There is just something about the sound of classic Christmas carols and sipping on hot coco while strolling under twinkling lights that really gets the warm, magical holiday spirits going. We invite you to pause with us and take part in this magic as we have complied a list of some of Baton Rouge’s most amazing twinkling light displays. We might not have a speckle of snow in sight, but who needs snow when these light displays light up our southern skies?
If you are looking for great holiday events in Baton Rouge, we have you covered. And if you would like to cut down your own Christmas tree in Louisiana, we have you covered there, too. If you’re feeling like a road trip, you can drive an hour to New Orleans for dozens of family-friendly holiday events. Alternatively, head West to our friends in Lafayette to enjoy the holiday season with our neighbors in Acadiana (or check out some incredible Christmas lights around the Lafayette area). If you still haven’t had enough Louisiana holiday fun, New Orleans has amazing Christmas light displays for the family as well. Over on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there are some amazing light displays if you’re up for the drive! Let’s all take advantage of all the holiday spirit in Baton Rouge with kids.
Baton Rouge Holiday Bucket List {Free Printable}
Christmas is such a great time to start new traditions and keep old ones alive. Here’s our Baton Rouge holiday bucket list with 24 fun, family-oriented activities – and a free printable! Use it as a reminder for trusty old traditions and as a way to discover some brand new ones to start with your family this year!
Take a family photo with Santa. There are a bunch of places in town to do this: Mall of Louisiana, Bass Pro Shop, & Cabela’s (P.S. they’re free at Bass Pro!)- Drive around and look at Christmas lights. Put on your jammies, make some hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music, turn on the heater, and enjoy the pretty lights!
- Do a gag-gift swap with friends. Christmas is such a great time for family, but it’s also a chance to spend time with your friends. Get everyone together, bring a $10-$15 gag-gift, and take turns swapping!
- Bake Christmas cookies. Bust out that old family recipe or start a tradition with a new one.
- Get in the spirit by watching a Christmas classic. So many options. You can go real classic with White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, or you can go a little more modern with movies like Elf or Home Alone.
- Go on a Christmas date. Like a real date, with a sitter and make-up and conversation. Doesn’t that sound glorious?!
- Donate unwanted toys to charity. This is a great way to prepare your kids for the holidays! Have them round up a couple of the toys and help them understand that they’re giving them to a child that doesn’t have as much.
- BREC ZooLights Enjoy a mile-long walk through the BR Zoo with over 50 illuminated structures. ZooLights runs from November 26th through December 30th (closed Christmas Day & Eve).
- Buy gifts for Salvation Army / Angel Tree / Toys for Tots. What’s better than giving during Christmas? Many businesses in the area serve as pick up/drop off points. Google is your friend on this one.
- Go Christmas Caroling. Get a group of neighborhood kids together and go caroling around your neigborhood or senior living facility!
- Go ice skating. Can we talk about how awesome it is that the River Center turns into a skating rink this time of year?! Ice Skating on the River runs from December 16th to January 5th!
- Decorate the tree as a family. It’s really easy as the mama to take control of the decorating and run with it, trust us, we get it. But maybe we slow down and let the little ones and daddy in on the fun? Make it a special night with music and hot chocolate!
- Be a Santa to a senior. Contact a senior home in your area and find out what they need, and provide it! Some even have angel tree type things set up that allow you to buy gifts for residents.
- Read a Christmas story. Round up the whole family and read a story! There are so many great holiday books out there – you can read the story of Jesus’ birth, a Christmas Carol, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, just to name a few!
- Deliver Christmas cookies to neighbors. Remember those Christmas cookies you baked? Why not divvy up some of them to your neighbors?
- Make a Christmas playlist. Oh Christmas music. Nothing better to get you in the holiday mood, right? Put together your favorites in a playlist to listen to in the car or while you do some of the things off our bucket list!
- Donate canned goods to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Is your pantry over-run by cans like ours? The Food Bank can make really great use of what’s just sitting in your kitchen. Round ’em up and bring them by!
- Make a gingerbread house. Know what’s really great? Pre-made gingerbread house kits. We really didn’t expect you to do this one from the ground up 😉
- A Rural Life Christmas. The Rural Life museum is gorgeous enough on its own, but decorated for Christmas in traditional 19th century style, it really is one of Baton Rouge’s best kept secrets. Sunday, December 4th, 10:00am – 5:00pm.
- Make Christmas ornaments. Buy a pre-made kit, make them from clay, or get crazy with glitter (if you’re brave)! Make sure you put the date on the back so you can look back at the sweet memories made.
- Visit a Live Nativity Scene. Many churches and local organizations hold live Nativity Scenes during the holiday season. Some even include a petting zoo for the kids.
- Downtown Christmas Parade. Denham Springs (December 10th) and Baton Rouge (December 10th). So you really don’t have an excuse to not knock this one off your bucket list.
- Make Blessing Bags and give them to the needy. Head to the Dollar Store and stock up on the necessities (some ideas: toothpaste/brush, soap, granola bars, trail mix, hand sanitizer, bandaids), divide it all up into gallon ziplock bags, maybe add a note of encouragement, and put them in you car. Now you can easily bless the needy when you pull up next to them or see them during your drive.
- See the Nutcracker. This one might be difficult to pull off as a family (unless Dad and/or brothers are into that – then lucky you!), but you can round up your girlfriends or take your daughters. December 17th & 18th at the River Center.
Click on the link to download the super cool printable here so that you can check each activity off the list as you complete it: Bucket List Printable
What is on your holiday bucket list?
