Christmas in Acadiana

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Image courtesy of the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau

How to spend Christmas in Acadiana

Most of us in Louisiana have read the children's book Cajun Night Before Christmas, and the folks in Acadiana are living it all season long with parades, nativities, craft fairs, and more to spur that Cajun Christmas spirit. 

November 21–January 1: Downtown Lafayette's Christmas Tree Extravaganza: Bringing together dozens of businesses, families, and nonprofits to spark holiday joy this season, Downtown Lafayette challenges everyone to bring out their tree-decorating chops. Over fifty premium spruce trees will be contenders in this monthlong competition, where the public can vote on their favorite tree—all of which will be activated in Parc International during a tree decorating party on November 21. Online voting will be live from November 27–December 14, with winners announced on December 15. Trees will be on display through January 1, and the tree that receives the most votes throughout the month will receive a $500 donation to the non profit of their choice. downtownlafayette.org.

November 24–26; Saturdays and Sundays in December until December 17, plus December 19–23: McGee's Swamp Tours' Atchafalaya Christmas: Join Papa Noel on the Basin for these incredible one-of-a-kind Cajun holiday experiences. After each tour, guests can take photos with Santa, create their own memento ornament, and enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and candy canes. $25. See tour times at mcgeesswamptours.com. 

November 27–December 31: Victorian Christmas at Rip Van Winkle Gardens: The character Rip Van Winkle was beloved by the children in his village for telling them stories and giving them toys. Sound like anyone we know? What better way to celebrate the season than to enjoy a Victorian Christmas at the Joseph Jefferson Home at Rip Van Winkle Gardens. The twenty-five acre paradise will twinkle with Christmas cheer and the Jefferson Home, decorated for the holidays, will be open for tours from 9 am until 4 pm. (337) 359-8525 or ripvanwinklegardens.com.

November 30–December 2: Christmas at Coteau: This annual seasonal celebration is a shopping, dining, and holiday event on the lovely grounds of Grand Coteau's Academy of the Sacred Heart. Christmas at Coteau gets started on Thursday with a cocktail-style preview party featuring live performances by Three Thirty Seven, then continues through the weekend, with the festival gearing up at 9 am Friday. The experience also includes seated lunches and the opportunity to have breakfast with Santa (both of these events are sold out), as well as a chance to judge the annual gumbo cook-off. At the market, expect to find antiques, estate jewelry, Christmas accessories, objets d’art, children’s apparel, and home and garden accessories. $78 for preview party on Thursday; $15 for the holiday market each day; $5 to taste the Gumbo Cookoff. All proceeds benefit Schools of the Sacred Heart at Grand Coteau. 9 am–4 pm on Friday; 9 am–3 pm Saturday. sshcoteau.org.

December 1: Pine Prairie Community Christmas: Community churches from the Evangeline Parish area will come together at the Boggy Bayou Festival Grounds to present an experience narrating the life of Christ during the holiday season. Gumbo, hot chocolate, and cookies will be served. 6 pm. evangelineparishtourism.org. 

December 1: Lighting of the Tree Concert:  Don't miss the annual Lighting of the Tree Concert in Parc International in Downtown Lafayette—which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Enjoy performances by Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band on the main stage. Look forward to photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday crafts, and snacks provided by local restaurants. 5 pm–8 pm. Free. downtownlafayette.org. 

December 1–2: Christmas in Carencro: Two days of Christmas cheer, and a whole lot of it: think choirs, arts and crafts, holiday treats, and an opportunity to donate toys to those less fortunate. Friday kicks off with Old Fashioned Christmas downtown, featuring the lighting of the city Christmas tree, with cookies and hot chocolate to set the scene. Saturday brings the parade, which will run at 10 am, landing at a vendor village to the Carencro Community Center for Carencro Country Christmas, featuring local eats and choirs, plus the annual "Dancer, Dasher, Prancer 5K Run". Details on the Christmas in Carencro Facebook Page. 

December 1–21: Downtown Advent Adventures: Unlock the magic of the holiday season, one adventure at a time—each day "unlocks' a new activity for the whole family on the Facebook page. 

December 1–23: Noël Acadien au Village: LARC’s Acadian Village will host its annual Christmas festival fundraiser to benefit persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Noël Acadien au Village will feature half a million lights, themed Acadian home porches, lighted holiday displays, live entertainment, carnival rides, local cuisine, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, and more. Be sure to visit the Gingerbread House and Christmas Carolers. The event will be open nightly from 5:30 pm–9 pm (weather permitting). $10 at the gate. Children ages two and younger, as well as active military, are free. For the full entertainment schedule, nightly promotions, tickets, and other information, visit acadianvillage.org.

