BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
Join BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo for Zoolights November 27-December 30. This nightly event is proudly presented by Children’s Hospital New Orleans and features a mile-long trail through the Zoo in the evening with more than 50 illuminated sculptures of animals and traditional holiday displays. Again this year, every guest presenting a non-perishable food item during Zoolights, will receive half off of the regular admission price. All donations benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Now that’s a dazzling way to make a difference this holiday season. ■ brzoo.org
Canton, Mississippi
For 31 years, Canton, MS has put on the magic with thousands of sparkling lights on its historic playground, the courthouse square. Over the years, lights, rides, museums and characters have been added to the event to create memories for generations of families. When walking the historic Square, you can find Mrs. Claus reading stories to the little ones or Santa taking each child’s wish list! The beautiful carousel has delighted kids and kids at heart for many years as they take a spin and admire all the lights. Be sure to shop our wonderful gift shops around the square. ■ cantontourism.com
Barn Hill Preserve
For the animal lover in you, take a walk on the wild side at Barn Hill Preserve. Barn Hill is a zoological facility located in Ethel, Louisiana. Barn Hill promotes animal education through hands-on experiences. The most popular experience at Barn Hill is the otter swim. Guests can have a two-hour guided tour and hold a two-toed sloth on a pillow on their lap, and they will get in a climate-controlled pool with asian small-clawed otters. Barn Hill allows guests to bottle feed a six-month old giraffe, T’challa. Guests can learn about reticulated giraffes while having this once in a lifetime experience. ■ barnhillpreserve.com
Magnolia Ridge Adventure Park
Adventure takes a new form in Magnolia Ridge Adventure Park. This new zip-line park is located on 32 acres in Ethel, Louisiana. The park features two different courses: Ninja Obstacle Course and the High Elements Zipline Course. The Ninja Obstacle includes three ziplines, walking swings, branch bridges, and an obstacle course. The High Elements course features eight ziplines, bridge crossings, climbing towers, and of course, the river landing from Louisiana’s longest zipline! This park can be enjoyed by all ages, and the weight requirement for children is 50 pounds. ■ (225) 286-2929
Ice Skating on the River
Gather your kiddos and lace up those skates for some ice skating on the river this holiday season. Ring in the season at Raising Cane’s River Center when they once again magically transform Baton Rouge into a winter wonderland, just in time for you to start creating your holiday memories. Ice Skating on the River is an annual holiday tradition that will offer 75-minute sessions nearly every day until Sunday, January 3, 2021. Tickets are on sale now for $12-14 per person. ■ facebook.com/rivercenter
Christmas on the River
The lights will be bright this holiday season at Monroe-West Monroe’s Christmas on the River. From November 11-December 31, visitors will enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. Festival Weekend is full of holiday cheer with fireworks, shopping, and two parades. Enjoy light displays like the Freedom Trees and Candy Cane Lane, and don’t miss Santa’s Christmas Village at the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, featuring ornament making and visits with Santa.
East Baton Rouge Parish Library
Whether you’re traveling or gathering safely with friends and family at home, your East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s got something FREE and fun for you! Enjoy a wealth of e-books & e-audiobooks for reading on the go, flip through popular digital magazines, download music from popular artists, and stream videos & concerts. Get your creative juices flowing when you whip something up from our collection of recipes in AtoZ World Food or AtoZ Food America, or get hands-on with a fun craft tutorial through Creativebug. Just go to the Digital Library at ebrpl.com/digitallibrary. All you need is your Library card to get started! EBRPL is open to serve you seven days per week at 14 convenient locations across the parish, including the Main Library at Goodwood, and 24/7 online. ■ ebrpl.com
Knock Knock Children’s Museum
Hooray for the holidays! Although Knock Knock Children’s Museum is still closed due to COVID restrictions, they are still offering some limited but exciting activities. Join them for their holiday mini-camps beginning December 19. Each of these three-hour camps feature a different winter theme that is sure to excite children from ages four-eight. But that’s not all. Beginning Thursday, December 3, Knock Knock is hosting a special model train exhibit and workshop. Their Full Steam Ahead: Train Workshop is perfect for children ages four-eight. They will design and create their own train car and become official Knock Knock train engineers. ■ knockknockmuseum.org
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Watch festive shows in the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, meet the Egyptian mummy and authentic Triceratops skull in the galleries, explore the Museum with a holiday scavenger hunt, take a snapshot with a blow-up Santa, and shop for stocking stuffers in the Store. This year’s A Very Merry Museum event, sponsored by Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company, on December 12 will feature BASF-sponsored Sneaux to Geaux and other festivities. ■ lasm.org
The Park at OWA
It’s easy to see why OWA in Foley, Alabama is the gulf coast’s top vacation destination for endless family fun! The Park at OWA boasts over 21 rides for kids of all ages. From the largest steel coaster in Alabama–Rollin’ Thunder to the new Wacky Waters Splash Pad, OWA offers something for everyone! Just outside the amusement park is Downtown OWA, built around a 14-acre lake, which comes to life nightly with an illuminating light show of dancing fountains set to music. Enjoy a streetscape of shopping, dining and nightly entertainment, with comedy and magic shows, as well as the popular Las Vegas tribute show Legends in Concert. And, guests can stay at OWA’s on-site hotel, the Marriott TownPlace Suites, just a short walk from all the fun! ■ visitowa.com
