September is here, and Alexandria Pineville is ready for it.
The first hints of fall bring a full calendar of things to do, from family traditions and outdoor adventures to local food, craft beer, bourbon, pickleball and plenty of reasons to spend a little more time outside.
Whether you are planning a weekend visit or looking for something new to do close to home, here are a few ways to make the most of September in Alexandria Pineville.
All Month | Join the Battle of the Bourbon
September is the perfect month to sip your way through Alexandria Pineville with Battle of the Bourbon.
Local restaurants are putting their own spin on bourbon cocktails, and you get to help decide which one comes out on top. Visit participating restaurants, try their creations and cast your vote for your favorite.
Make a date night out of it, meet friends for dinner or challenge yourself to try as many entries as you can before voting closes.
September 4 | Celebrate National Wildlife Day at Gone Wild Safari
National Wildlife Day gives us the perfect excuse to spend a day with some of Pineville’s wildest residents.
At Gone Wild Safari in Pineville, visitors can get up close with animals during a drive through safari, feed animals along the way, visit the petting zoo or take a guided Safari Bus Tour.
It is an easy family outing and one of those experiences that feels like a getaway without having to travel very far.
Make a day of it in Pineville and see what other adventures you can find while you are on this side of the Red River.
September 7 | Raise a Glass for Beer Lover’s Day
Beer Lover’s Day calls for something brewed right here in Central Louisiana.
Stop by Fighting Hand Brewing Company in Pineville and try one of their locally brewed beers while enjoying the laid back atmosphere. Grab some friends, bring something to eat and stay for a round of darts, board game or one of the games around the taproom.
You can keep your local beer tour going with a visit to Huckleberry Brewing Company in Alexandria, another Cenla brewery serving up its own selection of locally brewed favorites.
It is a pretty good way to spend a September evening, if you ask us.
September 12 and 13 | The Cenla Shrine Circus Comes to Town
The circus is coming back to Alexandria!
The Cenla Shrine Circus takes over the Laborde Earles Coliseum on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 for a weekend of family fun.
Saturday performances are scheduled for 10 AM, 2 PM and 6:30 PM, with Sunday shows at 1 PM and 5 PM.
For generations, the Shrine Circus has been a family tradition, and this year’s visit gives you five chances to catch the show.
Find Cenla Shrine Circus tickets and showtimes
September 19 | Serve, Smash and Support the Alexandria Zoo
Pickleball players, this one’s for you.
The Safari Smash Pickleball Tournament returns Saturday, September 19 at the Alexandria Tennis Complex. Players ages 15 and up can compete in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles as well as men’s and women’s singles.
Food trucks will be on site, and proceeds help support the Alexandria Zoo through Friends of the Alexandria Zoo.
Registration closes September 11, so grab your partner, grab your paddle and get ready to play for a good cause.
September 19 |Take a Ride at Le Tour de Bayou
September is also a great month to experience Alexandria Pineville on two wheels with Le Tour de Bayou.
This annual cycling event brings riders together to experience Central Louisiana from a different point of view. Whether you are riding or cheering on participants, it is another great excuse to get outside and enjoy the beginning of fall.
After the ride, stick around and explore. Grab lunch at a local restaurant, visit a museum or make your way across the river to see what is new in downtown Pineville.
September 25 | Celebrate Quesadilla Day
We will take just about any excuse for chips, salsa and a good quesadilla.
For National Quesadilla Day on September 25, head to Mi Tio Mexican Grill & Bar on Jackson Street. Order your favorite quesadilla, add a margarita and enjoy the patio as September evenings finally start feeling a little more like fall.
Better yet, bring a few friends and make it dinner.
September 3, 10, 17 and 24 | Tasting Thursdays at Southbound Spirits
Free drink tasting at Southbound Spirits! Come sample new products and discover your new favorite drink!
September 29 | Coffee, a Stroll and a Morning in Downtown Pineville
National Coffee Day falls on September 29, and this year we suggest celebrating with a cup of something local and a walk through Pineville.
Start your morning with coffee from Caffeinated Brew & Fizz or another local favorite, then spend some time exploring Pineville’s Main Street area and riverfront.
There is a lot happening in downtown Pineville right now, making this a great time to rediscover this side of the river.
Country Roads Magazine has been following the changes taking shape in Pineville, from downtown development to plans along the riverfront. Read more about what is happening and then come see it for yourself:
Pineville Riverside Development
Pineville Downtown Development
Discover Pineville, Alexandria’s Twin City
Grab your coffee, take your time and see where Pineville is headed next.
Make September a Month to Explore
You do not have to travel far to find something worth doing this September.
Catch the circus with the kids. Challenge your friends to Battle of the Bourbon. Spend a morning at Gone Wild Safari. Play pickleball for the Alexandria Zoo. Find your favorite local beer. Grab a quesadilla on the patio. Or slow things down with coffee and a walk through downtown Pineville.
However you choose to spend it, September is a great month to get out and explore Alexandria Pineville.