December 2: Christmas in the Village: Small town Christmas and all its charm epitomized in downtown Loreauville, where the lighting of the town Christmas tree will draw out local food, craft vendors, special surprises, and—yes, Santa himself. 6 pm–9 pm. Free. Details at the Loreauville Community Project Facebook Page. 

December 2: Village of Pine Prairie Vendor Market, Parade, and Tree Lighting: The season officially begins in The Village with a market of local vendors, the official Pine Prairie Christmas Parade, and the lighting of the town Christmas Tree. Enjoy taking photos with Santa, while snacking on pizza, cookies, and sipping on hot chocolate. It all takes place at the heart of town on Veterans Memorial Highway. evangelineparishtourism.org

December 2: Noel a Broussard: The holiday season leaps to the streets with the annual Broussard Christmas Parade, starting at the corner of Morgan Avenue and Albertson Parkway, and ending at  Arceneaux Park. Begins at 3 pm. Afterwards, celebrate the festive spirit in front of Broussard City Hall with Reindeer games, face painting, balloon artistry, a Christmas Market, and the annual lighting of the City Christmas Tree. Caroling begins at 5:45 pm, tree-lighting at 6:30 pm. Free. broussardchamberla.chambermaster.com. 

December 2: Jingle Bell Market: An artful shopping event from the Hilliard, bringing options for local art and other goodies to your holiday gift list this year. Featuring hot chocolate and family photo opportunities, Christmas movies, creative gifts, and appearances from Lafayette Ballet Theater characters from The Nutcracker. 10 am–5 pm. hillliardmuseum.org.

December 2: BREVE Christmas Concert: The Baton Rouge Early Vocal Ensemble will perform a concert of lesser-known Christmas songs of the Renaissance and Baroque eras at St. John Episcopal Church in Washington. 6 pm. Free. cajuntravel.com. 

December 2: Christmas in Erath: Come together in downtown Erath for an annual holiday event sure to bring lasting memories to all, featuring delicious food, kids' activities, and the Christmas Tree Lighting at 3 pm–8 pm. Details at the Christmas in Erath page on Facebook. 

December 2–23: Lafayette Art Association Christmas Market: Stock up on gifts handcrafted by local artisans at the Lafayette Art Association Christmas Market, held at the Lafayette Art Association. Find the Lafayette Art Association on Facebook for more information. 

December 3: Merry & Bright Christmas Carnival: Meet in Parc International for a holiday celebration—bolstered by face painting, reptile encounters, pony rides, and fun jumps, not to mention local vendors peddling spirited wares and appearances from the Clauses. Local vendors, including Reggie's Seafood, Nina Creole, Cajun Cane, Cotton Candies Lafayette, and more will be onsite. 2 pm–5 pm. Free, with some activities requiring a small fee. downtownlafayette.org.

December 3: Village of Chataignier Christmas Parade: No one throws a better parade than good ole country folk, who might as likely come down the street on a float as a horse, or a four-wheeler. The holidays bring out the best of 'em. Begins at Carver Elementary School at 2:30 pm. Santa will be at the Community Center for photos afterward. 3 pm. evangelineparishtourism.org. 

December 3: City of Ville Platte Christmas Parade: See the holiday spirit of Flat Town at its finest, with hand-decorated floats coming straight down Main Street, starting at 6 pm. evangelineparishtourism.org. 

December 3: Sonic Christmas Parade and After Party: Welcome Santa to Lafayette this season and meet him on the parade route, which runs from Jefferson through Downtown all the way to the Oil Center. Afterwards, keep the fun going at the official after party in Parc International, featuring cookie decorating, arts and crafts, inflatables, food, beverages, and much more. Parade starts at 1 pm. Free. downtownlafayette.org.

December 5–22: Creole Christmas: Visit the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site this holiday season, where you can tour the Olivier Plantation Home (circa 1815) and take in their lovely natural, period-appropriate Christmas decorations. Visitors will learn how the holiday was celebrated in the mid 1800s. (337) 394-3754. 

