Lighten up, Acadiana!

            Family’s in for the holidays, kids are getting under foot now that the weather’s turned chilly….get out of the house and tour the area’s holiday light displays! Here’s a list of holiday lights happening throughout Acadiana.

            Kemper Williams Park’s “Christmas Lights in the Park” at 264 Cotten Road in Patterson will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31. For $2 per car, visitors may enjoy the beautiful displays, lights and music throughout the park.

            Christmas in Crowley features more than 200,000 holiday lights synchronized to music from 5 p.m. to midnight Dec. 2 through Jan. 3, 2014, along Parkerson Avenue in Crowley. The ride is free and you can tune your radio to 93.3 FM for the music. But there will also be "A Holiday Affair" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Crowley downtown with carolers, pictures with Santa and more. To view a video of the synchronized lights, click here.

            The Safari of Lights at the Zoo of Acadiana begins Nov. 29 and runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. Be sure and ride the North Pole Express train! 

            AcadianVillage is covered in half a million lights and offers live entertainment, food and holiday shopping from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly from Nov. 30 through Dec. 23. The annual event titled “Noel Acadien au Village” helps raise funds for the non-profit. Tickets are $9 at the gate; $7 in advance.

           Grand Noel in Grand Coteau is a chance to enjoy shopping in the quaint town from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 but there will also be carriage rides, food, carolers, candlelight and food.

Holiday fun in Lafayette

     Acadiana comes alive every holiday season for the annual “A Cajun and Creole Christmas.” Voted a Top 20 December Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the celebration includes parades, performances, children’s activities, home tours and Santa — and much, much more.

Geno Delafose

     For a complete list of events for A Cajun and Creole Christmas, including events in towns throughout Acadiana, visit LafayetteTravel.com.

     Here’s a rundown of events happening in Lafayette starting with Thanksgiving Eve.

     Downtown Alive! free music concert series features The Pine Leaf Boys on Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Eve) in Parc Sans Souci and includes the Lighting of the Official City Christmas Tree by Mayor Joey Durel. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m. Also on Nov. 27 is the Thanksgiving Eve Dance with Geno Delafose at 8:30 p.m. at Vermilionville. Admission is $10. 

     The Safari of Lights at the Zoo of Acadiana begins Nov. 29 and runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. Be sure and ride the North Pole Express train! 

     Acadian Village is covered in half a million lights and offers live entertainment, food and holiday shopping from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly from Nov. 30 through Dec. 23. The annual event helps raise funds for the non-profit organization. Tickets $9 at the gate; $7 in advance. 

Acadian Village

     The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra presents “Sounds of the Season” from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at St. Peters Catholic Church, 108 E St. Peter St. in New Iberia. Free.
     Christmas in Scott includes photos with Santa and the official lighting of the Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at 916 Cayret St. in downtown Scott.

     The annual Festival of Light, one of Lafayette’s largest holiday attractions, happens 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Oil Center. Celebrate as the switch is pulled to light the colossal Santa, sleigh and reindeer over Coolidge Boulevard, with music, food and fun, and of course shopping! There’s even snow!

     Christmas at the Alexandre Mouton House, adorned in period decorations, will be Dec. 6-31 at 1122 Lafayette St., downtown Lafayette. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Tickets $5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students. 

     The City of Broussard Christmas Parade begins at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at the intersection of South Morgan and Albertson Parkway. 

The Nutcracker

     The Carencro Country Christmas with choirs, singers, arts and crafts, food booths and pictures with Santa takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5115 N. University in Carencro. Free. The Christmas Children’s Parade begins at 2 p.m.
     The Sonic Christmas Parade rolls from downtown Lafayette to the Oil Center, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8. Free. One of the oldest Christmas activities in Acadiana, containing more than 20 floats, high school marching bands and the official arrival of Santa Claus to Lafayette. 

     Vermilionville historic village offers an Old-Time Christmas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10. Experience the simple warmth and beauty of Christmas past and meet Papa Noël, learn how to make wax candles, sing along to Christmas carols, watch popcorn stringing and even get a taste of apple cider!
     The popular “A Tuna Christmas” stage play returns to Cité des Arts of downtown Lafayette Dec. 12-15, 19-22 and 26-29. The comedy is set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas, and two actors play the entire cast of more than 20 characters of both genders and various ages. 337-291-1122.
     The Living Bethlehem will be 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 13-15 at Sugar Mill Pond Town Center, 120 Waterview Road in Youngsville. Free. The Living Bethlehem is a live nativity drama featuring a cast of children, live animals and a children’s choir.

Vermilionville

     The Singing Christmas Tree is a Broadway-style Christmas show for the entire family with a choir singing from a massive Christmas tree. This year’s production is “Keep Calm…Christmas is Coming. Performances are 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 14, 3 p.m. Dec. 15 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the First Baptist Church in Lafayette. 800-965-9324.

     “The Nutcracker” will be performed by Lafayette Ballet Theatre with special guests at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette. (337) 262-0444.
     Lessons and Carols, traditional candlelight service of readings and choral music for the Christmas season in the historic St. John Cathedral, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at 914 St. John St. in Lafayette. Free.
     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.

     This is only a tip of the holiday iceberg. Be sure and check out the full schedule athttp://www.lafayettetravel.com/play/festivalsevents/cajun-creole-christmas.

Holiday shopping in Acadiana

     It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and that means it’s time to go shopping! Need a few suggestions? From large malls to souvenir and antique shops, Lafayette and its surrounding area collectively known as Acadiana have something for everyone. 

     ShopLafayette by Lafayette Travel spotlights fabulous shopping, warm and welcoming overnight stays and unique events for travelers and shoppers to enjoy. Visit the ShopLafayette website and on social media to get lots of shopping ideas from hundreds of merchants and businesses. Or visit our helpful interactive map to find the right spot. On Pinterest, you can view what Lafayette shops have to offer.
     New this year is the Acadiana Mall, which unveiled a new look in early November after months of extensive renovation.
     Some of the shopping areas in Lafayette include:

     Acadiana Mall

     The Oil Center

     Downtown Lafayette

     River Ranch Town Center and the Shops at River Ranch

     Parc Lafayette

     …and so much more!

     Between now and Christmas there are several fun shopping events. For instance, the Lafayette Art Association will host its “Marche Noel” or Holiday Art Market with dozens of local artists and crafters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the gallery on 1008 East St. Mary Street in Lafayette.

     Christmas at Coteau, a holiday market with special events to raise funds for the Schools of the Sacre Heart at Grand Coteau, will be Dec. 6 and 7 in Grand Coteau, about 20 minutes north of Lafayette. This year’s schedule of events includes a Holiday Market, Coteau Café, Coteau Celebration, Le Petit-Déjeuner Avec Les Saints and a gourmet luncheon featuring the cuisine of Ruffino’s On The River.

     Check back as we update this blog for more holiday shopping ideas!