A Cajun and Creole Christmas — Children’s Activities

    We all love the holidays, with the lights, gift-giving and special events abounding. But the holidays also mean there are kids under afoot.
    For the tykes who are out of school and looking for fun activities, there’s endless fun happening throughout Acadiana during the Cajun and Creole Christmas festivities. In addition to those occurring for the holidays, there’s the usual fun-filled children’s events, such as canoeing on Bayou Vermilion, the night hikes at Acadiana Park Nature Trails, the museums of downtown Lafayette and more.
    For a complete list of Cajun and Creole Christmas events, visit LafayetteTravel.com.
    Christmas in Crowley Lights to Music Spectacular will be 5:30 p.m. to midnight Nov. 22-Jan. 3 at City Hall, 425 N. Parkerson in Crowley. More than 50,000 animated holiday lights are synchronized to music and you can listen to the lights by tuning in on your car radio.
    An evening hike through Acadiana Park Nature Trails begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 24. Bring flashlight, long pants, walking shoes and insect repellent. $3 per person and children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required and must be made by 3 p.m. Nov. 24; call (337) 291-8448.

Acadiana Park Nature Station

    Join the Griswolds when Movies in the Parc present “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at dusk (5:30 p.m.) in Parc International of downtown Lafayette. Cost is $2, free for kids 5 and under. Bring blankets, snacks and more and enjoy a holiday classic. Info: (337) 291-5566.
       The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra performs Christmas songs and classical selections as part of its “Sounds of the Season with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra” at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at St. Peters Catholic Church, 108 E St. Peter St. in New Iberia. Free. Info: (337) 364-1603.
    The Acadiana Center for the Arts presents the award-winning Playing By Air, a fusion of music, juggling and circus in which traditional theatricality meets absurd comedy, at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 & 28.
     Safari of Lights is a holiday event with lights, animation and the North Pole Express train at the Zoo of Acadiana, held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 30 at the Zoo, 5601 US Hwy. 90 East in Broussard. Info: (337) 837-4325.

Movies in the Parc

     The Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers its Candy Cane Lane exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1-Feb. 28 at the museum in downtown Lafayette. Visitors will be transported to a place full of holiday cheer and imagination where they can play in Santa’s Workshop, dress up as elves’ and visit a holiday village. Info: (337) 232-8500.
    Noel Acadien au Village, a light extravaganza to support the non-profit historic village, is 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly Dec. 1-23 at LARC’s Acadian Village in Lafayette. There will be more than a half million lights, nightly entertainment, local cuisine, photos with Santa, carnival rides and items for sale. Info: (337) 981-2364.
    The 18th Annual Festival of Light, with shopping, Santa, music, food and real snow, will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Oil Center of Lafayette. Info: (337) 232-1267, www.theoilcenter.com
    Le Vieux Village’s 11th Annual Christmas Lighting will be from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the historic “village” at 828 E. Landry St. in Opelousas. In addition to the lighting ceremony, there will be Christmas music, carols sung by a choir, refreshments, a horse-drawn buggy ride and Santa. Free. Info: (337) 948-5227.
    Get outside for a canoe paddle up Bayou Vermilion beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8. Cost is $5 or bring your own canoe or kayak and paddle for free. RSVP in advance by calling (337) 233-4077, Ext 205.
    Take a hike Dec. 8 at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and learn about the different plants and animals in the park and how they've been historically utilized by the Chitimacha, Acadians and Creoles for food, shelter and medicine. Info: (888) 677-7200.
    Yuletide on the Bayou, a Gingerbread House competition among Girl Scouts, will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8, at Boulingy Plaza, 102 W Main St. in New Iberia. Info: (337) 369-2330.
     Old-Time Christmas at Vermilionville will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 11-20 and include Papa Noël, demonstrations on how to make wax candles, citrus pomanders and soap, a Christmas sing-a-long and a reading of “A Cajun Night before Christmas.”
    Learn about bousillage, a mixture of mud and Spanish moss used in Acadian and Creole home building, at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Guests will learn the basics of bousillage and create their own sculptures out of bousillage to take home. Info: (888) 677-7200.
    A Christmas Celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Vermilionville with a hands-on family cooking class, decorating workshop where kids use natural and traditional items to make decorations, Christmas caroling in the village and a cookie decorating contest.

New Year's Noon Countdown and Carnival

    Christmas parades in Acadiana include the Sonic Christmas Parade through Lafayette from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2; Lake Arthur Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 8; Delcambre Boat Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 8; St. Lucy Festival of Light and KC Christmas Parade from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (parade at 2 p.m.) Dec. 9 in St. Martinville and the Opelousas Children’s Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 13.
    For New Year’s, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers a New Year’s Noon Countdown & Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at the museum in downtown Lafayette. The cost is $6 per person and includes exhibits, confetti, cannons and prize drops. Info: (337) 232-8500.
    For a complete list of holiday events, visit http://www.lafayettetravel.com/play/festivalsevents/cajun-creole-christmas.