Christmas in Baton Rouge has no shortage of family fun , and it’s not hard to see why! The holiday season here offers many family-friendly activities that cater to everyone’s tastes. Whether you’re in the mood for a festive Christmas parade, captivating holiday performances, a chance to meet Santa, some ice skating excitement, or simply soaking in the breathtaking light displays, Baton Rouge boasts a cornucopia of holiday-themed programs and Christmas events throughout the season. It’s truly a magical time in the Capital City!
Thanks to The Merriest Mile for sponsoring the 2024 Baton Rouge Family Fun Christmas Events Guide!
The Merriest Mile is a Christmas Light Adventure that will light up your family’s holiday season! Located at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds, this enchanting Christmas light display is sure to become your favorite family tradition.
CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN BATON ROUGE
While every effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate, we encourage you to contact the display directly to verify that all details are correct and have stayed the same.
This guide will be updated as new events are listed; check back for more Christmas Events in Baton Rouge!
The Merriest Mile
November 29th – December 31st
Livingston Parish Fairgrounds
19869 Fairgrounds Rd, Livingston, LA
✨ Make memories that sparkle this holiday season! I am so excited to share one of Louisiana’s most magical Christmas experiences with you – The Merriest Mile! Born from two Christmas-loving dads wanting to create something special for their children, this mile-long drive-through light spectacular at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds will be pure holiday magic! The Merriest Mile will include Louisiana’s tallest 50-foot MegaTree with its 30,000 dancing lights, and the kids had a blast spotting hidden red crawfish and green alligators along the way! The best part? You can enjoy it all from the comfort of your car – just tune your radio to their station and watch as the lights dance to your favorite holiday tunes. From the animated band to Mrs. Claus’ cookie factory and the Reindeer Flight School, every turn brings a new festive surprise! Pro tip: Put the kids in their Christmas PJs, bring some hot cocoa, and make it an unforgettable family night out!
Tickets are available now at www.themerriestmile.com. This is one holiday tradition you’ll want to start with your family! ❤️
Baton Rouge Zoo’s ZooLights
November 29th – DEC 30
5–9 PM
Join BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo for Zoolights from November 29th through December 30th! Discover the magic of the season at Zoo Lights, presented by Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital! This year, the lights are shining brighter than ever, creating an enchanting experience for the whole family.
Louisiana Lights
November 29th – December 29th
4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge
Louisiana Lights will captivate visitors of all ages and take them on a journey through illuminated garden rooms, past enchanted forests, a sparkling lake and a shimmering tunnel of light on the grounds of the former Burden family home. Dazzling fireflies, beautiful doves, Moravian stars and other stunning surprises will light the way against a backdrop of brilliant, majestic oaks, twinkling crape myrtles and the luminous landscapes of Burden Museum & Garden.
Baton Rouge General Holiday Lights
Now Open
Corner of Bluebonnet Blvd. and Picardy Ave.
Step into a world of enchantment as BRG lights up the night with dazzling displays, including three dancing-light mega trees, 24-foot illuminated tunnels, singing trees, candy canes, snowmen, a giant walk-through ornament, and more!The CPKC Holiday Train
December 5th
1401 Foss St. CPKC Yard
The CPKC Holiday Train program is back for its 26th year of spreading holiday cheer and raising donations to help people struggling with food insecurity. 
Find more details: https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/cpkc-holiday-train/
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concerts
December 5th, 6th, 8th, 21st
Hemingbough Holiday Brass – – December 6th
Houmas House Holiday Brass – – December 8th
Home for the Holidays 2023 – December 21st
2024 Downtown Baton Rouge Festival of Lights
December 6th 4 – 8 PM
Enjoy an evening under downtown’s historic oaks to commemorate Baton Rouge’s oldest holiday tradition. Transforming the winter sky into a wonderland, the Mayor will light North Boulevard with half a million sparkling lights. Experience the magic beneath the 35-foot Christmas tree in Town Square.
Broadmoor’s Annual Christmas Parade
December 7th, 11 AM
1316 S Woodhaven St, Baton Rouge
• This is an outdoor event and the parade will roll as long as weather conditions permit.
• The parade route begins at Broadmoor High School parking lot (on Goodwood Blvd), east onto Goodwood Blvd, through the S curve, then north on Woodhaven St, then west on S. River Oaks Dr., then south on Cora Dr., then east on Goodwood Blvd back to the Broadmoor High School parking lot. The parade route is about 1.9 miles in length.
Sensory Santa
December 7th 9 AM-12 PM
North Sherwood Forest Community Park
Visits to Santa Clause make it feel like a “Not-So Wonderful Time of the Year”? Stroll down to BREC’s North Sherwood Forest Community Park for BREC Adaptive’s Sensory Santa! Here, children and adults with intellectual, developmental, or sensory processing disorders have an opportunity to enjoy holiday activities and have one on one time to take a picture with Santa, without the hassle of standing in long and hectic lines. Spots fill up fast so make sure to register online at BREC.org/adaptiveregistration and visit brec.org for more adaptive opportunities happening all year long!
