We are in the thick of the holidays here in Acadiana, and there is a lot of interest in Christmas events in and around the Lafayette, Louisiana, area.

So, we wanted to help you get the proverbial head start on planning some family-friendly activities leading up to Christmas Day.

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We've scoured high and low to put together a complete guide of great events in the Acadiana area.

Below is a list of Acadiana parades, light displays, holiday festivals, and other events scheduled for the 2024 Christmas season.

ACADIA PARISH

CHRISTMAS IN CROWLEY - Dec 14, Historic Downtown, Parkerson Ave., Crowley. 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Pictures with Santa, crafts, carol singing, and finishing the night with Crowley Rotary Club & Crowley Fire Department's Annual Christmas Parade. Facebook Event Page

IBERIA PARISH

MAIN STREET CHRISTMAS PARADE - Dec 8, Delcambre, 2:00 pm. Christmas on the Bayou Parade with Santa Claus, marching bands, and dance groups. (337) 519-2541

QUEEN CITY CHRISTMAS PARADE - Dec 9, Lee Street to Jefferson Street in New Iberia, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 100,000+ light display. Floats, dance schools, and band performances. www.iberiachamber.org

PANCAKES & PJs WITH SANTA - Dec 9, Sliman Theater in New Iberia, 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Spend a morning with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo-ops, food, face painting, storytime. Advance tickets will be sold. www.iberiachamber.org

LAFAYETTE PARISH

CHRISTMAS IN YOUNGSVILLE ROUNDABOUT TOUR - Nov 29, 6:00 pm. The roundabouts around town come to life as Santa will begin to light each roundabout. Facebook

NÖEL ACADIEN AU VILLAGE - Dec 1 - Dec 23, Acadian Village, Lafayette, 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm. $10 at gate, $8 in advance. Festival fundraiser with half a million lights, displays, food, live entertainment, carnival rides, and holiday shopping. 337-981-2364, AcadianVillage.org

LOUISIANA CHRISTMAS DAY - Dec 1, Heymann Performing Arts Center, 6:00 pm. A concert of Christmas music featuring internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Andre Courville and the Atchafalaya Orchestra with special guests Grammy-nominated trio Sweet Cecilia, Louisiana Red's star vocalist Jennifer Kaye, Grammy-nominated accordionist Corey Ledet, and others. Tickets at www.heymanncenter.com/events/2024/louisiana-christmas-day

OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS AT CITY HALL - Dec 2, City Hall in Scott, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. The lighting of the Christmas tree, photos with Santa, music, food, vendors, and activities in and around the Patriots Pavilion. (337) 280-9570

TWINKLE LIGHT NIGHT - Dec 6, Children's Museum of Acadiana in Lafayette, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Slip into your cozy Christmas pajamas and enjoy festive photos with Santa and the Grinch, cooking decorating station, craft-making stations, Jingle Bell dance party, and more. $12 per person. cmalaf.org

MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE - Dec 6, Parc Sans Souci in Downtown Lafayette, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Free concert from Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, photos with Santa, and the lighting of Downtown Lafayette's 25-foot Christmas tree. downtownlafayette.org

A WINTER WONDERLAND AT WEST VILLAGE - Dec 7, Scott, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Free event where the kids can meet Santa and the Grinch, decorate ornaments, write letters to the North Pole, face painting, and kids' activities. Facebook

NÖEL A BROUSSARD - Dec 7, Downtown Broussard, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Join us in front of Broussard City Hall for reindeer games, face painting, and Papa Noel's Market from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Annual lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6:30 pm

CHRISTMAS IN CARENCRO Dec 7, throughout the day. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer 5K Run. Starts at Carencro Community Center at 8:00 am. Benefits St. Jude. Carencro Christmas Parade, 11:00 am, ends at the Community Center where there will be photos with Santa and Kiwanis gift giveaway. Old Fashioned Christmas Candyland, Downtown Carencro at the Patriots Pavilion behind City Hall. Games, crafts, snow, photos, and more. Food vendors and hot chocolate. 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

