Event picks: ‘Tis the season for the Festival of Lights

Go downtown for the annual Festival of Lights
Head over to North Boulevard’s Town Square to commemorate the Capital City’s oldest holiday tradition, the Festival of Lights. The event starts at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, when North Boulevard will be lit with half a million sparkling lights. The square will also have a 35-foot Christmas tree that to be lit at 6:15 p.m. Patrons can enjoy free ice skating and sled down 10 tons of real snow at the Repentance Park Snow Village. The event will also feature holiday music from Ned Fasullo, John Gray and his Soul JukeBoxx, and many more. Free parking will be available in the River Center garage at the corner of Government and St. Louis streets. For more information and a full schedule of events, click here.

Hear the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra take on holiday classics
Award-winning baritone Jonathan Beyer joins the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra for three concerts. The first performance takes place Thursday, Dec. 4, at the River Center Theatre and is part of the local orchestra’s Masterworks III series. The Thursday show also includes a visit from Dan Borne, who will narrate A Visit from St. Nicholas. Tickets start at $39. On Sunday, Dec. 7, the orchestra and Beyer will perform holiday songs and classics in a Holiday Matinee at 3 p.m., and as part of the Pops series at 7 p.m. The matinee includes an “instrument petting zoo” for children at 2 p.m. in the theater lobby. Tickets for both Sunday shows start at $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit brso.org.

Also this week
Join Mayor Kip Holden and the Red Stick Revelry crew for a Champagne Stroll Wednesday, Dec. 3. Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. at the Visit Baton Rouge office at 359 Third St. Patrons will make a stop at Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown, Hotel Indigo and The Roux House. Tickets are $35 per person, $25 for Forum 35 members. Visit redstickrevelry.com for more information.

Hartley/Vey Studios hosts Friends trivia night Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The free event includes screenings of episodes, a foosball tournament, cocktails and food from Capital City Grill. Menu items are $12. Reservations are encouraged. Call 344-0334.

Get your running shoes on for the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon Saturday, Dec. 6. The event includes a full and half marathon and starts at 7 a.m. Late registration will be held at the event at 5:45 a.m. Get more information here.