December 5–8: Vermilionville Gingerbread House Contest: For the Christmas season, Vermilionville is inviting gingerbread bakers and architects of all ages and skill-levels to submit their most creative spiced creations to potentially win prizes. All competing projects must be submitted between December 5–8, and visitors to Vermilionville from December 12–15 will have the chance to vote for the People’s Choice project, and judging for winning projects will be December 16, during Old Time Winter Family Day. Free. vermilionville.org. 

December 7: Abbeville's Annual Christmas Stroll: Stroll, shop, dine, and bask in the magic of Christmas in downtown Abbeville, where white lights will meet live music and Santa Claus himself for a night of holiday bliss. 5:30 pm–8 pm. Free. (337) 898-4110. vermilion.org. 

December 7–December 17: An Acadiana Christmas Carol at Cité des Arts: The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future put the “gris–gris” on Etta Scrooge in this adaptation of Dickens’ timeless Christmas tale. Head to Cite des Arts to see Alicia Chaisson’s An Acadiana Christmas Carol. $20; $10 for students. For showtimes visit citedesarts.org.

December 9: Holiday Market at ArtWalk: It's everyone's favorite monthly market, Christmas-style. Enjoy this Holiday themed market set up in Parc Sans Souci in Downtown Lafayette, featuring over thirty vendors with one-of-a-kind artwork and gifts, plus live entertainment. 4 pm. Free. downtownlafayette.org.

December 9: Holiday Shopping on Da Bayou: Peruse works by local craftsfolks, dance to live music, and have a tasty treat in Bouligny Plaza. 9 am–3 pm. Free. iberiatravel.com.

December 9: Queen City Christmas Parade: A festive parade will meander down New Iberia's historic Main Street, directly followed by a boat parade on Bayou Teche, and a grand finale of fireworks. The street parade will include the Berry Queens, local musicians, Bayou Lit Bikes, visiting royalty, and the man in red (that would be Santa) himself. Following the street parade, Santa will be available for photos in his workshop in the Bouligny Plaza Gazebo. For the boat parade, head bayou-side to take in the Christmas lights and holiday-bedecked boats parade down the Teche. Street parade begins at 5:30 pm, the boat parade begins at 6 pm at Bayou Landing (Lewis Street Bridge). bayoutraditions.com. 

December 9: Village of Turkey Creek Christmas Parade: See small town Louisiana at its most festive, with a parade running through the middle of the community, followed by a hotdog lunch at Drouet Park. 11 am. evangelineparishtourism.org.

December 9: A Very Berry Christmas Quest: Grab your family and set out on an adventure across New Iberia, completing a list of kid-friendly tasks with stops inside all of your favorite local businesses. Pick up your goody bag—filled with coupons and holiday treats, as well as your quest cards, at the Iberia Chamber office. Each quest task completed earns a sticker, and once participants have earned seven stickers, they can drop off their completed activity card at the office. Every family that turns in a completed card will be entered to win prizes. 9 am–4 pm. $10 for children ages four to seventeen; $5 for adults ages eighteen and older. iberiachamber.org. 

December 9: Pancakes and PJs with Santa: Families are invited to bring their blankets to the Sliman Theatre in New Iberia for a pancakes and sausage picnic with Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus holiday face painting, story time with Mrs. Claus, and photo opportunities with Santa. 8 am–11 am. $10–$15. bayoutraditions.com.  

December 9: Delcambre Christmas Boat Parade: In Louisiana, we've got two kinds of parades—mainland and boat. Aficionados of the boat parade genre, Delcambre residents will be celebrating the season with the town's annual Christmas Boat Parade, starting at 6 pm at the Delcambre dock and featuring lighted boats of all sizes as they cruise Bayou Carlin to the tune of your favorite carols. Details at the Decambre Boat Poker Run & Christmas Boat Parade Facebook Page. 

December 9: Christmas ArtWalk in Paris a la Breaux Bridge: Stroll the glittering streets of beautiful Breaux Bridge, all holiday-ed up as she is, for this special artwalk. Step into downtown shops, galleries, and restaurants, and meet local artists showcasing their work on the street. 4 pm–8 pm. Details at the Christmas Artwalk in Paris—a la Breaux Bridge. 

December 9: Christmas in Washington: Shop from vendors from 10 am–5 pm downtown in the historic town of Washington, and watch the big tree light up at 7 pm. There'll be a DJ and Kids' Corner all throughout the day. (337) 826-3626. 

