6 Upcoming Winter Events You Don’t Want to Miss in Lafayette

Looking for a fun time during the holiday months in the Cajun and Creole town of Lafayette? Check out some of these fun festivals and other events, each one full of charming activities, food, and community spirit.

Safari of Lights

Head down to the Zoo of Acadiana in December for a dazzling light display that little ones will love. Taking place from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on most December nights, Safari of Lights offers a unique experience at this popular zoo. Stroll through pathways glowing with colorful lights, animal figurines, and holiday decorations, including a giant Coca-Cola truck. Take the North Pole Express Train for a ride and get a hot cocoa or cappuccino to stay toasty. Santa will even be making stops on certain nights! Check the Safari of Lights page for the most up-to-date info.

Christmas Lights in the Park

Kemper Williams Park is a gigantic area with sports courts, trails, campgrounds, and plenty of nice places to walk or drive. From November 27th to December 23rd, the Kemper Williams Park offers a fun driving light display in the evening. Admission is $2 per car, and you’ll need one to see everything! Beautiful displays, colorful lights, and holiday music await. Christmas Lights in the Park takes place from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on all days except Friday and Saturday, when it closes at ten.

Christmas at Coteau

Christmas at Coteau is actually a collection of many events taking place at Schools of the Sacred Heart. Visitors can purchase tickets for gourmet Friday luncheons, as well as the Holiday Market with special gifts you can’t find in any old store. Consider also booking a ticket for Cookies at Coteau, where kids can eat cookies, make arts and crafts, and get a picture taken atop the Polar Express. Visitors can also hear Christmas music performed by students of the two schools.

Festival of Light

If you want a cool place to shop for early presents, this is the event for you. Head down to the Oil Center on December 2nd to celebrate the lighting of the giant display, which has an enormous Santa, sleigh, and reindeer standing over Coolidge Blvd. Festival of Light takes place from 5:00-10:00 p.m. and offers music, food, and fun activities for all ages. Santa will make an appearance to take pictures with kids, and there will also be a beautiful living Nativity scene and outdoor snow yard.

New Year’s Noon Carnival & Countdown

This is a great place for the whole family to celebrate the arrival of 2017, but at an early enough time for younger kids to participate. Head to the Children’s Museum of Acadiana from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to ring in the New Year twelve hours early at the stroke of noon. The museum’s parking lot is transformed into an old-fashioned carnival with plenty of treats, a huge tent, arts and crafts, and all sorts of games, with many new ones added this year! Admission is $8 and food items and tickets for games are only 25 cents each.

Of course, these six events are only a small sample of the many wintery events upcoming in Lafayette. Check out these events and others near you for some long-lasting holiday memories.

Image via Pixabay

Posted in Community | No Comments »