Experience the magic of the holiday season in Baton Rouge, LA, where festive lights and joyous celebrations create a winter wonderland for all to enjoy. The city comes alive with the Festival of Lights, illuminating the riverfront with synchronized lights and vibrant sounds of local jazz. Families can explore the excitement of Christmas in the Park, where candy cane-striped playgrounds and reindeer games delight children of all ages.
Step back in time at the Nottoway Plantation Christmas Celebration, where visitors are transported to a 19th-century holiday, complete with candlelit carols and costumed interpreters. Baton Rouge offers a rich tapestry of holiday events blending tradition, history, and community spirit for an unforgettable Christmas experience.
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The Top Christmas Events in Baton Rouge
- Festival of Lights
- ZooLights at the Baton Rouge Zoo
- Old State Capitol Holiday Open House
- A Rural Life Christmas
- Christmas at Magnolia Mound
Baton Rouge Holiday Light Displays
Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Massive synchronized light show set to music
Description:
Baton Rouge's skyline transforms during the Festival of Lights, as thousands of synchronized lights dance to holiday melodies. This dazzling spectacle illuminates the city's riverfront, creating a breathtaking reflection on the Mississippi River. Visitors can stroll along the levee, taking in the vibrant displays. The event pays homage to the city's rich musical heritage, incorporating local jazz and zydeco into the light show's soundtrack. Families gather to witness this annual tradition that has brightened Baton Rouge's holiday season for over two decades.
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ZooLights at the Baton Rouge Zoo
What to Expect:
Animal-shaped light sculptures and nocturnal animal encounters
Description:
Zoo Lights transforms the Baton Rouge Zoo into a luminous safari. Life-sized light sculptures of exotic animals guide visitors through a twinkling landscape. The event offers a rare opportunity to observe nocturnal animals during their active hours. Guests can embark on a guided "night eyes" tour, spotting real animals in their habitats. The zoo's conservation efforts take center stage, with educational displays highlighting endangered species. This after-dark adventure combines holiday spirit with wildlife education, creating a unique experience for animal lovers of all ages.
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ZooLights at the Baton Rouge Zoo
Baton Rouge Other Holiday Activities
Old State Capitol Holiday Open House
What to Expect:
Victorian-era holiday decorations in a Gothic Revival castle
Description:
The Old State Capitol's Holiday Open House offers a glimpse into 19th-century yuletide celebrations. The Gothic Revival castle dons Victorian-era decorations, transporting visitors to Christmases of the past. Guests can explore rarely-opened rooms of the historic building, each adorned with period-appropriate holiday finery. The event features live performances of traditional carols, their melodies resonating through the castle's halls. This open house not only celebrates the holidays but also showcases the architectural marvel that has stood as a symbol of Louisiana's political history since 1847.
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Old State Capitol Holiday Open House
A Rural Life Christmas
What to Expect:
19th-century rural Louisiana Christmas reenactment
Description:
A Rural Life Christmas immerses visitors in the holiday traditions of 19th-century rural Louisiana. The living history museum comes alive with costumed interpreters demonstrating period-accurate Christmas preparations. Guests can participate in hands-on activities like candle dipping and wreath making. The event highlights the stark differences between rural and urban Christmas celebrations of the era. You'll witness the simplicity and warmth of a country Christmas, complete with the crackling of a wood-burning stove. This event offers a poignant reminder of Louisiana's agricultural heritage and the enduring spirit of community during the holidays.
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Christmas at Magnolia Mound
What to Expect:
18th-century French Creole Christmas traditions
Description:
Christmas at Magnolia Mound transports visitors to an 18th-century French Creole holiday celebration. The plantation house is adorned with period-accurate decorations, showcasing the elegant simplicity of early Louisiana Christmases. Guests can observe demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking methods unique to the French Creole culture. The event features a special focus on the role of enslaved people in plantation Christmas celebrations, offering a nuanced view of history. You'll experience the distinct sounds of Cajun and Creole Christmas music, performed on authentic instruments. This event provides a window into the complex cultural tapestry of colonial Louisiana during the holiday season.
