With the coming of December, final exams and colder weather, the Christmas season has finally arrived, along with the annual Festival of Lights event in downtown Baton Rouge.
The Festival of Lights will be held Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and includes works by local artists, a snow village, Christmas music and movies, a guest appearance by Santa and many other activities.
“It’s a time for the community to come together and celebrate the holidays,” said Gabriel Vicknair, special events coordinator for the Downtown Development District. “The Festival of Lights is the city’s Christmas event.”
Vicknair said the activity is concentrated in the Baton Rouge River Center Plaza and culminates around the lighting of the 35-foot Christmas tree but there are also activities on North Boulevard and Third Street.
The Christmas tree lighting begins as the community comes together and East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden addresses the crowd.
The lighting of the Christmas tree and fireworks follow that, Vicknair said.
Other activities at the event include Christmas movie showings, a free ice-skating rink at Capital One’s outdoor ice-skating and a snow village at the River Center Plaza, which includes six tons of real snow available for visitors to play in, Vicknair said.
The Miracle on Third Street is a part of the Festival of Lights in which galleries and businesses on Third Street open their doors for visitors and hold a holiday art walk, which could be a fun activity for college students, Vicknair said.
“Some establishments are local bars and restaurants, so it makes for a nice night downtown on Third Street,” he said.
Jonathan Chetta, finance freshman, said the event interests him because he enjoys the holiday season and the Festival of Lights revolves around Christmas.
“The real snow, ice-skating and the downtown atmosphere are what interest me the most about the Festival of Lights,” Chetta said. “I think the festival will interest a lot of college students.”
Santa’s Gift Shoppe, coordinated by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, will offer a specialty shop that features local artists selling handcrafted gifts, which could provide unique gift ideas, Vicknair said.
Visitors can also board the Snowball Express, a trackless train, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays and the festival.
Vicknair said the Swing Into Christmas Street Dance at the Galvez Plaza will include Phat Hat playing Christmas music from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by Ned Fasullo and his big band orchestra playing holiday and big band favorites to finish the night.
Erin Mayeaux, mass communication sophomore and Christmas lover, has never attended the Festival of Lights but said the event is excellent because it offers holiday events unfamiliar to south Louisiana. She said it serves as an escape from the stress of finals, if only for a few hours.
“I think this event is a great idea,” Mayeaux said. “It’s a way to get the city of Baton Rouge, young and old, together for the holidays.”
Roaming performers, including a magician, a balloon artist and stilt walkers, will also be on site, according to the Festival of Lights website.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to come out and enjoy free entertainment in the heart of the city,” Vicknair said.
 
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Contact Ferris W. McDaniel at [email protected]