SPONSORED BY

www.VisitLakeCharles.org/SATWFLC

Mardi GrasMardi GrasSATW FREELANCE COUNCIL MEETING

FEBRUARY 6-10, 2016 • LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

CON FE RE NCE PROG R AM

Photography by: LindseyJanies.com and MonsoursPhotography.net

CORE MEETING ITINERARY AND TOURS

SATURDAY, FEB. 6

EARLY BIRD TOUR: HISTORIC WONDERSFebruary 6 at 3:45 p.m. at the Hotel Front DeskActivity Level: Relaxed.

If your travel itinerary has you arriving by 2:30 p.m. and you are not scheduled for the Lake Charles Mardi Gras Fanatics pre-tour, you may choose to participate in the Early Bird Tour called Historic Wonders. Experience the art,

culture, and history of Southwest Louisiana

by stepping back in time on a guided tour of the

Charpentier Historic District, one of the finest collections of Victorian architecture in the state, dating from the late 1800s. The tour will visit the beautiful 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center to view local and traveling exhibits.

6:30-10 p.m.Mardi Gras Opening Reception at the Golden Nugget's Post Oak Room on the 2nd floor featuring a Cajun feast and the high-energy Cajun band, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars!Due to another event that evening, please wear your name tag and Golden Nugget lanyard. You may go up the stairs or elevator near the front desk that is marked "meeting rooms"to the 2nd f loor.

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

7-9:30 a.m.Press Room is open in the Golden Nugget board room.

7:30-8:45 a.m.Breakfast and SATW Freelance Council Business Meeting in the Golden Nugget Willowick meeting room.

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

9 a.m.Excursions depart in buses from Golden Nugget.

CREOLE NATURE TRAIL ADVENTURE POINT EXCURSIONActivity Level: Easy Active.

This tour requires walking at an easy pace, riding on a parade float and standing for several hours.

Start your Creole Nature Trail All-American Road journey at the area’s latest attraction, Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point. The hands-on displays will immerse you in Southwest Louisiana’s culture, wildlife and culinary scene. The excursion will head to Sabine National Wildlife Refuge’s Wetland Walkway where you’ll be able to take the boardwalk over the saltwater marsh to spot migrating waterfowl before a Cajun lunch at Steamboat Bill’s.

PHOTOGRAPHER EXCURSIONAttire: Jeans, closed toe shoes and jacket.Activity Level: Easy Active.

This tour requires walking at an easy pace, riding on a parade float and standing for several hours.

Photographers will head south to gain access to 50,000 acres of privately managed wetlands, rookeries and miles of agricultural field roads and levees, and private marshes at Grosse Savanne Eco-tours. You’ll be able to photograph geese, waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes from the levee, along with the tranquil beauty of the marshes. After departing Grosse Savanne Eco-tours, photographers will be able to continue south along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, home to more than 400 bird species, to view the Gulf of Mexico beaches where they’ll have a picnic lunch.

For full tour details, go to www.visitlakecharles.org/satwflc.

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

2 p.m.SATW members ride on a parade float in the Children’s Parade from downtown to midtown Lake Charles.

Put your bead tossing skills to the test and ride upon a parade float. The Children’s Day Parade is Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana’s longest parade with over 100 floats and is a family-friendly crowd pleaser.

Participants could be standing for several hours.

5:45 p.m.Depart Children’s Parade for dinner at 1910 Restaurant and Wine Bar, a new establishment in downtown Lake Charles serving Cajun and Creole dishes infused with a French backbone, and hear from a guest speaker on the history of Mardi Gras in Lake Charles.

MONDAY, FEB. 8

6:45 – 7:35 a.m. Chair Yoga Class (Post Oak Room) for all willing to get up early for a gentle stretch and assisted yoga poses using a chair. The 45-minute class will be followed by a 10-minute meditation. The class will be led by Chelsea Boudreaux of the Yoga Center of Lake Charles.

7-11:30 a.m.Press Room is open in the Golden Nugget board room.

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.SATW Professional Development Breakfast in the Golden Nugget Willowick meeting room, followed by three professional development sessions.

8:30-9:15 a.m. Self-Publishing Panel with Cheré Coen and Tommie Townsley to discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing vs. more traditional publishing and tips for deciding which route to take.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Smartphone Photography Panel – Lindsey Janies and Doug Stremel will offer tips for shooting with an iPhone, and Doug will also offer tips for Android smartphone photography.

