With the holiday season here, there are a plethora of festivities taking place in Baton Rouge. Find yourself admiring over 400,000 lights at the Baton Rouge General Light Display, or get lucky enough to receive a photo opportunity with Santa at a variety of locations around the city. Whatever you choose to do this December, these activities will guarantee holiday joy for the whole family. Don’t miss out on the fun, and check out our entire list of holiday events below! 

 

SHOPPING EVENTS: 

 

Mid-City Makers Market 
Friday, December 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Showcasing the works of local makers and creatives, the Mid-City Makers Market at Circa 1857 is the perfect place for an outing this holiday season. Come stroll around for the last market of the year, wrap up your Christmas shopping and see what the locals are up to! 

 

Baton Rouge Arts Market
Saturday, December 18 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Find the perfect last minute Christmas gift when you head over to the Baton Rouge Arts Market on 5th and Main Street in downtown Baton Rouge! Hosted by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, this market highlights the works of local artists and retailers. This is the last one of the year, so make sure to mark your calendar! 

 

Local Pop-Up Mini Market
Saturday, December 18 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Support local small businesses this holiday season when you visit Local Pop-Up’s Holiday Mini Market at the Electric Depot! Explore the talents of the artists and makers of the city while looking for the perfect presents for family and friends. 

 

ONGOING EVENTS:

 

Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General 
Free display now through December 31 from 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Snow & Glow Event: Thursday, December 16 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Price: $5.00

Nothing says Christmas quite like a holiday light display! Come out at 5:30 p.m. to Baton Rouge General anytime before December 31st to explore their holiday extravaganza of over 400,000 lights! Want to experience more? Go to their ticketed event on December 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a night full of not only lights, but pictures, good eats, performances and real snow too! 

 

ZooLights at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
Now through December 30 from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Price: $5.00 for adults 13+, $4.00 for senior citizens, $3.00 for children ages 2 - 12, $3.00 for Friends of the Zoo Members

Looking for a family fun activity that everyone can enjoy? Head to BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo to celebrate the annual ZooLights! With more than 50 light sculptures of zoo animals and holiday displays to gaze upon, this one mile trail through the zoo is one you don’t want to miss out on. But that’s not all. Score even more this holiday season when you bring in a non-perishable food item during ZooLights hours for a 50% discount off the admission price! 

 

Ice Skating on the River 
December 17 through January 3
Price: $12.00 - $14.00 

This holiday season, come experience a real-life winter wonderland when you visit the annual ice skating rink at the Raising Cane’s River Center! Whether you ice skate every year or you’re a beginner looking to try out the rink, this is the perfect place to escape from the Louisiana heat, and experience a true winter season! 

 

Pictures with Santa 
*Price and photo packages at each location vary*

Are you naughty or nice this year? Come find out when you stop by any of these three locations for the perfect photo opportunity with Santa Claus! While reservations aren’t required, they are encouraged. 

 

ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS:

 

Let It Sneaux: Movie in Lovett Park
Friday, December 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

For all the movie lovers out there, BREC’s Lovett Park is the place to be this December 17th! Come out as they provide a night full of entertainment along with a screening of Elf. From meet and greets with Santa to cups of warm hot chocolate, you’ll feel right at home in the North Pole! Make sure to be one of the first 100 guests to receive a special gift.

 

Baton Rouge’s Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker - A Tale from the Bayou
December 18-19 / 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day
Prices Vary: $30.00 – $65.00

Celebrate the arts with a live performance of Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker - A Tale from the Bayou. Joined by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, this is the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s first live Nutcracker performance after two years of being temporarily put on hold. This performance only happens on these two nights a year, so don’t miss it! 

 

City of Walker Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. 

Join us in Livingston Parish on December 18 for the City of Walker Christmas Parade! Come out and see all the floats, marching bands, antique cars and horses as the parade makes its way to Walker High School and back! 

 

Celebrate Christmas with Opéra Louisiane
Saturday, December 18 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Prices Vary: $5.00 - $30.00

Get in the holiday spirit at Opéra Louisiane’s Celebrate Christmas event, complete with variations from The Nutcracker, performances by the Dance Center and School of Performing Arts and Amahl and the Night Visitors. This night filled with beautiful music, dances and performances will be one you won’t forget.

 

FOOD EVENTS:

 

Holiday Buche De Noel
Thursday, December 16 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Price: $125.00

Be the talk of Christmas dinner this year when you learn how to make the Buche de Noel holiday favorite from Chef Jeanne Mancusco! Also known as the Yule Log, this dessert is composed of fluffy vanilla chiffon cake, walnut rum buttercream and chocolate buttercream. What are you waiting for? Sign up for this baking class today to impress all your guests!

 

Christmas at Bon Temps Buffet
Saturday, December 25 from 11:00 a.m - 9:00 p.m.
Price: $35.99
*Must be 21+ to enter*

Don’t feel like stressing over Christmas dinner preparations? The Bon Temps Buffet at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel has got you covered! Make arrangements to dine with them on Christmas Day for a stress-free and delicious dinner. With dishes like cajun roasted turkey and chargrilled oysters, it’ll be the Louisiana Christmas dinner of your dreams! 

 

With all these events taking place, your calendar is sure to be full of magic! Make sure to tag #ExploreBatonRouge as you share what holiday activities you’re partaking in. For more information on festivities taking place around Baton Rouge, head over to https://www.visitbatonrouge.com/holiday.