SONIC CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec 8, Downtown Lafayette, 1 pm, Free. Starts at the Jefferson Street underpass, down Jefferson Street to Johnson on to the Oil Center. DowntownLafayette.org

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK - Dec 13-15, Moncus Park in Lafayette, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Music by Chubby Carrier, Gerald Gruenig and Gentilly Zydeco. Local choirs, kids activities, Santa photos, s'mores stations. $20 on-site parking fundraiser. Free parking and service shuttle next to Blackham Coliseum. www.moncuspark.org/christmas

SUGAR PLUM MARKET - Dec 14, Cajundome, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Boutique clothing, home, holiday, garden decor, gourmet food items, jewelry. Tickets at Cajundome Box Office.

ARTS & FLEA HOLIDAY ART MARKET - Dec 14, Parc de Lafayette and Parcs Sans Souci in Downtown Lafayette, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT FEATURING MARC BROUSSARD - Dec 14, Heymann Performing Arts Center, 7:00 pm. Presented by Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. Tickets through Heymann Box Office. www.heymanncenter.com

CHRISTMAS UNDER THE STARS - Dec 14, Youngsville Sports Complex Amphitheater, 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The Living Bethlehem play, a live animal petting zoo, Christmas scavenger hunt, holiday market, tree lighting, pie cook-off, photos with Santa, and more. Facebook Event Page

JOYEUX NOEL IN SCOTT - Dec 14, Scott City Hall (125 Lions Club Rd), 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Entertainment by New Iberia Jazz Band & DJ Cajun Fuel, face painting, arts & crafts, photo op, and more.

THE NUTCRACKER - Dec 14-15, Heymann Performing Arts Center. Saturday 7:00 pm. Sunday 2:00 pm. Tickets at www.lafayetteballettheatre.org

THE LIVING NATIVITY - Dec 15, Cathedral of St. John (914 St. John St.), 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. 

ST. LANDRY PARISH

OPELOUSAS CHRISTMAS DOWNTOWN - Nov 30, St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm pm, Free. Lighting of the Nativity and Oaks at the Courthouse. Local vendors, food trucks, Holy Ghost choir, train ride, La Folk Roots Music Kids Camp, and more. CajunTravel.com

CHRISTMAS IN COTEAU - Dec 6-7, Campus of Academy of Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy, 10:00 am. Holiday shopping, pictures with Santa, and gumbo cook-off. Admission $12. www.ash1821.org/events/christmas-at-coteau

CAJUN CHRISTMAS AT MR. TONY'S COUNTRY STORE - Dec 10, Mr. Tony's Country Store, 5604 I-49 N. Service Road in Opelousas, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Free tasting of Tony Chachere's Famous Creole Cuisine, holiday music, plus exclusive discounts and giveaways. Santa will be at the store at 5:00 pm, available for photos and holiday cheer.

CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON - Dec 14, Main Street, 10:00 am - 7:00 pm. Live music, DJ, kids games, face painting, and balloon artistry. Santa arrives at 1:00 pm. Christmas tree lighting at 7:00 pm.

ST. MARTIN PARISH

CHRISTMAS ARTWALK IN PARIS - Dec 14, Downtown Breaux Bridge, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Wander the 60-plus vendor booths that capture your fancy, and enjoy live music, drinks, bites, and more. www.breauxbridgeartwalk.com

VERMILION PARISH 

ABBEVILLE'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS STROLL - Dec 7, Downtown Abbeville, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Shopping and dining, Santa Claus, music, white lights all within the decorated dotnwown historic district. 337-898-4110 or www.vermilion.org/events/

CAJUN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION - Dec 14, Downtown Abbeville, 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Live music, shopping, kids crafts, and vendors. The parade begins at 5:30 pm. (337) 893-6798


Need us to make a correction? Missed an event? Email that info to jude@973thedawg.com.

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