Around Westside for July 4, 2012

Port Allen will host its Riverfront July 4th Fest from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The Plaquemine Main Street Program is hosting a July 4th Hometown Celebration at the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

The event will feature a boat parade, food, music, kids’ activities and fireworks.

Canoe Races will kick things off at 3 p.m. and there will be “Dancin’ on the Boardwalk” with live music from Unfinished Business from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Friends of the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site will sponsor putt-putt rides at Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park during the July Fourth festivities.

Visitors can ride the boats from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Five boats will be available at the wharf in the park.

The organization also will sell ice cream at the Lockhouse, which will be open free of charge during the festival.

Pointe Coupee Parish also will have fun on the water during the 30th annual False River Fourth of July Boat Parade & Pier Decorating Contest.

The event will take place at the south end of False River at Marc Barker’s Family Pier near Pointe Placid Condos in Jarreau.

Festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with pier judging followed by watercraft judging at noon. The boat parade begins at 1 p.m.

Trophies to be awarded include: Best Decorated Party Barge, Admiral’s Trophy, Founder’s Trophy, Best Decorated Small Craft and Best Decorated Pier.

This year’s theme is “Bounty Gate: Save Our Saints.”

For more information, contact Branden Barker at [phone].

Later that night, Old River Landing will sponsor Fourth of July Fireworks 2012 in Batchelor. That event will kick off at 9 p.m. at Old River Landing.

LEGO Club

The West Baton Rouge Parish Library’s LEGO Club will meet at 1:30 p.m. July 14, July 21 and July 28.

Anyone 3 years old and older is invited to join. Please register by calling [phone], ext. 224. The public can also register by logging onto the library’s website. Club membership is free.

Barbecue fundraiser

The Kiwanis of Pointe Coupee will host its annual “Winner, Winner, Bar-B-Q Chicken Dinner” on July 15 at St. Mary Kiwanis Park.

The dinners consist of barbecued chicken, baked beans, coleslaw and a roll.

Tickets are $8 per plate and can be purchased from any Kiwanis member. For more information, call [phone] or [phone].

Softball tournament

The Gueho family and friends will host their 11th annual Co-Eds for Cody Memorial Softball Tournament on July 14 at the Fordoche Ballpark to raise money for the children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Those who would like to enter a team should contact Ronnie at [phone], Chad at [phone] or Corey at [phone].

Donations can be made at the tournament or mailed to Cody Eugene Gueho Memorial Account, 4357 Smith Acres Lane, Fordoche, LA 70732.

To submit news about Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes, contact Westside Bureau Chief Terry Jones by phone, [phone]; fax, [phone]; or email, [e-mail]. Deadline: noon Tuesday.