White Light Night celebrated its 26th annual festival this year on Friday, Nov. 17 and visitors from all around came to be a part of it.
Artisans of the Baton Rouge area gathered to showcase their crafts for the community. From end to end, Government Street was filled with vendors, booths and spectators looking to tap into that holiday spirit.
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Businesses hosted different artists in the parking lots and open spaces in eye-catching white tents for guests to stop in and admire their work. It was vibrant and engaging, bringing together a diverse range of artistic expressions. The atmosphere was filled with creativity and enthusiasm, making it a delightful experience for all attendees.
Art was showcased through a wide variety of styles and mediums, including paintings on canvas, wood and even oysters. There were photos of Baton Rouge and LSU’s campus, holiday embroidery and jewelry. The live music added an exciting dynamic to the festival. From gourmet food trucks to specialty drinks at brick-and-mortar restaurants, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Restaurants, such as Jed’s Local, upon their recent reopening, hosted some artists in front of its store. Some of these artisans there have been selling work at the festival for four years.
Local vendor Leah Marchand would recommend the art hop to any new or seasoned artist. Due to the amount of walking and length of the festival itself, self-marketing will quickly become the main sale.
Marchand says that it is more about talking to people, other vendors, and guests, and making everyone aware of what you do. Most of the inventory was holiday themed, but it’s important to keep things small that will fit in a pocket so that spectators will not have trouble dragging things along with them as they explore the strip.
Different from years past, complimentary buses for guests to use to get from end to end of the strip were purged from the event while the hosts recommended bikes or scooters. Marchand said that Baton Rouge is not necessarily a biking community and hopes buses will be brought back for the convenience of the customers in future events.
At the far end of the strip at the Electric Depot, guests got their holiday shopping done thanks to vendors hosted there.
“The vendors that I purchased from were proud of their products. I was able to buy homemade soaps, freeze dried candy, jewelry, and baked goods,” a visitor said. “The ambiance of Government Street and the sheer number of vendors, local shops, Christmas lights, and live music made me excited, overwhelmed, and curious at the same time”.
The Electric Depot will have more pop-ups throughout the holiday season.
The festival promoted community engagement and provided a platform for artists to interact with the public. It fosters a sense of connection and appreciation for the local arts scene, visitors have said.
If you missed this wonderful showcase, be sure to mark your calendars for next year.