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Nearby Events
Christmas in the Park (Denham Springs)
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday-themed playground
Description:
Christmas in the Park brings a unique twist to holiday celebrations with its interactive playground. Children delight in climbing candy cane-striped structures and sliding down peppermint-themed slides. The event transforms a local park into a holiday haven, complete with twinkling lights adorning every tree. You can participate in reindeer games, a nod to Louisiana's own history of exotic animal farms. The air fills with the aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts, adding to the sensory experience. This community gathering has become a cherished tradition for Baton Rouge families since its inception in the early 2000s.
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Nottoway Plantation Christmas Celebration (White Castle)
What to Expect:
Antebellum-style Christmas decorations and reenactments
Description:
Nottoway Plantation transports visitors to a 19th-century Christmas celebration. The antebellum mansion dons period-accurate decorations, showcasing how the holidays were celebrated in the Old South. Costumed interpreters bring history to life, demonstrating traditional crafts and sharing stories of Christmases past. Guests can join in a candlelit carol sing-along, echoing the plantation's grand ballroom with melodies of yesteryear. This event offers a glimpse into the complex history of Louisiana's plantation era, blending holiday cheer with historical reflection.
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Nottoway Plantation Christmas Celebration
Christmas on the River (St. Francisville)
What to Expect:
Floating Christmas parade on the Mississippi River
Description:
Christmas on the River brings holiday cheer to the mighty Mississippi. A parade of boats, decked out in dazzling lights, glides down the river, creating a moving light show on the water. Spectators line the levee, watching as each vessel competes for the title of best-decorated boat. You can warm up with a cup of traditional Louisiana-style hot chocolate while enjoying the spectacle. This event harkens back to the river's importance in Baton Rouge's history, celebrating the waterway that has long been the lifeblood of the city.
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An Old-Fashioned Christmas with Melrose Plantation (Melrose)
What to Expect:
Creole Christmas traditions and folk art displays
Description:
Melrose Plantation's Old Fashioned Christmas celebrates the unique Creole holiday traditions of central Louisiana. The historic site showcases folk art displays, highlighting the work of renowned artist Clementine Hunter, who lived and worked on the plantation. Visitors can explore the Big House, adorned with traditional Creole Christmas decorations. The event features demonstrations of holiday cooking techniques from the 19th century, filling the air with the aroma of spices and pralines. This celebration offers insight into the blending of cultures that shaped Louisiana's distinctive holiday customs.
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An Old-Fashioned Christmas with Melrose Plantation
Christmas in Roseland (Shreveport)
What to Expect:
Holiday-themed botanical garden light display
Description:
Christmas in Roseland transforms the American Rose Center into a twinkling winter paradise. Millions of lights adorn the garden's extensive collection of roses and other flora, creating a unique blend of natural and holiday beauty. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through illuminated pathways, discovering hidden light displays among the plants. The event showcases the garden's commitment to conservation, featuring educational displays about winter plant care. You'll encounter the sweet fragrance of winter-blooming roses, a rare treat in the holiday season. This botanical celebration has been a cherished Baton Rouge tradition for over three decades.
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West Baton Rouge Christmas Parade (Port Allen)
What to Expect:
Sugar cane-themed floats and local industry showcase
Description:
The West Baton Rouge Christmas Parade celebrates the region's rich agricultural heritage. Unique floats adorned with sugar cane and other local crops roll through the streets, highlighting the area's primary industries. Spectators line the parade route, catching throws of locally-made treats and trinkets. The event features performances by high school marching bands, playing a mix of holiday tunes and Louisiana favorites. You can spot parish dignitaries riding in vintage sugar cane haulers, a nod to the area's history. This parade embodies the spirit of community and tradition that defines West Baton Rouge during the holiday season.
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West Baton Rouge Christmas Parade