Moncus Park will offer nearly 90 free public events this fall, its largest programming season since opening, park officials announced this week. The lineup spans fitness classes, environmental education, cultural demonstrations, and community gatherings, and organizers say it reflects a steady rise in park attendance over the past year. Programs run nearly every day of the week from September through November and are free and open to the public.
"Our community keeps showing up, and we're going to keep showing up right back," said JP MacFadyen, Executive Director of Moncus Park. "We're listening, we're growing, and Moncus Park is only getting better from here."
Fitness
The Fit For All series, presented by Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists and Orthopedic Urgent Care, returns this fall with its largest class schedule to date:
• Yoga in the Park: every Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.
• Tai Chi with Neil Gresham: Sept. 24 and Oct. 2
• Pilates at the Park with Club Pilates: Sept. 28 and Oct. 26
• Step Up Fitness, led by Step by Faith Fitness: Sept. 7
• Zumba in the Park, led by Erin Richard of Zumba Fitness: Nov. 13
Mom Walks and Mommy & Me
Mom Walks and Mommy & Me, sponsored by Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry, give parents and caregivers free ways to stay active with their kids this fall:
• Mom Walks: every Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
• Mommy & Me: Sept. 18, 9:30-10:00 a.m.
Environmental Programming
Environmental Programming, funded by the MJ Sindler Family Fund for Culture & Media, returns with 10 offerings this fall, its fullest lineup to date:
• Conservation Club, led by the park's Conservation Team: Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3
• Nature Walks with Acadiana Native Plant Project: Sept. 8, Oct. 13
• Bird Walk & Survey with Acadiana Master Naturalists: Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17
• The Buzz on Bugs, led by local entomologist, Anna Espinoza: Sept. 22
• Prairie Seed Collection in the Cajun Prairie: Sept. 29
• Accordion Building Demonstration with Martin Accordions: Oct. 5
• Basket Weaving Demonstration with Coushatta basket maker Lucia Alfaro: Oct. 22
• Trail Trek, led by the park's Conservation Team: Oct. 27
• Louisiana Grass Roots Screening, a documentary on Southwest Louisiana's coastal prairie: Nov. 10
• Night Hike, led by the park's Conservation Team: Nov. 24
Community Hour
Community Hour continues its rotating schedule of trivia, games, and cultural programming:
• Family Game Night: Sept. 3, Oct. 1
• Trivia Night with Pigeon Post Trivia: Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12
• Language Café: Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, marking Hispanic Heritage Month, Filipino American Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month
• Crochet Pop-Up with Crystal Bridgewater: Sept. 25
• Sound Bath with Ann Kergan: Sept. 21, Oct. 9, Nov. 16
• Garden Meditation with Jenni Thibodeaux: Oct. 19
• Community Drum Circle, led by Lee Ann Broussard with Trinity: Oct. 29
Pack Walks
Pack Walks, presented by Camp Bow Wow, is a monthly evening walk series for dogs and their owners. This fall's themes are:
• Sept. 14: Autumn Harvest
• Oct. 12: Halloween Costume Contest
• Nov. 9: Turkey Trot
• Dec. 14: Christmas Theme
Also This Fall
Food Truck Friday: Fall Edition returns for seven Fridays this October and November, running 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and Nov. 6, 13, 20. The event features local food trucks, seating, and yard games.
Movies at Moncus, presented by Home Bank, opens its fall season Sept. 12 with a screening of "Inside Out" (2015). Two additional screenings are planned for Oct. 17 and Nov. 21, with titles to be announced. Entry is free. Parking for Movies at Moncus is $10 per vehicle, a fundraiser supporting the park.
The season doesn't end there. Moncus Park will ring in the holidays with its full lineup of annual traditions, Christmas in the Park and Teddy Bear Tea among them, and welcome two brand-new additions to the calendar: The Champions Course 5K and the 2026 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships.
For a full list of events and programs visit www.moncuspark.org/events.
Visiting Moncus Park
All programs and events listed are free to attend. Standard park parking rates of $2 per hour apply, except during Movies at Moncus, when parking is $10 per vehicle as a fundraiser supporting the park. Parking is free every Monday through the Moncus Mondays program. The Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. For a full list of events and programs visit www.moncuspark.org/events.
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