Looking to get into the spirit this holiday season, but not sure where to start?
Don’t worry! Pelican has got you covered on all the holiday attractions and festivities to attend in Louisiana.
Annual Houma-Terrebonne Downtown Parade & More—Houma, LA
Located in what’s known as Cajun Country, Houma hosts quite a few holiday celebrations throughout December.
In the beginning of the month, MacDonell United Methodist Children’s Services partners with the Annual Houma-Terrebonne Downtown Parade to host the annual Celebrate the Child Christmas Event. The event includes a chili cook-off, crafts for kids, a tree-trimming contest, a parade, and more. It’s held at the Downtown Houma Courthouse, and the events are free to the public.
Later in the month, the Zydeco Harley-Davidson dealership hosts free pictures with Santa Clause and the Grinch, and WoodmenLife Agency puts on Cookies with Santa for $10 per child.
Make sure to check one of these events out if you’re in the Houma area!
Magical Christmas Land & More—Denham Springs, LA
Denham Springs, LA is located just 20 minutes outside of Downtown Baton Rouge.
Two families in the town go all out by decorating their homes with walk-through Christmas displays.
The Messengers’ home, located off Eden Church Road, transforms into a Magical Christmas Land. The Davis’ home, located at 26658 John L Lane, becomes a Christmas Inflatables Wonderland. The displays are up all through December and free to the public.
Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival, Christmas Boat Parade, & More—Lake Charles, LA
The City of Lake Charles presents the Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival to celebrate the season, complete with music and fireworks over the lake, and a lighted Christmas Lighted Boat Parade organized by local boaters! The event is held at the Lakes Charles Civic Center and admission is free.
You can also enjoy riding in a horse-drawn carriage. Almosta Ranch offers carriage rides along Shell Beach Drive for $225. The rides take you and 3 to 6 other passengers under a canopy of lighted oak trees to see majestic twinkling houses. Nearby Millennium Park hosts its free Millennium Park Holiday Lights display.
You can also celebrate the holidays with concerts, performances, shopping events and so much more. Lake Area Ballet Theatre presents “The Nutcracker,” with ACTS Theatre producing “Elf” too! You can also check out Christmas concerts by the Louisiana Choral Foundation and the Lake Charles Symphony. These performances will run you between $5 and $65, but discounts are available with school IDs.
Alex Winter Fête & Natchitoches Christmas Festival—CENLA, LA
Alex Winter Fête kicks off with an ugly sweater 5k run in Downtown Alexandria. It is a 4-day event from Thursday to Sunday. It’s full of local vendors, and you can shop, eat, and listen to live music. The best part is the ice-skating rink they make for the community. The line is always the longest, but the kids enjoy it so much. The event is free for all ages.
Natchitoches Christmas Festival in the beautiful Historic Landmark District is also an amazing event! You can walk or drive through the light displays. Attendees can also shop with local vendors, listen to live music, and watch the light boat parade. Kids can also enjoy cookies with Santa! It is a fun family event with so many attractions for everyone to enjoy! Depending on the day and events the admittance may be free or $10 per person.
Zachary Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade—Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary hosts the annual Zachary Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Main Street. The theme of the parade changes each year!
Parade goers get the opportunity to catch candies, toys, beads, and much more. The parade is free to the public.
Christmas Movie in the Park—Gonzales, LA
In addition to Christmas Parades and tree-lighting ceremonies that often take place, Gonzales, LA hosts a “Christmas Movie in the Park” night.
This year’s showing is The Santa Clause 3. The event is held at the Jambalaya Park Amphitheatre. Its offers complimentary concessions, face painting and balloon art, and pictures with Santa!
The event is family-friendly, holiday fun, and free to the public.
The Festival of Lights, ZOOLIGHTS, & More—Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge kicks off the holiday season with its oldest family tradition, the Festival of Lights in Downtown Baton Rouge. The festival includes a lighting ceremony and a multitude of family activities. These activities include ice skating, a holiday film screening, musical performances, and shopping. The event is free to the public.
Another popular event in Baton Rouge during the holidays is the annual Ice Skating on the River at Raising Cane’s River Center. The Raising Canes River Center transforms into a magical Winter Wonderland for the family-friendly event. Tickets are $20 and include the skate rental.
ZOOLIGHTS at the BREC’S Baton Rouge Zoo offers a mile-long experience of more than 50 illuminated sculptures of animals and traditional holiday displays. Admission costs between $3 to $5.
You can also enjoy spectacular displays of lights at Pelican State Credit Union’s O’Neal Lane location and Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General. Both events are free to the public.
Celebrations in the Oaks, Teddy Bear Tea, & More—New Orleans, LA
New Orleans has several different activities to take advantage of during the holidays. The most popular event is the annual Celebration in the Oaks. Thousands of lights brighten up a 2.25-mile walking trail in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park in City Park. Children and their parents can also enjoy a two-mile ride on a miniature train that circles the park, passing underneath lit-up holiday displays and other special effects. Tickets cost between $5 to $40.
Several hotel lobbies in the city also set up beautiful light displays and host holiday events. The Roosevelt Hotel decorates a section of the hotel with a canopy of lights and an aisle of white Christmas trees. The Roosevelt also hosts a Teddy Bear Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Teddy Bear Tea can range from free admission to $120, depending on the seating option and age.
The Ritz-Carlton hosts Santa’s Toy Shop, Papa Noel Tea, and gingerbread house building. The events range between $55 to $195. The Windsor Court also hosts one of the biggest trees in the city, and visitors can check the tree out for free.
Do you have a holiday event in your area that you love going to? Let us know in the comments!
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