December 9: St. Lucy Festival of Lights: Each year, Saint Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville hosts the St. Lucy Festival of Lights, a family celebration that begins with 4 pm mass, followed by a children's parade of box floats. The night will close with photos with Santa, the lighting of the Square, live Cajun music, seasonal movies, and Christmas caroling. Free. saintmartindetours.org. 

December 9: Movies in the Parc ft. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch: Get all snuggled up for this special holiday screening in Parc International in Downtown Lafayette. Gates open at 4:30 pm for children's activities, popcorn, hot chocolate, and more. Movie begins at 5:30 pm.Free. downtownlafayette.org.

December 9–10: Lafayette Ballet Theatre presents, The Nutcracker: An Acadiana tradition sets the stage again with the full-length, classical ballet, The Nutcracker, performed by the Lafayette Ballet Theatre professional company dancers.  Don't miss this timeless tale by E.T.A. Hoffman set to Tchaikovsky's famous score, presented at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. 7 pm Saturday; 2 pm Sunday. Tickets start at $40.  lafayetteballettheatre.org. 

December 10:  Delcambre Main Street Christmas Parade:  After the boats have been anchored, Delcambre takes the spirit to the streets for the annual Main Street Christmas Parade—Santa joins local marching bands and dance groups to deck the streets in Delcambre. 2 pm–4 pm. (337) 519-2541. 

December 10: Mamou Christmas Parade: At this spirited holiday showcase of the town's organizations and creatives, the "Cajun Music Capital of the World" comes alive for Christmas. Afterwards, children can enjoy cookies and hot chocolate with Santa at the Rec Center. 6 pm. evangelineparishtourism.org. 

December 14:  The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra "Christmas Concert" featuring Marc Broussard: The Symphony's longest-running tradition in Acadiana, the Christmas Concert annually brings the community together with traditional orchestral selections brilliantly paired with popular holiday tunes. This year's event will feature over 100 musicians, including Lafayette's own rockstar Marc Broussard. 7 pm. Tickets start at $40. acadianasymphony.org. 

December 14: The Opelousas Children’s Christmas Parade: Any joyous occasion in Louisiana calls for a parade, and Christmas is no exception. This one, with kids in mind, includes entertainment, music, marching bands, lighted floats, and most importantly: Santa and his buddies. The parade starts at 6 pm at Academy and Landry Streets, and rolls through downtown Opelousas to the Yambilee Grounds. cityofopelousas.com. 

December 15–17 Christmas in the Park: Celebrate the season in Lafayette's Moncus Park, where local musicians the Pine Leaf Boys, Chubby Carrier, Steve Riley, The Brazos Huval School of Music, and Rockin Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters will infuse the air with holiday spirit. On Sunday, come back to see The Polar Express on the big screen. Bring the kids—there will be activities just for them, including sleigh rides and photos with Santa. Food will be available for purchase. 6 pm–9 pm. $20 for on-site parking, or take advantage of free parking at Blackham Coliseum with a shuttle to Moncus Park. moncuspark.org/christmas. 

December 15–17: Christmas at the Bayou: This annual Christmas Concert put on by The Bayou Church captures the essence of Christmas in Acadiana, bringing together musical performances by some of the area's most beloved musicians. Performances will take place at 7 pm Friday; 3 pm and 5 pm Saturday; 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm on Sunday. Sunday evening's performance will also be streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube. Free. thebayouchurch.org. 

December 16: Old Time Winter Family Day at Vermilionville: Vermilionville's Historic Village will receive a holiday makeover, transporting visitors back in time to experience the simple beauty of Louisiana Christmases past—drawing on the traditions of the Acadian, Creole, and Native American cultures that lived here. Sing carols, hear stories, decorate cookies, make bousillage ornaments and candles, and more. 10 am–4 pm. Free. bayouvermilionvilledistrict.org. 

December 17: Louisiana Christmas Day Concert: Bayou Teche Music Productions present a festive evening of music from André Courville, Wayne Toups, and Zachary Richard, along with an all-star lineup of special guests. 6 pm at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $22.50. heymanncenter.com. 

December 22: Once Upon a Christmas in LAUGHayette: Aching for a good belly-gripping laugh? Book your seat for Cité des Arts upcoming holiday-themed comedy showcase, featuring a slate of the region's most hysterical talents hosted by Ryan Rogers, and featuring comedians: Tee-Ray Bergeron, Olivia Searcy, Will Merrill, Jeff Vance, and Jestkinni. 7 pm. $15 in advance; $20 at the door. citedesarts.org.