Holiday Christmas Cheer: December 5—12

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Courtesy Iberia Parish CVB

Magic on Main in New Iberia

One more weekend during which Santa Claus proves what a magical old elf he is by appearing as the guest of honor in simultaneous Christmas events around the region. Here's a listing of parades, open houses, and other seasonal events to add sparkle to your season.

December 5–7

• Christmas Open House, Monroe: A thirty year Monroe Christmas tradition, this free event showcases the decorating talents of the Monroe Garden Study League, many area musicians, and facets of the Biedenharn Museum of Gardens. Enjoy ten rooms of imaginative holiday decor, eleven Christmas trees, and a twinkling garden. Santa will be present in the Coke Museum, and on Saturday, from 9 am–11 am, he'll even take photos with your pets. Free. 5 pm–8 pm each evening. bmuseum.org.

December 6

• Lighting of the Village, Opelousas: Lovable costumed characters, a petting zoo, choirs, and the arrival of Santa in Le Vieux Village—a collection of historic buildings dating from the 1700s to the early twentieth century. With arts & crafts, Christmas specialties, and decorative gifts for sale. 5 pm–8 pm at 828 East Landry Street. cajuntravel.com.
• Annual Christmas Lighting, Ponchatoula: The Mayor flips the switch on the Christmas tree followed by late-night shopping, food, fun, and hot chocolate. Santa will be on the steps of Collinswood Museum with candy canes for the kids.  6 pm–9 pm. ponchatoulachamber.com.
• Olde Towne Crawl, Slidell: Friends, family, and pets are invited to an Olde Towne block party, complete with arts & crafts vendors, food and drink, live music, kids' activities, and even pet adoptions. Bring your own chairs. 5 pm–10 pm, on the 2200 block of Carey Street between Robert and Cousin streets. louisiananorthshore.com.
• Sips of the Season, Mandeville: Join in the merriment of Christmas with a Girod Street stroll at dusk, stopping to see the brightly decorated shops and restaurants. 5 pm–9 pm. $20 per mug. louisiananorthshore.com.

December 6 & 7

• Christmas Under the Oaks Festival, Sulphur: The festival will include a Lighting of the Christmas Tree, food booths, a carnival, bands, and a guarantee of snow. 5 pm–10 pm Friday. Noon–10 pm Saturday. 1211 Ruth Street. In Heritage Square and at the Henning Cultural Center. brimstonemuseum.org.
• Christmas Under the Stars, Slidell: This annual event transforms Griffith Park with thousands of lights, festive decorations, visits from the Clauses, a parade of trees, and a life-sized Christmas village. 6 pm–9 pm on Fridays, December 6 & December 13, and Saturdays, December 7 & 14. Free. myslidell.com.
• Holiday of Lights, Mandeville: At the Trailhead, enjoy entertainment from local schools, area performance groups and other organizations, holiday décor and free kiddie rides by Mitchell Brothers Amusement. Continues the next weekend, on December 13 & 14. 5:45 pm. Free, but pictures with Santa will cost $20 each. louisiananorthshore.com.
• Christmas on the Corner, Clinton: Join Clinton United Methodist Church for Christmas on the Corner. Friday evening, head for the corner of Highways 67 and 10 for a live nativity, hayride, cakewalk, and gumbo and hot dogs for purchase. Come back Saturday morning for silent auction, craft sales, face painting, pictures with Santa, and a Sweet Shop offering homemade goodies for sale. Chicken and spaghetti dinners available for $7; pre-orders accepted now. Friday 5 pm–8 pm; Saturday 8 am–1 pm. clintonlaumc.org.

