"FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS"
River Center Plaza
Friday, November 30th
Free Event Parking in the River Center East & West Garages!
Festival of Lights | Festival of Lights Map | Parking
Downtown Festival of Lights Site Map

What's happening for the rest of the evening and weekend!
Downtown Weekend Events

Join us under downtown's historic live oaks to commemorate Baton Rouge's oldest holiday tradition. Transforming the winter sky into a magical and snowy winter wonderland, as our Mayor-President Melvin L. "Kip" Holden lights up the boulevard with a million sparkling white lights. Experience the magic beneath the snow of the 35-foot Christmas tree by the River Center Library.

This years Festival of the Lights promises the best of the performing visual and culinary arts. Enjoy a fun filled evening, as the sounds of a live orchestra, and Christmas carols ring in the air. This evening, one may also enjoy ballet dancing, outdoor ice skating, a live nativity scene, a historic village, Christmas Classic Movies, fireworks and of course Santa's parade.

For the Christmas shoppers, visit Santa's Gift Shoppè for innovative and handcrafted gifts from talented local artists located in the River Center Plaza.

Lighting Ceremony & Christmas Performances/River Center Plaza
5 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

Festival of Lights Information Booth/River Center Plaza
3 p.m.–9 p.m.
For emergencies, lost or found or other festival related information. Located directly behind the Governmental Building.

Festival Vending Court/Galvez Plaza
3 p.m.–9 p.m.
Purchase a variety of food and beverages from various vendors. Don't forget to purchase your tickets first from the ticket booth located in the median of North Boulevard.

Outdoor Ice Skating/River Center Plaza
3 p.m.–9 p.m. Free!
A ticket is required and may be obtained at Santa's Gift Shoppè, view map for location. 20 minute sessions every thirty minutes (includes 10 minute break to put on ice skates).

Storytelling
River Center Library/River Center Plaza
120 St. Louis Street
3 p.m.-5 p.m.
2nd floor

Community Stage/River Center Plaza
5 p.m.-6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Featuring Alpha and Omega, East Baton Rouge Parish Children's Choir, Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, East Baton Rouge Parish Junior Choir, Playmakers and Sweet Adeline's

Mayor-President's Stage/Galvez Plaza
5 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
Benny Grunch & the Bunch. Visit www.bennygrunch.com

Lighting of the Christmas Tree/River Center Plaza
6:15 p.m.
Following the lighting of the tree.

Fireworks and Christmas Parade
6:15 p.m.

Swing Into Christmas Street Dance
Mayor's Stage/Galvez Plaza
6:30 p.m.–9 p.m.
Ned Fasullo and his Fabulous Big Band Orchestra playing holiday and big band favorites. Visit www.nedfasullo.com

Santa's Gift Shoppè/River Center Plaza
5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Shop early for the holidays. Find innovative, handcrafted from talented local artists and for the kids face painting and storytelling. Coordinated for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Pick up your Ice skating tickets here!

Christmas Classic Movies/River Center Plaza
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Outdoor screen, featuring Christmas classics from the past, what a blast!

LASM’S Irene W. Pennington Planetarium
100 S. River Road
5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Laser Holidays at showings @ 6 p.m., 7 p.m. & 8 p.m. Santa pictures & receive 10% off purchases, Holiday gift shopping from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Bring or purchase a toy and admission is free to Laser Holidays & The Art of Devotion exhibit. One toy per person. Donations go to Toys For Tots. Visit www.lasm.org

Bethlehem Village
First Presbyterian Church
763 North Boulevard
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Dancers, musicians, and characters in period dress will create a marketplace set in Biblical times. Children can craft homemade ornaments, and assemble care packages for the Homeless Center. Visit www.fpcbr.org

Live Nativity Scene
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
A beautiful live nativity on the church lawn, complete with live animals.

Godszone
7:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m.
Godzone is an awesome worship experience for kids and their parents. It’s church like you’ve never seen it before. In Godzone, you will experience 45 minutes of high energy fun, skits, singing, and stories focused on a biblical virtue.

Amahl and the Night Visitors
St. James Episcopal Church
208 North Fourth Street
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
A spoken, dramatic adaptation of Gian Carlo Menotti's little opera about a lame boy and the miracle that occurs after he gives the visiting Kings on their way to see the Christ Child his crutch, which he made himself, to give to the Infant. Visit www.stjamesbr.org

Old Governor's Mansion
502 North Boulevard
5 p.m.-9p.m.
Holiday Open House and photos with Santa, $10. Visit www.fhl.org

Santa in the Senate
Old State Capitol
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Photos taken with Mr. & Mrs. Clause in the Senate, $5. Christmas Open House, free Victorian ornament making with cookies and punch. Christmas carols in the rotunda with Kenny Kleinpeter.

Jingle Bell Jog and Reindeer Run/Galvez Plaza
Forum 35/All Star Automotive
North Boulevard @ 4th & 5th Streets
Through the streets of downtown! For the more motivated, a fun run and 5-K will turn hundreds of joggers lose. Registration @ 5:30 p.m., 1 mile race @ 7 p.m. and 5K race @ 7:15 p.m. Visit www.reindeer-run.com

Free Hot Chocolate & Music
First Baptist Church
529 Convention Street
5:30 p.m. Visit www.fbcbr.org

Miracle on Third Street
5 p.m.–9 p.m.
Third Street restaurants and shops open for this special evening.

Shaw Center for the Arts
100 Lafayette Street

Manship Theatre
A Gift for Lyman Bourke
8 p.m. Visit www.manshiptheatre.org

LSU Museum of Art
Holiday Gift Shopping
Open until 8 p.m.
3rd Annual Christmas Trunk Show 20% off merchandise. Visit www.lsumoa.com

Brunner Gallery
Contemporary Fine Art Sales
5 p.m.-8 p.m.
A variety of fine and functional art work. Exhibit featuring the works of Edwin Pinkston, Jonathan Pelliteri, and Barbara Fisher. Visit www.brunnergallery.com

PARKING

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and park in either the River Center Garages or the new State Parking Garage. Both garages are easy walking distance to the center of activity at the River Center Plaza.

River Center East & West Parking Garages
FREE EVENT PARKING from 4 p.m.!
(corner of St. Louis & Government Streets)

State Parking Garage
$3. EVENT PARKING from 4:30 p.m.
(corner of Third & Convention Streets)
 

Our Lighting Sponsors!

Special thanks to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, The Advocate, WAFB, WBRZ, Cortana Kiwanis, Sunny 103.3, SMG and the Duplessis Foundation.