Celebration in the Oaks sparks hope in New Orleans

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• Travel editor
• Published: Dec 18, 2005

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Like the night blooming jasmine's sweet fragrance, New Orleans City Park offers special pleasure this season. It's an oasis in the midst of darkness. Brilliant holiday lights illuminating the Botanical Garden shout to the world -- "We are here. Come celebrate with us."

Celebration in the Oaks, New Orleans renowned light display, runs nightly through Friday, Dec. 30. Despite $43 million in damage from Hurricane Katrina, the park staff of 25 and hundreds of volunteers created the modified celebration in hope of bringing joy and life back to the hurricane ravaged city.

"It's amazing," said Solomon Cockerham as he walked into the garden's conservatory. "This celebration means life again. It means we are still healthy. You just can't really put the words together to say how it feels."

Cockerham, who lost his home to the hurricane, escorted Stacy Simms to the park's Dec. 7 preview opening. Simms is director of community relations for the Fair Grounds Race Course, a sponsor for the event. "I grew up with Celebration in the Oaks. My daughter grew up with it. It's a family event, and we want it to continue," Simms said.

At night, street lights along City Park and Carrollton avenues are still dark. Drive around P.G.T. Beauregard Circle and turn into the park around the New Orleans Museum of Art, standing stoically amidst tall old oak trees pitifully thinned of big branches. Just beyond the museum, you see the lights. Bam -- like extra pepper in a gumbo -- they spice up the night.

This year there's no driving tour through the park or carriage rides. But the walking tour through the Botanical Garden is magical.

Blue lights edge leafless tree branches near the garden's entrance. Waist-high, sparkling red, green and white candy canes line the walkway. Greeting visitors is an illuminated jazz band display. Green, purple, red, white, turquoise and gold lights outline animated figures of musicians. Other large displays cover the lawn area.

White lights, entwining green garlands, outline arches over walkways. Thousands of strands of red, white, blue, green and gold lights lace newly planted pink and white camellias, sasanquas and azaleas.

Especially heartwarming are the Christmas trees decorated by New Orleans school children. Of some 180 schools that normally participate, more than 55 were able to participate this year. Adults and children stroll through the trees looking for "their school." St. Michael's Special School tree says it all: "After the Flood, God Sent a Rainbow." Large shining plastic rainbows cover the tree.

Children can romp through Storyland, the fairy-tale theme park with 26 larger than life exhibits for kids including Captain Hook's ship, Mother Goose and Pinocchio's whale. Listen to giggles and high-pitched screams as youngsters enjoy the amusement rides. However, the park's famed historic carousel is still awaiting motor repairs.

Other familiar displays are found throughout the gardens. The display James Rice's the Cajun Night Before Christmas features life-sized lighted figures synchronized to narration of the whimsical tale. Twinkling lights surround the 14,000 square-foot Train Garden showcasing more than 40 intricately crafted New Orleans landmark buildings. Walk through the Azalea Garden where a new high-tech laser light show features holiday themed animations dancing across a huge screen. Look for Mr. Bingle, the two-story Christmas figure that once reigned over Canal Street. Rescued from a warehouse in the Ninth Ward, he now sits framed by a giant oak tree.

A 20-foot poinsettia tree stretches up the lighted dome of the Conservatory of the Two Sisters. Poinsettias throughout the garden are a special story. Some 2,100 poinsettias were donated to the park for the celebration by Parks Brothers Farms in Van Buren, Ark. The company told park officials it "just wanted to do something to help."

Poinsettias and lights, samples of sweets and savories from New Orleans chefs, wine and various beverages, jazz bands and dancers were almost all donated for the preview party. Some 5,000 people (at $50 each) poured into the Botanical Garden to show their support and take in the scene.