‘Twas the Light’ event downtown kicks off season

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Acadiana bureau
• Published: Nov 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Downtown will be transformed into Lafayette’s version of a Norman Rockwell Christmas on Saturday for the fourth annual “Twas the Light Before Christmas” event. 

The event is a holiday open house of downtown with caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides and the telling of the story that ends with a “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

“The whole concept originally was this Norman Rockwell holiday: a downtown Christmas scene. Your neighbors are out and people are bustling around,” said Ryan Petticrew, marketing and events manager for Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, which organizes the annual event. “We wanted to enhance the kickoff of the season and people starting to shop for the holiday with an arts and entertainment element.” 

Think of a holiday-decked ArtWalk, he said. 

Museums, galleries, restaurants and shops have extended their hours for the day.

For those who need a break from shopping, three museums downtown have offered free admission for the day: the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium, the Acadiana Center for the Arts and the Alexandre Mouton House. 

The epicenter of the event’s activities will be Parc Sans Souci, also the site of the city’s 30-foot-tall Christmas tree.

In the parc, there will be more shopping as the Louisiana Crafts Guild presents members’ work. The Guild will host a hands-on crafts tent for children with activities beginning around 1 p.m. 

At 3:30 p.m., the first Rudolph Run, a 5K run that starts at Parc Sans Souci will begin. Runners are encouraged to dress in holiday fare and register in advance or by 2:30 p.m. the day of the race. 

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., carriage rides will be offered for $1 with proceeds benefiting the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. People can also drop off their toy donations for the program, which provides needy children with toys for Christmas.

At 3:45 p.m. a special guest will take a break from his own Christmas preparations as Santa arrives for photos.

A live band and carolers will lead children in a sing-along at 5 p.m. at Parc Sans Souci followed by a reading of “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” After the tale, City-Parish President Joey Durel will light the more than 1,500 bulbs that decorate the city’s Christmas tree. 

The holiday spirit doesn’t end there. At nearby Parc International, a showing of the holiday movie “The Polar Express” starts at 7 p.m.