December 7

• Christmas in the Village, Zachary: Gourmet food trucks, arts & crafts, live entertainment, a petting zoo, and of course Santa will make an appearance. It’s Zachary’s annual Christmas in the Village, lighting up hearts and the historic distric with synchronized Christmas light displays, tours of historic homes, and more. 6 pm–9 pm in the Historic District.
• Carencro Country Christmas, Carencro: This family-oriented event includes traditional holiday entertainment by local talent as well as arts & crafts and delicious food. At the Carencro Community Center, 5115 North University Avenue. 9 am–3 pm (with the children’s parade at 2 pm). (337) 280-9570.
• Houma Downtown Christmas Festival, Houma: From noon, stoke the holiday spirit with music and carolers, shopping, a kids concert, craft and food vendors, and Santa’s workshop. The parade follows from 5 pm–7:30 pm with a visit afterwards from Santa and Mrs. Claus and tree lighting ceremony. houmachristmasfestival.com.
• Christmas Under the Lampposts, Franklin: The town’s parade and lamplighting ceremony begins at 6 pm at the corner of Jackson and Main streets and concludes at Courthouse Square with the lighting of the parish tree as well as million lights strung along the bayou–and wonderfully magnified by the dark water. (337) 828-6345.
• Christmas Bonfire, St. Bernard: Warm yourself by the ultimate roaring fire at the Los Islenos Museum Complex. Begins at 3 pm. 1357 Bayou Road. (504) 277-4681.
• Algiers Bonfire and Concert, Algiers: The city's official kickoff to the holiday season includes local musical talent, food, drink, and of course a bonfire, which will light Santa's way down the Mississippi. The NOLA Burners (the New Orleans group that builds Burning Man sculptures every year) will once again have Brennan Steele create a unique bonfire sculpture. 5 pm–8:30 pm at the Algiers Ferry Landing, 200 Morgan Street. algiersbonfire.com.
• Krewe of Jingle, New Orleans: Downtown's annual holiday parade includes stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. 1 pm. downtownnola.com/holidays.
• Broadmoor Christmas Parade, Baton Rouge: Held in the Broadmoor subdivision, starting at Broadmoor High School (10100 Goodwood Boulevard). All spectators are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for a food pantry. 2 pm. (225) 924-3780.
• Merry Madisonville & Tree Lighting, Madisonville: Caroling, kids’ activities, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus who arrive by boat on the Tchefuncte. Lighting of the oaks after Santa’s Workshop. 4 pm–8 pm (parade at 5 pm). 403 St. Francis Street. (985) 845-9824.
• Christmas Parade, Natchez: Nudge up among some Natchezians as they line the streets of downtown for their annual parade. 5:30 pm. visitnatchez.org.
• 61st Annual Hammond Christmas Parade, Hammond: This 5:30 pm parade runs in downtown Hammond, starting and finishing on Tornado Drive. (985) 549-6602. hammondrotary.com/events/christmas-parade.
• Abbeville’s Christmas Parade, Abbeville: Enjoy floats decorated for Christmas, marching bands playing holiday favorites, and an appearance by St. Nick. 6 pm. (337) 652-0646. 
• Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival, Lake Charles: From the streets to the shores ... the night starts with a 6:30 pm parade down Ryan Street, followed by a lighting ceremony on the Civic Center steps (7:30 pm), a lighted boat parade (8:15 pm), and a festive closing with fireworks (8:45 pm). Find further illumination at visitlakecharles.org.
• Pancakes & PJs with Santa, New Iberia: Join the New Iberia Downtown Alliance in collaboration with New Iberia McDonald's for a special morning at the Sliman Theater. Grab advanced tickets for pancakes, a picture with Santa, and free face painting and prizes. $10. cityofnewiberia.com/sliman-theatre.
• Very Berry Christmas Quest, New Iberia: Bring the whole family to enjoy this scavenger hunt hosted by the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. Arrive to pick up your Christmas hats and goody bags filled with coupons and holiday treats at the chamber's office before receiving your quest cards to track activities throughout the day. Pro tip: Families who collect seven stickers on their cards will be eligible to win additional prizes. 9 am–4 pm. $10 for ages 5–17, $5 for ages 18 and older, free for ages 0–3. (337) 364-1836.
• A Magical Christmas at the McComb Depot, McComb, MS: Chug on over to the McComb Railroad Museum for an afternoon with Santa and his helpers while Mrs. Claus bakes muffins in the kitchen of an old 1883 Office Car. Kids can even mail a letter to the North Pole while visiting the 1914 Post Office Car and watching model trains navigate through elf-sized Christmas villages. 1 pm–4 pm. For more information, contact Winnie Len Howell at (601) 395-6456.
• Winter Wonderland, New Iberia: Children can take photos and get autographs from special guests Anna and Kristoff from Frozen at this family-friendly event full of fun and craft-making at the Iberia Parish Library. 10:30 am–12:30 pm. iberialibrary.org.
• Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, New Iberia: The New Iberia Downtown Alliance presents its annual Christmas parade and tree-lighting ceremony to herald the holidays. Beginning with the 5:30 pm lighting at City Hall, revelers can line up from Ann Street to Railroad Street to watch the 6 pm parade filled with floats, visiting royalty, dance schools, and school band performances. iberiatravel.com.
• Christmas in the Garden, Baton Rouge: Start your morning with pancakes in the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, then hop on through a series of Christmas activity stations. Enjoy StoryTime in the Garden with the Junior League of Baton Rouge and Mrs. Clause, make reindeer food, and get a picture with Santa too. 9 am–noon. $30. lsu.edu/botanic-gardens/events/christmas.

