December 2017 Calendar of Events

Dec. 1

Have a few laughs at Baton Rouge’s monthly Family Dinner Improv Show at the Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre. Tickets are $6. 7:30 p.m. manshiptheatre.org

Dec. 2

Ogden Park Prowl
Find handcrafted art, food and live music and entertainment at the annual festival, rescheduled from its earlier October date. The event will feature dozens of local makers, 13 food vendors and 27 performers across the Ogden Park neighborhood. 1-6 p.m. ogdenparkprowl.org

Get in shape before all the December holiday parties kick in with the Baton Rouge Beach Half Marathon. The race starts at Milford Wampold Memorial Park and passes through the LSU lakes area and campus, as well as parts of the Garden District. Find the event on Eventbrite.

Dec. 2, 9 and 16

Stock up on handmade holiday gifts at the Baton Rouge Arts Market, featuring dozens of artists in tandem with the Red Stick Farmers Market on Fifth and Main streets. 8 a.m.-noon. artsbr.org

Dec. 3

Created by LSU Athletics, SportsBR and Freshjunkie, the inaugural Tiger 10K is finally here. Runners will start on South Stadium Drive and go through LSU’s campus before finishing inside Tiger Stadium. The event will also include a 5K and kids mile. Registration costs vary. 8 a.m. tiger10k.com

Dec. 8-10

Visit the Baton Rouge Jewelry and Merchandise Show at the Raising Cane’s River Center to peruse goods from more than 475 booths. Ticket prices vary. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. helenbrett.com

Dec. 9

Finish your holiday shopping early with a little help from your favorite makers at the Mid City Maker’s Market.  6-10 p.m. midcitymakers.market

Come out for a Warfair 2, a night of local music, art, games and food. Presented by Loudness War and Tough Gum, the all-ages festival will feature nine bands, with Loudness War headlining, at Mid City Ballroom. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Find the event on Facebook

Dec. 14 and 17

Attend a showing of buzzworthy indie film The Florida Project at the Manship Theatre. Tickets are $9.50. 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 17. manshiptheatre.org

Dec. 14

Connect with other creatives at Wonder South’s Makers Meet, hosted at Hayride Scandal. Local makers Damien Mitchell, Chase Mullen and Hope Gutwrench will speak, and Molly Taylor will provide live music. Tickets are $5. 6-9 p.m. wondersouth.com

Dec. 23

Surprise the kids with a pre-Christmas Eve treat to see Sesame Street Live! at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre. Ticket prices vary. 10:30 a.m.  raisingcanesrivercenter.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE

At Red Stick Revelry downtown
The all-day party starts at 11 a.m. with kids’ activities at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and a chorus of Auld Lang Syne while the Red Stick rises above North Boulevard Town Square. Boogie with Phat Hat at the Crest Stage in Galvez Plaza 9 p.m.-midnight, then watch the Red Stick drop and the fireworks show dazzle over the Mississippi River to ring in 2018. redstickrevelry.com

At L’Auberge casino & Hotel
Doors open at 10:30 p.m. for this open-bar bash featuring the ’80s musical stylings of Werewolf. Grab some Champagne, and take in the fireworks show from River Road at midnight. lbatonrouge.com

At Crowne Plaza
Eat, drink, dance and crash at Crowne Plaza with a chef’s buffet, open bar and music by Carbon Copy, The Chase Tyler Band and the Eddie Smith Band 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Standard room packages start at $179 per person. crownebaton.com

At Splash nightclub
Free party favors at the door, free Champagne at midnight, live entertainment and a balloon drop for a prize giveaway—Splash is ready to rock your NYE starting at 9 p.m. splashbr.com

On the Road
NEW ORLEANS

All month

Tour the decorated New Orleans Botanical Gardens, ride the Ferris wheel or grab a hot café au lait at New Orleans City Park’s annual Celebration in the Oaks. Hours and ticket prices vary. neworleanscitypark.com

DEC. 2

Head to New Orleans to celebrate the city’s favorite food at the second annual Beignet Festival. Attendees can taste versions of the sugary treat from 14 local vendors. Admission is free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. beignetfest.com

Dec. 6-10

Sharpen your writing skills at The Faulkner Society’s Words and Music Festival at Hotel Monteleone. The four-day event will include several workshops and lectures, a gala and book signings. Hours and ticket prices vary. wordsandmusic.org

Dec. 21-31

Go ice skating or have a snowball fight at the family-friendly NOLA ChristmasFest at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Tickets are $20. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. nolachristmasfest.com

LAFAYETTE

Dec. 1

Celebrate the annual Festival of Lights event in Lafayette’s historic Oil Center. The festival includes holiday shopping, live entertainment and children’s activities. Admission is free. 5-9 p.m. theoilcenter.com

Dec. 9-10

Lafayette Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker at the Heymann Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket prices and times vary. heymanncenter.com

Dec. 1-23

Don’t miss your chance to welcome the holiday season with Lafayette’s Noel Acadien au Village. The Christmas festival fundraiser benefits LARC, a nonprofit that provides services to people with intellectual disabilities. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. 5:30-9:30 p.m. acadianvillage.org