Things to do this holiday season

Now that the Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie have been devoured, and the madness of Black Friday has come and gone, it is time for the residents of Evangeline Parish to focus on what Christmas events are being held locally this holiday season.
There are several family-friendly, and even a few adult, events to choose from this holiday season, from dances to tree lightnings. Here is a look at what the parish has to offer to help residents celebrate Christmas.
•Santa Claus will be visiting The Hatchery in Vidrine every Saturday in the month of December. Santa will be available to visit with children and take photos from Noon to 3 p.m. on those days (Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26). Hot chocolate and candy canes will be available. For more information please call (337) 363-4477.
•The South Louisiana Community College’s C.B. Coreil Campus in Ville Platte will be holding a tree lighting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30. Children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. There will also be tree lightnings held at the college’s other campuses in New Iberia (Dec. 1), Opelousas (Dec. 2), Lafayette (Dec. 3), Abbeville Dec. 7), St. Martinville (Dec. 8), Crowley (Dec. 9) and Franklin (Dec. 10).
•The Ville Platte Lions Club is sponsoring a Christmas Dance on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Ville Platte Northside Civic Center. The dance will feature local band “Deja vu” who will perform from 8 p.m. to Midnight. Admission donation is $10 per person and their will be a cash bar. To order tickets contact Mike Ardoin at (337) 230-2806.
•Dance & Gym, Inc. is presenting “The Nutcracker, A Ballet Production” on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. The performances, which are choreographed by Dance Gym owners Misty Arnold and Veronica Manuel, will be held at the Sacred Heart High School gymnasium. Admission for those four years and older is $5 per person while those three years old and younger get in free.
•The City of Ville Platte’s Christmas Parade and tree lighting ceremony will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6 starting at 4 p.m., with lineup beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank at 841 W. Main Street. The lighting of the tree will be held after the completion of the parade. This year’s parade will feature additional floats, as many of the floats from the canceled Cotton Festival parade, will be running in the town’s Christmas parade.
•The Village of Pine Prairie will be holding its annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 6. The parade will kick off at 2 p.m., with lineup starting at 1:30 p.m.
•The 3rd Annual Community Christmas will be held on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Boggy Bayou Fair Ground on Hwy. 1172 in Pine Prairie. The event, which takes visitors through the scenes of the life of Christ, runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and admission is free. The event will have Christmas caroling, fun jumps, face painting for the children, hot chocolate and cookies.
•The Village of Chataignier is having its annual Christmas parade on Sunday, Dec. 13 starting at 3 p.m. Police Juror Rocky Rider will serve as the grand marshal.
•The Ville Platte Quarterback Club is holding its annual Christmas Social on Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Ville Platte Northside Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12.00 a couple or $7.00 single. To purchase tickets, please contact Felicia Joseph at 360-7129, Judy Fontenot at 852-6167, or Marie Janice at 831-3995. Proceeds from this event go towards benefitting the academic and athletic needs of the youth of Ville Platte High School.
•The Town of Mamou will be holding its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 19. The parade will run from 4 to 5 p.m.
•Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ville Platte will be holding mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Mass on Thursday, Dec. 24 will be held at 4 p.m. at both Sacred Heart and at Belaire Cove Chapel. Mass on Friday, Dec. 25 will be held at Sacred Heart at 7 a.m., at St. Joseph’s at 8:30 a.m. and at Sacred Heart again at 10 a.m.
•Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church will have its annual Christmas Under the Oaks, with live nativity scene, on Monday, Jan. 4. starting at 6 p.m.