel singer Xavie Shorts and more. Vendor Village on site. Free and family-friendly.

🗓️ Saturday, May 23

🪖 Memorial Day Garden of Flags—8:30 a.m. 📍 Louisiana State Capitol grounds

  • Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana plants flags in honor of fallen service members as Gold Star Families speak their loved ones' names aloud. Free and open to the public.

🗓️ Monday, May 25

🎵 Baton Rouge Concert Band Memorial Day Concert—7 p.m. 📍 Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

  • The all-volunteer ensemble's annual free concert honors the men and women of the armed forces. No tickets required.

🏖️ Beach Report: Memorial Day Weekend

Heading to the coast? Here's what's happening along the Gulf.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

🎵 LuLuPalooza Summer Kick Off—Fri.–Sun., May 22–24 📍 LuLu's Gulf Shores, 200 E. 25th Ave.

  • Jimmy Buffett's sister Lucy Buffett's signature beach bash—back-to-back live music on the Crazy Sista Boat Stage all weekend. Waterfront and family-friendly.

🎵 The Wharf Amphitheater: Memorial Day Weekend Concerts 📍 The Wharf, Orange Beach

  • Three nights of headliners as part of the C Spire Concert Series: HARDY with Tucker Wetmore + McCoy Moore (Saturday, May 23, 7 p.m.), Godsmack with Dorothy (Sunday, May 24, 7 p.m.) and Dave Matthews Band (Monday, May 25, 7:30 p.m.). Tickets required.

🎉 Downtown OWA Summer Kickoff—Fri.–Sun., May 22–24 📍 Downtown OWA, 205 N. OWA Blvd., Foley, AL

  • Live music, free family activities and Saturday night fireworks kicking off beach season. Free admission.

Destin & 30-A

🎵 HarborWalk Village Memorial Day Weekend 📍 34 Harbor Blvd., Destin

  • Live music on the Main Stage all weekend. Sunday highlights: ceremony at 5:30 p.m., vintage air show, live concert and fireworks at 9 p.m. Monday: live music plus silent disco, fireworks at 9 p.m. Parking $20/day.

🎉 Baytowne Wharf Memorial Day Celebration—Sat.–Sun., May 23–24 📍 Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin

  • Live music, family activities and fireworks over the lagoon Sunday night. Free to enter.

🎵 The Red Bar—all weekend 📍 Grayton Beach

  • The iconic 30-A institution delivers live jazz in an atmosphere unlike anything else on the coast. No cover. No reservations. Just show up.

Reach us: Want to submit an event item for consideration? Email us the information at news@redeyebr.com. Details: The calendar is on a Monday–Sunday rotation, and the submission deadline is the Wednesday prior.

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