🎉 **Shining Lights On Autism – Community Fundraiser** 🎉
📍 **Deridder Fairgrounds**
📅 **April 18, 2026**
🕚 **Event Open 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM**
🎈 Hosted by *Louisiana Autism Center*
🤝 **Sponsored by:** Free Patriots MC • Bayou Reaperz MC • VFW Riders Post 3619 • Lucid Customs
We’re thrilled to invite our community to our **annual Autism Awareness Fundraiser**, and this year is extra special. This event continues to grow each year, and **2026 is shaping up to be our biggest yet** — with more fun, more connection, and more impact for the families we serve.
### What to expect:
🚗 **Car, Bike & Off-Road Show** (*$20 entry*)
🎟 **Live Auction & Raffle**
🎟 **50/50 Raffle**
🧁 **Bake Sale**
🍽 **Plate Lunch ($7–$10)**
🍧 Snow cone truck
📸 Professional photographer capturing community memories
🏛 Presence of our **Mayor**
✨ More vendors, sponsors, auction items, and kid-friendly fun than ever before
💛 **A meaningful new chapter:**
We are excited to share that **Louisiana Autism Center has officially purchased a new building and will be expanding our clinic** to serve more children and families in our community.
**The location of our new building will be revealed publicly for the very first time at this fundraiser.**
Funds raised will go directly toward equipping our new space with therapy materials, sensory and learning resources, and the tools needed to expand access to high-quality ABA services in Deridder and surrounding areas. This growth also strengthens autism awareness locally and supports the development of a behavior-educated workforce within our rural community.
👨👩👧👦 This is a **family-friendly event**, open to everyone — whether you’re a family we serve, a local business, a supporter, or someone who simply wants to learn more and be part of something meaningful.
📣 **Help us spread the word!**
Mark “Going,” invite your friends, and share this event so we can make this year our most impactful yet.
We can’t wait to celebrate, connect, and grow together. 💙
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### Community Note – *Light It Up Blue* 💡
As part of our annual Autism Awareness Month initiative, **complimentary blue lightbulbs** will be available beginning **March 1** at select local businesses and at Louisiana Autism Center while supplies last. To help share awareness across as many homes and storefronts as possible — especially along Deridder’s main roads — we kindly ask that bulbs be limited to **one per household or business**.
Businesses who would like to participate more visibly are warmly invited to **stop by the clinic to receive bulbs appropriate for their storefront** and to help encourage customers to join in spreading awareness throughout our community. Together, our goal is to illuminate Deridder in blue — **especially on April 1st, Autism Awareness Day** — creating a powerful, unified show of support for the children and families we serve.
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**Event Notes:**
• Outdoor, family-friendly environment
• Sensory-aware space with room for movement and breaks
• Additional vendor and activity announcements coming soon
Also check out other Nonprofit events in DeRidder, Arts events in DeRidder, Photography events in DeRidder.
