City’s free Independence Day celebration begins at 4 p.m. today

The 32nd Red, White, Blue & You Fourth of July celebration is happening this Thursday.

Hosted by the City of Lake Charles, this event is an opportunity for Southwest Louisiana residents to celebrate their country in a fun, patriotic way.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said that events like Red, White, Blue & You are vital to unite people.

“In a day and age that can seem so divisive at times, it is important that we never lose sight of the fact that we are blessed to live in the greatest nation,” he said. “Our many freedoms have been secured by the bravery of so many men and women and we continue to enjoy them today as a result of selfless service.”

He expressed that Lake Charles is “one of the most patriotic cities in this country.”

“I am proud to call this City, which honors America, its veterans and its active-duty military, so faithfully every day, but especially for the July 4th Holiday.”

At 4 p.m., games provided by Game2Life will be available to play.

The Lake Charles Community Band will kick off the musical performances in the Arcade Amphitheater at 5:30 p.m.

This year, The Flamethrowers will be headlining Red, White, Blue & You. They’ll take the stage at 7 p.m.

The Fireworks over the Lake start at 9:15 p.m. The colorful show will be choreographed to music. Viewers can listen along by tuning into KBYS 88.3 FM.

For those who want to get closer to the action, Kayaks will be available for rent from Lake Area Adventures on North Beach.