A perfect weekend downtown

Two years ago, Downtown Baton Rouge felt like unfamiliar territory despite living in Baton Rouge my entire life. I was completely unaware of all it truly had to offer. Now, after nearly two years of working here full-time, my perspective has completely transformed. I have now learned to appreciate this city and especially, our downtown.

Downtown has revealed an entirely different world of Baton Rouge that is vibrant, community-driven and full of hidden gems. There is always something to experience. Despite working here during the week, I decided to spend some to explore downtown out of work and treat myself to some entertaining events happening throughout the weekend.

Halloween night at Chelsea’s Live

The weekend began on a lively note at Chelsea’s Live for a Halloween party with some friends. Chelsea’s Live has quickly become one of my favorite event venues because it perfectly captures the vibrancy of downtown. The space has a distinct flare with plenty of space to dance, which is very appreciated in your twenties.

By the time the party ended downtown was alive with activity. Brickyard South and The 13th Gate were both overflowing with people filling the streets with a contagious sense of excitement as the night continued. That’s one of the things I’ve come to love most about downtown. It transforms with each event, drawing people together and creating a sense of shared experience. We even considered making a late-night stop next door at Pastime Restaurant, a longtime downtown favorite and our usual post-LSU game tradition, but decided to save that for another evening. Overall, it was great to see downtown come to life on Halloween night!

A leisurely Saturday at the Louisiana Book Festival

I woke up the next morning excited to start another venture downtown to the annual Louisiana Book Festival, one of the state’s signature literary events held annually on the Capitol grounds. The festival has been a downtown staple for years, attracting thousands of visitors, authors and book lovers from across Louisiana. The weather was absolutely perfect making the entire experience even more enjoyable. I decided to invite some friends who are really enjoy reading but yet had never known about the festival.

It was wonderful to see so many people out and about. There appeared to be hundreds of people there with dozens of tents lining the Capitol and State Library grounds, filled with authors signing books, panel discussions and many different vendors. What I enjoy the most about this event is it was completely free to attend and family-friendly, like many other downtown events, offering accessibility for everyone to spend a beautiful day downtown!

“Capping” off the weekend at the Cap City Beer Fest

To round out the weekend, Sunday was reserved for the Cap City Beer Fest, an event that I have been waiting for all year! The festival brought together an array of craft breweries, local food vendors and lots of pups all in support of the Companion Animal Alliance (CAA).

What makes the Cap City Beer Fest special is you really just get to try different brews, eat good food and enjoy the views of downtown. There is really nothing better than that! It is an event that has been a tradition for years that continues to attract locals offering the perfect opportunity to meet new people and try new flavors. With great company, delicious flavors and an unbeatable setting, it served as the perfect finale to an entertaining weekend downtown.

In conclusion..

If there is one thing I’ve learned from this weekend, it is that downtown has so much to offer with a lively atmosphere that is one-of-a-kind. Whether you are new to Baton Rouge or have lived here your entire life, I encourage you to take the time to attend an event downtown, explore downtown, or just learn about downtown.

Here is how to plan your visit:

Keep an eye out for downtown news and events through the DDD newsletter, website and social media.

• DDD Newsletter: scroll to the bottom of the website to sign up.
• DDD socials: @downtownbatonrouge
• Calendar of events, here.

Plan your visit in advance by checking available parking options and plan your route.

• Street parking is FREE after 6 p.m. weekdays and on weekends and holidays.
• Private lots, surface lots and garages are available as well.
• See if/which roads will be closed depending on the event location.
• See a full list of parking here.

Just give it a try and enjoy it!

• Once you experience downtown for yourself, you will understand why so many of us love our downtown and it is truly for all!

Written by Schuyler Olson, Design and Marketing Coordinator, Downtown Development District