SWLA 2023 Christmas events guide

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and there are numerous ways to celebrate the holiday season. Here’s our guide to holiday fun in SWLA.

If you have any Christmas events you’d like added to the list please e-mail the event details to news@kplctv.com.

Ways to Give/Receive

Allen, Beauregard and Vernon

• Toys for Tots: Applications open through Dec. 8. Click HERE for more.

Calcasieu Parish

Monday - Friday

• Westlake Library Food Drive: The Westlake Library and Westlake UMC Food Pantry are collecting non-perishable food items to give to those needing a hearty holiday meal this year. Food donations can be dropped off at the Westlake Library, located at 937 Mulberry Street. from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Westlake UMC Food Pantry serves families in Westlake, Mossville, Moss Bluff, Ragley, and Longville locations.

Nov. 30 - Dec. 18

• The Pressure Express Toy Drive: Donations will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 305 Enterprise Blvd. at the KZWA radio station. All toys will be given to the Salvation Army/Community Christmas. Contact April at 337-274-2235 to drop off toys outside of the radio station’s hours.

Saturday, Nov. 18

• Mardi Gras Krewes Toy Drive for Brennan’s Blessings: Collecting toys for children with cancer from Noon until 5 p.m. at Cooler’s Ice House.

Sunday, Dec. 10

• Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners Toy Drive and Pictures with Santa: Toys are being collected up until the day of the event (Dec. 10) at NP Dawn Hinton’s office in Walnut Grove at 1510 Williams Street.

Beauregard Parish

• June N. Jenkins Women’s Shelter Adopt a Family for the Holidays: Click HERE for more.

Jeff Davis Parish

• Toy Drive and Hot Cocoa with Santa: 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Jeff Davis Fire District, at 17155 U.S. 90. Accepting toy donations.

Events

Calcasieu Parish

Multi-Day

• Nov. 17-30
  • Photos with Santa at Prien Lake Mall: Santa Photo Experience will be open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are encouraged. “Caring Santa” will be Dec. 3 from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. “Pet Photos” will be Dec. 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. “Breakfast with Santa” is Dec. 3 from 9-10 a.m.
• Dec. 1-2
  • Christmas Under the Oaks in Sulphur: At Brimstone Museum and Henning House in Sulphur.
• Dec. 1-10
  • ACTS Theatre Presents Christmas Belles: Hilarious holiday play, with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students and can be purchased HERE.
• Dec. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24
  • Sleigh Rides with Santa: Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets are $15 per person or $2 for children small enough to sit on lap.
  • Christmas Carriage Rides: Shell Beach Drive. Prices listed HERE.
• Dec. 2-28
  • The Southwest Louisiana O Gauge Model Railroad Club’s Christmas Train: This year’s layout will feature a model of the Swift Packing Plant, scale models of Patel’s McDonald Restaurant, One Lake Shore Plaza Building featuring Northwest Mutual, a1950′s Texico Service Station, and a mythical Empire of the Seed Building. The club will run the train for the public at the Calcasieu Library Sulphur Branch on Tuesday-Thursday from 1-7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from noon-5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 19

• Mistletoe and Moss: At Civic Center.

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Light Up the Lake Christmas Celebration: 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Civic Center. Art market, live Christmas concert, lighting ceremony, lighted boat parade, fireworks extravaganza over lake.
• Holiday Art Walk: 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in conjunction with Light Up the Lake.

Thursday, Nov. 30

• CPSB Elementary Student Gifted Program’s Holiday Market: From 5-7 p.m. at the Cash and Carry in Lake Charles. Cost of items range from $1-$5.

Friday, Dec. 1

• Christmas at the Courthouse: Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is holding a free event from 3-8 p.m. at the courthouse, located at 1000 Ryan St. in Lake Charles. Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with a host of other holiday characters, will be present to pose for photos and spread cheer. Christmas favorite “The Santa Clause” will play at 5:30 p.m. with popcorn, cotton candy, candy canes, soft drinks and hot chocolate. The event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
• McNeese Holiday Art Sale: The McNeese Student Art Association will be holding its art sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Shearman Fine Arts Annex Grand Gallery. You’ll be able to by all sorts of unique holiday gifts like pottery, paintings, photography, and drawings.

