Lafayette Oil Center's Festival of Lights Returns After Hiatus

LAFAYETTE, La. (KMDL-FM) - One of the Hub City's most memorable and nostalgic holiday traditions is returning this December.

Event Overview & Date & Location

The Festival of Lights will be back in Lafayette's Oil Center and the festivities will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, primarily at the Ochsner Parking Garage.

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The long-running celebration was last held in 2018.

The Oil Center Association, Facebook

New Features & Holiday Light Highlights (250+ lights, Santa Sleigh)

The Festival of Lights will begin at 5:30 pm. One of the highlights will happen at 6:00 pm with the Lighting of Santa, an illuminated Santa along with his sleigh and reindeer that sits high atop Ochsner's skywalk. That will be the official kick-off of the Oil Center's holiday season, with more than 250 new Christmas lights installed throughout the district.

What to Expect: Family Fun Zone + Rooftop Party

There will be two exciting experiences as part of this year's festivities:

6th Floor of the Burdin Riehl Parking Tower - A ticketed 21+ event with food, drinks, and live music from Coteau Grove & The On Call Band.
5th Floor Family Fun Zone - Christmas movies on the big screen, snow, cookie decorating, ornament decorating, face painting, personalized stockings, hot cocoa, pictures with Santa and more.

The 6th Floor Rooftop Party is a 21+ ticketed event. You can purchase those tickets via this link.

Parking, Trolley Rides & Additional Details

There will also be a family-friendly experience down Coolidge Street with free trolley rides for a Christmas light experience that will go to downtown's Christmas event and train rides down the median.

Parking will be available on the first four floors of the Burdin Riehl Parking Tower along with the Grant Molett Parking Lot across from Champagne's Market.

For more information about the 26th Festival of Lights, visit https://www.theoilcenter.com/event-details/festival-of-lights.