10:45 a.m. – Noon Editors Panel with Carolyn Graham, AAA Alabama Journey; Kristy Armand, editor of the local lifestyle magazine, Thrive and Jody Schmal, travel and food editor of the Houston Chronicle.

All sessions will include at least a 10-min. Q&A.

12:15 p.m.SATW boards buses for lunch and afternoon tours.

MONDAY, FEB. 8

MARDI GRAS MAMBOActivity Level: Easy Active.12:30-4:30 p.m.This tour involves Zydeco dancing.

After lunch at Pujo Street Café, tour the Mardi Gras Museum, which boasts the world’s largest display of Mardi Gras costumes. Then, participate in a local tradition with Zydeco dance lessons and a King Cake decorating demonstrationand tasting.

CAJUN CULINARY CREATIONS Activity Level: Relaxed.12:30-4:15 p.m.Taste the local cuisine at a down-home Creole family restaurant and explore a behind-the-scenes tour of the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail to see how cracklins are made. Also, tour Bayou Rum distillery for a Louisiana hand-crafted rum tasting while getting a chance to hold baby alligators from Gator Chateau and the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission.

4:30 p.m. Tours arrive at host hotel for downtime.

5:45 p.m.SATW meets bus to depart for the Royal Gala at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

6:15 p.m.SATW arrives at the Royal Gala for a behind the scenes photography opportunity. Experience the Cinderella moment of the Mardi Gras season as the royal courts of more than 60 krewes parade in the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum in their royal attire. Nowhere else in the state can the general public see all the Mardi Gras royalty in full costume.

6:50 p.m.SATW meets tour leaders to be led to their reserved tables.

7 p.m.Royal Gala begins. Dinner and drinks will be provided.

8:30 p.m.First bus run back to the Golden Nugget.

10 p.m.Last bus run back to the Golden Nugget.

For full tour details, go to www.visitlakecharles.org/satwflc.

FAT TUESDAY, FEB. 9 – MARDI GRAS DAY

7 a.m.-11:30 a.m.Press Room open in the Golden Nugget board room, and it will close permanently at 11:30 a.m. on Mardi Gras Day.

8-9 a.m.SATW Mardi Gras Day Breakfast in the GoldenNugget Buffet. *Bring Voucher

9 a.m.Iowa Chicken Run participants meet on the bus.

IOWA CHICKEN RUNActivity Level: Moderate.9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Includes walking along the parade route and climbing in and out of the flatbed trailer/float. Participants could be standing for several hours. Not handicap accessible.

Experience a rural Mardi Gras in Iowa, La. reminiscent of the earlier Mardi Gras celebrations held in Cajun Country. On Fat Tuesday, join the Courir de Mardi Gras, an authentic Cajun Mardi Gras Chicken Run. You’ll join the parade on the back of a hay covered trailer among other trailers, ATVs and horses as they follow the Captain through the community-oriented neighborhood calling on neighbors, relatives and friends for ingredients to make the neighborhood gumbo.

When the Captain blows his whistle, participants dance to the beat of a Zydeco band in exchange for chicken, rice, sausage or onions. If the families approve the dancing skills, they donate ingredients, and a chicken is thrown into the air. Children run to chase the chicken and Mardi Gras merriment ensues! (Chickens are not harmed in this tradition.)

FAT TUESDAY,

FAT TUESDAY, FEB. 9 – MARDI GRAS DAY

RESORT GETAWAYActivity Level: Relaxed.9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Whether it’s a relaxing day at the spa, a round of golf at the Golden Nugget’s 15-acre golf course or a bit of retail therapy at the resort’s eight boutiques and upscale shops, the Golden Nugget Lake Charles offers a variety of amenities to suit everyone’s desire.

3:30 p.m.SATW departs Golden Nugget on the bus for the CVB Fête du Mardi Gras and Closing Reception at Southern Spice.

4 p.m.SATW enjoys freshly prepared Cajun food, king cake and beverages. Feel free to cut a rug on the dance floor as you wait for the arrival of the culmination of Mardi Gras, the Krewe of Krewes’ Parade. Listen to Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush!

5 p.m.SATW views the Krewe of Krewes’ Parade from the best spot in town! Be prepared to yell “Throw Me Something Mister,” as more than 75 floats make their way down Ryan Street.

7:30 p.m.SATW departs for host hotel.

8 p.m.SATW arrives at host hotel.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10

Departures and post fams.

For full tour details and instructions on scheduling, go towww.visitlakecharles.org/satwflc.

Photography by: LindseyJanies.com and MonsoursPhotography.net