Saturday, Dec. 2

• Annual Sulphur Kiwanis Christmas Parade: Parade begins at 11 a.m. W. W. Lewis Middle School and proceeds down Cypress Street.
• Sulphur Parks’ Pets with the Grinch: Pets must be on leashes, and photos must be taken on a personal camera. Held from 1-3 p.m. at Fideaux Field in Sulphur.
• Calcasieu Christmas Hams for Heroes: Veterans can come by Louisiana State Police Troop D headquarters at 805 Main St. in Lake Charles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to receive a free holiday ham and a Christmas stocking filled with toys for children. Supplies are limited with only one ham per household and one stocking per child. Military ID is required.

Sunday, Dec. 3

• Lake Charles Messiah Chorus and Orchestra: Performing Handel’s Messiah Oratorio. Includes 55 vocalists and orchestra. Admission is free. Concert is just over an hour long. To be held at 3 p.m. in the Bulber Auditorium at McNeese.

Friday, Dec. 8

• Lake Charles Community Band Christmas Concert: Concert will begin with The Star Spangled Banner and will be a unique blend of Christmas carols and classical composers like Mozart, Bach, and more. Musical guests from Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Louis Catholic High School choirs, as well as other guest surprises. Free and open to the public. Held at 7 p.m. on the second floor Mezzanine of the Lake Charles Event Center.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• Christmas at Westlake City Hall: 11 a.m.
• Vinton Christmas Event: Local market from 4-8 p.m. with local vendors, and scavenger hunt from 4-6 p.m. Performance by VES Choir + Pictures with Santa and a chance of snow at 6pm.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

• CPKC Holiday Express Christmas Train: At Railroad Museum in DeQuincy.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• Christ the King’s Christmas Bingo: Celebration including champagne, bingo and dinner and entertainment provided by Father Whitney Miller. Tickets are $40. Held from 5-8 p.m. at VFW Hall at 5676 Lake Street.

Allen Parish

Saturday, Dec. 2

• Town of Oberlin Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Veteran’s Park
• Christmas in the Country: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on East Main Street.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• Krampus Gumbeaux Cookoff: Toy Drive, live music, silent auction, raffle tickets.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• Christmas in the Park: At Oberlin City Park.

Beauregard Parish

Multi-Day

• Dec. 1 - Jan. 1
  • DeRidder Christmas Light Show: Held from 5:30 p.m. to midnight in downtown DeRidder near City Hall. Tune in to FM 101.1 upon arrival to watch the show. Free for the whole family.

Friday, Dec. 1

• Beauregard’s Courtesy Christmas Jazz Concert: Start your holiday season with a Christmas Jazz Concert. Free event with limited seating. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., event starts at 6. Located at 250 W. Seventh St. in DeRidder.

Saturday, Dec. 2

• Deridder’s Miracle on Washington Street Christmas Festival: Doors open at 9 a.m. Lighted Christmas parade to start at dusk. Vendors needed, registration available HERE.

Friday, Dec. 8

• DeRidder Christmas Cantata: 6 p.m. at Main Building at Beauregard Fairgrounds. Tickets are $5.

Monday, Dec. 11

• CPKC Holiday Express Christas Train: 4 p.m. along railway tracks at 120 S. Washington Street in DeRidder.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• Wreaths Across America: At Woodlawn Cemetery. Wreaths are $17 to be placed on veterans’ graves.

Jeff Davis Parish

Saturday, Dec. 2

• Town of Welsh “Miracle of South Street” Christmas: Held from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Welsh. There will be a parade of lights, carriage rides, an artisan market, food trucks and crafts.

Monday, Dec. 6

• Santa Claus visits the Elton Library: From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 7

• Welsh Museum Holiday Taste & Sell Fundraiser: $15. Samples of over 30 dishes.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

• Santa Claus visits the Jennings Library: From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 13

• Santa Claus visits the Welsh Library: From 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• Lake Arthur Movie Under the Oaks: Featuring The Christmas Chronicles 2.

Tuesday, Dec. 19

• Santa Claus visits the Lake Arthur Library: From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Vernon Parish

Tuesday, Nov. 28

• Ribbon Cutting for Christmas on the Ranch: Gertibelle’s Holiday Hoedown Drive-Thru: Ribbon cutting to take place around 11:30 a.m.; light refreshments offered. Taking place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5898 La. 117 in Leesville.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• 80th Annual Leesville Christmas Parade: Honors first responders who fought and continue to fight the wildfires in the community; Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on 3rd Street in Leesville, lineup at 3 p.m. Register for parade float entry HERE.
• Leesville Christmas Market: 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in downtown Leesville.

Sunday, Dec. 10

• CPKC Holiday Express Christmas Train: 4 p.m. at CPKC yard in Leesville.

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