A Rural Life Christmas
December 8th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Ring in the Christmas season with a 19th century Louisiana celebration. Musical groups, demonstrating artisans, storytellers, and costumed re-enactors will be present to set the holiday mood. The event will conclude with a bonfire and a very special guest.
Santa Rocks the Rowe
December 14thTH, 5-8 PM
Perkins Rowe
Join us on Saturday, December 9th from 5pm-8pm for Perkins Rowe’s annual Santa Rocks the Rowe event! They’ll have paid photos with Santa, live music, face painting, letters to Santa with Baton Rouge Family Fun, games, and more! This event is free and open to the public.Enjoy your favorite holiday tunes brought to you by local musicians right here at the Rowe!
The Cool Beans
5pm-6pm
Street next to California Pizza Kitchen
The Baton Rouge Concert Band
6:30pm-8:00pm
2nd floor balcony of The Great Hall
Let it Sneaux
December 14th 1-5 PM
Perkins Road Community Park
Who said we can’t create our own Winter Wonderland right here in Baton Rouge? 
Come out to Perkins Road Community Park for a merry time at BREC’s Let It Sneaux on December 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. 
This FREE family event with help from Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts featuring flurries of holiday fun including photos with Santa, 
live music, a Mini Maker’s Market featuring local kidpreneurs , ~back by popular demand~ a special holiday DRONE show, and snow much more!
2024 Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade
December 14TH 5:30PM
Downtown Baton Rouge
The Annual Cortana Kiwanis Downtown Christmas Parade will roll through Downtown Baton Rouge on December 9th at 5:30 pm. Every year, more than 70,000 people watch the parade live and thousands more enjoy it on television through the holiday season. The Parade is a celebration and a great way to connect with the community. The parade is open to everyone. Typically the parade includes about 80 entries. These entries are a mix of marching bands, celebrities, dance troupes, non-profit organizations, and local businesses in seasonal themes.
Annual Christmas in Central Parade
December 14th, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Joor & Hooper to Joor & Lovett
The Nutcracker: A Tale from the Bayou
December 14th – 15th @ 2 & 6 p.m.
River Center Theatre for Performing Arts
Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s annual holiday production, The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou is finally returning to the stage in its traditional home, the River Center Theatre of the Performing Arts. It has been three years since the Company has been able to perform on the stage where it feels most comfortable, so our return to live performances on our “home stage” will truly be a celebration! We will again be joined by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, so don’t miss this magical celebration of the holiday season, where you’ll be enchanted by the beautiful choreography, fun magic, and lush scenery and sets by Nels Anderson.
Creole Christmas + Holiday Fair
December 15th 12-5 PM
Magnolia Mound 2161 Nicholson Drive Baton Rouge
Magnolia Mound Plantation – Creole Christmas is an annual event featuring seasonal decorations in the historic house, traditional songs in French and Spanish sung by local school children, period demonstrations, folk crafts and the annual bonfire to welcome Papa Noel.
Ice Skating on the River
December 18th – January 2nd
Raising Cane’s River Center
Ice Skating On The River is back at the Raising Cane’s River Center! Glide into the holiday spirit from December 18 to January 2nd. 
Lace up your skates and join the festivities with 75-minute public ice skating sessions nearly every day! Create cherished winter memories with family and friends in a festive, enchanting Baton Rouge atmosphere. Don’t miss this cool opportunity!
Holiday Events Beyond Baton Rouge
Celebration In The Oaks- New Orleans
November 29 – January 3rd
4 Friederichs Avenue, NOLA 70124
Celebration in the Oaks in City Park is one of the most spectacular holiday lights festivals in the country. This beloved annual celebration is fun for all ages and has become an enduring holiday tradition for families, who come to Celebration in the Oaks to ride the train or carousel every year. Visitors are treated to a wide range of attractions, from light displays to the walkways lined with dozens of Christmas trees decorated by local school groups. Perennial favorites include the two-mile train ride through glittering light exhibits, the animated Cajun night before Christmas display, and of course, New Orleans’ iconic snowman Mr. Bingle.
Christmas in the Park
December 1 – December 30
Lafrienere Park 3000 Downs Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70003
Lafreniere Park sparkles for the holidays with millions of twinkling lights and displays! Constructed with over 10 million LED lights, this year’s new exhibit is an interactive Christmas tree. Elaborate decorations, artificial snow, and festive lighted displays illuminate Lafreniere Park and include themes such as Star Wars, Marvel & D.C Comics, Minions, Disney Princesses, a pirate ship, and so much more.
NOLA Christmasfest
DECEMBER 20th – 30TH
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans’ most beloved indoor, family-friendly holiday attraction returns!
Escape to an enchanting winter wonderland at NOLA ChristmasFest, presented by Coca-Cola. From the awe-inspiring holiday displays including a Gingerbread Village, Giant Wreath and Tree to an expanded ice slide section, a magical ice-skating rink, exciting Carnival rides, and delightful holiday entertainment, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Kenner’s Heritage Park Christmas Village –
December 1 – December 31
2015 Fourth Street, Kenner, LA
Each year in December, the streets and buildings in Rivertown from the railroad tracks to the river, are adorned with dazzling lights and displays. The festivities culminate in Kenner’s Heritage Park, located at the center of the district and open every day and evening. There, visitors can wander through and view the festival displays, shop local food and craft vendors, find a unique gift, take a photo with Santa, or watch a song or dance performance by community churches and school groups.
