Christmas events returning to downtown Lafayette with Merry & Bright Holiday Series events

Jakori Madison, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·2 min read

Downtown Lafayette will be a destination for the holidays as Parc International is transformed into the North Pole with decorations, lights and a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Downtown Lafayette Unlimited’s annual Merry & Bright Holiday Series will return with a community-wide Christmas tree decorating contest, the Lighting of the Tree concert, the Christmas Carnival, a Holiday Art Market, the Movies in the Parc season finale and a competition for best holiday window display.

Presented by Lafayette Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Lafayette Travel, the events will take place throughout the month of December in downtown Lafayette.

A 25-foot Christmas tree lights up downtown Lafayette in the middle of Parc International, surrounded by other lights and decorations including 52 real Christmas trees, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The tree-lighting featured a free concert with music by Keith Frank and Pin Leaf Boys.
A 25-foot Christmas tree lights up downtown Lafayette in the middle of Parc International, surrounded by other lights and decorations including 52 real Christmas trees, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The tree-lighting featured a free concert with music by Keith Frank and Pin Leaf Boys.

"The Downtown Merry & Bright Holiday Series is a great way for families to celebrate the holidays in the heart of our city," said Anita Begnaud, CEO of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited.

Kicking of the holiday festivities is a Christmas tree decorating competition. Businesses, organizations, nonprofits and families decorated trees in Parc International on Nov. 21. Beginning Monday, Nov. 27, visitors can vote for their favorite tree online at downtownlafayette.org. Winners of the competition will be announced Friday, Dec. 15.

The public also will get a chance to vote online for their favorite holiday display beginning Friday, Dec. 1, as downtown businesses convert their storefronts into a “Window Wonderland” theme.

Downtown’s fourth annual Merry & Bright Holiday Series will officially kick-off from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, with a free, family-friendly concert that features the lighting of the tree and a concert featuring Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. DLU asks that concert attendees leave ice chests and pets at home and support DLU by purchasing a drink at the show.

Families are invited from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 to Parc International to enjoy the Christmas Carnival. Activities include face painting, pony rides, fun jumps, photos with Santa, cookie decorating and more.

The Movies in the Parc season finale and the closing event to the 2023 Merry & Bright Holiday series will take place Saturday, Dec. 9. The public is invited to enjoy a free screening of "Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch," along with an array of pre-movie activities and food vendors. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring their chairs and picnic blankets. The movie will begin at sundown.

That same day, an ArtWalk will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on the 400 block of Jefferson Street. The ArtWalk will feature holiday gifts, stocking stuffers and other hand-crafted items created by local artists, all while enjoying the district’s restaurants and small businesses.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette's Merry & Bright Holiday Series events return this Christmas