The streets of downtown Baton Rouge will light up with a half million Christmas lights Friday night when Mayor-President Kip Holden helps kick off the Downtown Festival of Lights. The Festival is an annual Christmas celebration that features free, family-friendly activities like a skating rink and shopping at nearby businesses. The Downtown Development District, an organization that works to develop downtown Baton Rouge, is sponsoring the festival. “[The Louisiana Art and Science Museum] is participating because it’s a great way to give back to the community, and of course everyone loves Christmas,” said Elizabeth Tadie, director of marketing at LASM.Participating businesses include the LSU Museum of Art, the Old State Capitol, the Old Governor’s Mansion and other local businesses. Each business is donating a part of its proceeds to local charities. “Right now at the museum we have several Andy Warhol pieces in the gallery, so we made a Christmas tree out of 300 Campbell’s Soup cans that will later be donated to the Baton Rouge Area Food Bank,” said LeAnne Russo, a manager of the LSU Museum of Art Museum Store. Russo said the gift store will host a trunk show featuring five artists. Russo expects about 1,000 customers to come through the store during the festival.”Since we’re right here [in the downtown area], there’s traffic that comes through, and people come from all over to see the Festival,” Russo said. “It’s a great way for our artists to get their work out there.”LASM will host a showing of its program, Holiday Music Magic, as well as a Christmas ornament-decorating workshop for children. All the events are free when patrons bring in a toy donation.Festival activities will include the live band After 8, caroling at the Old State Capitol and live nativity scenes at local churches. Kayla Brewer, Old State Capitol intern, said 4,000 visitors are expected to visit the Capitol for the caroling and to see Santa in the Senate chamber. In addition to shopping, patrons can also take part in the free ice skating rink inside the River Center or the six tons of snow provided outside. “The Festival has been going on for about ten years, and everything is free to the public,” said Gabe Vicknair, events and marketing coordinator for the Downtown Development District.Vicknair said the festival will take place mostly on Third Street, and there will be a Christmas decoration contest between the businesses and churches in the downtown area. – – – -Contact Emily Slack at [email protected]