Children revel in the sudsy “snow” that blankets the park throughout the evening, and a special holiday-themed musical laser light show plays in the Kenner Planetarium theater right across the street. You’re sure to catch some holiday cheer in Rivertown.
Christmas in the Country St. Francisville
DECEMBER 6th – 8th
11936 Ferdinand St. , Saint Francisville
Nothing says Christmas to an excited child more than a parade, especially a safe small-town one like St. Francisville’s popular Christmas in the Country parade the first Saturday each December, complete with marching bands and decorated floats, Santa resplendent in his sleigh. Millions of tiny white lights trace soaring Victorian trimwork and grace gallery posts to transform the entire town into a veritable winter wonderland for Christmas in the Country, as special activities throughout the extensive National Register-listed downtown Historic District provide fun for the whole family at this celebration of the season, a joyful alternative to mall madness. View the full schedule of events:
Noel Acadien au Village – Lafayette
DECEMBER 1 – 23
LARC’S ACADIAN VILLAGE
200 Greenleaf Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
LARC’s Acadian Village hosts its 23 night Christmas festival fundraiser annually in December to benefit LARC, a local 501c(3) non-profit organization benefiting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Noel Acadien au Village features half-a-million lights, including the fully lit Chapel, NEW ANIMATIONS, lighted holiday displays, live entertainment, carnival rides, local cuisine, photos with Santa, holiday shopping in the Christmas Store and much more! All proceeds directly benefit LARC’s Acadian Village and the residential, vocational, and community supports and services at LARC.
Christmas in the Park. Moncus Park
DECEMBER 13th, 14th, 15th – 6-9 PM
Christmas in the Park. Moncus Park. 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Celebrate the season with a CHRISTMAS event that will have live music, as well as separate activities for kids. Visit the link for a full live music lineup. MoncusPark.org/Christmas.
Get ready for a festive wonderland featuring:
Live Music to get you in the holiday spirit
The Polar Express on the big screen presented by Manuel Commercial
☕ Mobile Hot Chocolate Stations presented by Roots Pediatric Dentistry
Santa Photos, brought to you by Whataburger
Hay Rides presented by Service Chevrolet Cadillac
S’mores Stations presented by Rader
27th Festival of the Bonfires – St. James Parish
DECEMBER 13th, 14th, 15th
Lutcher Recreational Park 2545 Louisiana Avenue Lutcher, LA 70071
CHRISTMAS ON THE RIVER…CAJUN STYLE! Enjoy great food, live entertainment, crafts, Santa’s Very Merry Forest and carnival rides throughout the weekend. Each night will be highlighted with a single bonfire lighting! Come out and experience a prelude to the famous Christmas Eve Bonfires: A tradition unique to St. James Parish and all the world!! LOCATION: Lutcher Recreational Park Lutcher Avenue- La HWY 3193 Lutcher, LA 70071
Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights
November 21st- December 31st
A weekend trip or long day trip with lots of driving along with lots of memories made.
The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights has existed for nearly 30 years to enhance the holiday experiences for locals, visitors, and group tours. The trail spans I-20 and I-49 in north Louisiana and incorporates Shreveport-Bossier, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, and Alexandria/Pineville.
Festivities generally start in mid-November and run through the New Year. Some of the popular and recurring events include shopping/dining/entertainment at the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets in Shreveport-Bossier, Fasching Festival in Minden, shopping and dining in Antique Alley in Monroe-West Monroe, Festival of Lights in Natchitoches and the Christmas parades in Alexandria/Pineville.
The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights can be experienced in one day or a week with each day totally unique and special. The cities are all within driving distance of one another, making the tour a convenient hour-long trip from any one city to its neighboring city. Visitors are encouraged to see the brilliant lights, dine at the local restaurants, dance at the festivals, shop, and play in all of the eight festive cities.
Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival
November 23rd – January 6th
781 Front Street
Natchitoches, LA 71457
Named after a Native American tribe, Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish ) is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Since 1927, they are home to one of the oldest community-based holiday celebrations in the country. Starting as a one-day festival, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival has evolved into a six-week long Christmas Season. The Christmas Season begins on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and concludes on January the 6th, the Epiphany. Over 300,000 lights and 100 plus set pieces are on display every night at dusk. Celebrate the Christmas season in Louisiana’s oldest city. Enjoy our daylong festival filled with music, entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and our famous firework show choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.
Christmas in the Park – Dark Woods Adventure Park
December 1st – 25th
4343 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457
Our Christmas events in Baton Rouge guide will be updated as new events are announced. Be sure to check back often for the latest Baton Rouge Family Fun! If we’ve missed an event, please email us, and we’ll gladly add it to the guide.
While every effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate, we encourage you to contact the patch directly to verify that all details are correct and have not changed.