A Cajun & Creole Christmas — Holiday Lights

Noel Acadien au Village

    Lafayette and the surrounding cities and countryside is transformed into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with light displays everywhere.
    Here are some spots to visit throughout the entire holiday season, with a few special lighting events thrown in. 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. Over 50,000 dazzling animated holiday lights are synchronized to music and you can listen to the lights by tuning in on your car radio!
     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. 23-24 and Nov. 30-Dec. 30 at the Zoo, 5601 U.S. Hwy. 90 East in Broussard. Info: (337) 837-4325.
      Christmas in Vermilion offers a variety of holiday activities Nov. 23-Jan. 1 throughout Vermilion Parish. Admission varies. Info: (337) 898-6600. 
      Take a driving tour along a path filled with elaborate displays of Christmas lights while Christmas music enhances the drive from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 25-Dec. 31 in Kemper Williams Park in Patterson. Cost is $2 per car. Info: (985) 395-2298.
     The historic town of Franklin will offer its Walking Parade & Lamplighter Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the corner of Jackson and Main streets. Bring flashlights. For those who own golf carts, decorate them and participate in the parade! Info: (337) 828-3631.
     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. Admission is $9 at the gate, $7 in advance, with specials available on the web site. 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.
    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.

St. Lucy Festival of Light

     The Delcambre Boat Parade features decorated and lighted boats parading down the Delcambre Canal from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 in Delcambre. In addition, there will be gumbo and refreshments for sale. Info: (337) 898-6600.
     St. Lucy Festival of Light will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville. The free event features food, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, a 2 p.m. Christmas parade and the lighting of the Church Square at 6 p.m.
      This is only a tip of the holiday iceberg. Be sure and check out the full schedule at http://www.lafayettetravel.com/play/festivalsevents/cajun-creole-christmas.