December 7—8

• Christmas Under the Stars, Slidell: This annual event transforms Griffith Park with thousands of lights, festive decorations, visits from the Clauses, a parade of trees, and a life-sized Christmas village. 6 pm–9 pm on Fridays, November 30 & December 7, and Saturdays, December 1 & 8. Free. myslidell.com.

December 8

• Sonic Drive-In Christmas Parade, Lafayette: One of the oldest Christmas activities in Acadiana, this parade features over twenty floats, high school marching bands, and the official arrival of Santa Claus. 1 pm. sonic-blast.com/community/sonic-christmas-parade.
• Magic on Main Christmas Parade, New Iberia: Main Street is the place to be today, with Shadows-on-the-Teche's holiday market (9 am–3 pm)  and the Very Berry Christmas Quest family scavenger hunt (9 am–4 pm) in the morning, stoking the Christmas into a roaring blaze just in time for a 6 pm parade. Visit iberiatravel.com for the details.
• Spirit of Homes Tour, Morgan City: The fourth annual holiday home tour is presented by St. Mary Outreach. Even the most opulent homes become cozy around Christmas. Peek inside! (985) 385-0525.
• JFA Christmas Parade, Gonzales: When the folks behind the Jambalaya Festival put on a parade, you know it's bound to be a good time. Rolling from the Civic Center, down Burnside, to the East Bank Shopping Center near La. 30. 1:30 pm. jambalayafestival.net.
• Christmas Market, Jackson (Louisiana): Cookies, hot chocolate, gumbo, and holiday spirit keep a body warm in downtown Jackson tonight. 4 pm–8 pm. (225) 247-7215.
• Auburn Christmas Open House, Natchez: Take a step into the past at Auburn antebellum home in Natchez. Free tours of the house and slave quarters are on offer, along with entertainment, personal appearance by the Clauses, and snacks of the kind that would have been enjoyed by the house's early residents. 1:30 pm–4 pm. auburnmuseum.org.
• December Main Street Christmas Parade, New Iberia: Bring the kids to this "Christmas on the Bayou" Main Street parade to see marching bands, dance groups, and Santa's seasonal debut. iberiatravel.com.

December 10

• Old Fashioned Christmas, Alexandria: Children laughing, sipping on hot chocolate, and snacking on cookies—you'll find these heartwarming sights at Kent Plantation House this evening. There will be plenty of crafts for everyone to make and take, and the hosts have it on good authority that they will have a visitor in a dashing red suit! 5 pm–7 pm. Free. (318) 487-5998 or kenthouse.org/events.
• Carols in the Courtyard, Gonzales: Sing some favorite holiday songs while enjoying sweet treats of cookies and hot chocolate at the Gonzales Branch Ascension Parish Library. 6:30 pm. (225) 647-3955. 

December 12

• Christmas Tree Festival & Open House, Patterson: Join the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. Guests will enjoy refreshments, gorgeous Christmas trees, and seasonal carols. 5:30 pm–7 pm. (985) 399-1271.
• Mingle & Jingle, Franklin: The city joins up with the Main Street Merchants Association to celebrate the holiday season in style: trolley rides, photos with Santa, and special offerings from local merchants in Historic Downtown Franklin. 6 pm. (337) 828-6345.