Another.

One.

Welcome to a Louisiana holiday.

I'm Christina Jensen, the new host of Louisiana, the state we're in.

And I'm James Fox Smith, host of art rocks and publisher of Country Roads magazine.

Get ready for a statewide tour of ways to get you in the holiday mood.

We are taking a look at holiday traditions from around our state and you know, we have a lot of them.

Absolutely.

North to south, east to west.

And it changes everywhere you go.

First step will take you to Acadian Village in Lafayette Festival of the Bonfires in Letcher.

A pretty scene over there.

Gorgeous.

What about holiday magic in New Orleans and Christmas all the way up in Logansport?

And by the way, we're coming to you from the Louisiana lights display in Baton Rouge at the Burton Museum and Gardens.

How beautiful is it?

Where else would you want to be?

300,000 lights.

And in a few minutes, we're going to show you the behind the scenes story of how this was designed.

But first, we want to kick things off with a walk down Candy Cane Lane in Calhoun, right up by Ruston.

Just off the highway in Calhoun, Louisiana, the forest begins to glow.

Lights flicker between the pines, turning a quiet corner of northeast Louisiana into a world of magic.

This is Candy Cane Lane.

It's over a mile long.

When you drive through it, you're going to see over a million lights in here.

Some great holiday music.

And the best part?

You don't even have to leave your car.

You can just.

As the road twists deeper into the trees, the glow only grows stronger.

Lights draped from branches.

Characters tucked between pines and entire scenes rising out of the darkness like they were pulled straight from a holiday storybook.

We'll shut down right after the first of the year, take everything down, and then usually by February or March, we're already making plans for the next year ordering lights, going to Christmas shows and stuff, to get new ideas and new new products.

Pretty much by the 1st of July, I've got at least a couple of guys and myself that are starting to work, repair and replace and getting it ready by September 1st.

We're full bore.

For nine years now, Candy Cane Lane has drawn thousands down this path, each car moving slowly, almost in or taking in the displays one moment at a time.

And for co-owners Ben and Amy Hansen, the purpose behind all of this has always been simple create a place where families can rediscover the magic of the season together.

We are unrecognizable.

I feel like, from year one.

Yeah.

We've added so much more.

A whole quarter mile to it.

We've added the hay rides, we put new things out every year.

This year we've got a 130, 40ft fire truck that we've added.

So it's, you know, we try to do something recognizably different.

Each year the Hansons add more more lights, more scenes, more moments designed to spark wonder.

We're now right at around 60 acres.

We've got a mile and a quarter of, actual road that you come in or, you know, that you drive through.

That's Elliott and decorated.

We started out with a million lights back in 2017, and we're well over that now.

We add to every year, you know, we don't take anything down.

19.

There are glowing tunnels, animated characters, towering displays, a dance with the music.

And around every bend, a surprise waiting to be discovered.

When you're here, it's hard not to feel like a kid again.

Every turn brings something new, a memory, a reason to smile.

And that's why people keep coming back.

And those families come from everywhere, from across northeast Louisiana and beyond.

Some arrive bundled in pajamas with hot cocoa in hand.

Others make the trip year after year as part of a family tradition.

It's the first year we were open.

We had a film crew come out from local television and wanted to do a story.

They stopped against a car that was coming out and, turned out the family in there was from Wales.

They were in visiting family locally for the holidays.

And so that was super cool.

And they've actually stayed in touch with us throughout the years.

But for Amy and Ben, their favorite part is watching the reactions unfold.

The wide eyes, the laughter, the shared moments inside each car.

What's your favorite part of Candy Cane Lane?

My favorite part as the customers matter part is just seeing the families come through.

Spending good quality family time together, and then just seeing the smiles on everybody's faces, the kids, you know, hanging out of the window and singing to the music or, you know, pointing out their favorite displays.

And while the displays are grand, the feeling they create is simple connection, a rare chance to slow down, roll through a mile of magic, and remember what this season is really about.

Thank you.

We tell people time is the best job in the world.

I really is.

I mean, if you're making people happy for a living, that's what else could you ask for?

You know, no.

Even though the drive will come to an end, the memories will remain in Calhoun.

Candy Cane Lane continues to shine bright this holiday season.

Oh.

Wow.

That looks like it was a ton of fun to film.

Christina.

It really was.

I used to live in North Louisiana.

Never got the opportunity to visit Candy Cane Lane, but I did.

It was an amazing experience.

Back to your old stomping ground.

What a show of community.

Exactly.

And I really love seeing how people around the state create the magic of this time of year.

Yeah, they really step up.

I mean, look around the light display here at Burton Museum and Gardens in Baton Rouge.

I mean, it's truly a jewel.

It's so pretty.

Definitely.

You want to make this a part of your capital city holiday traditions.

And you know, James, last year was the inaugural opening, and my colleague Karen LeBlanc got a behind the scenes look at how this all came together.

And.

More than 300,000 lights twinkle on trees, flowers, plants and pathways at the Burton Museum and Gardens in Baton Rouge, all aglow for the inaugural Louisiana Lights experience.

The idea came from I've attended a lot of different light shows, around the country, and I always loved Christmas.

I loved lights, and so when I moved out here about 13 years ago from campus, one of the things I was challenged with was how to implement and support the Botanic Gardens and the gardens at here, Windrush gardens specifically.

And the light show was just one of those things that was perfect for us to implement, and something that this region has never experienced before.

This is going to be unlike any other light show.

You're not going to see this in any residential neighborhoods.

This is very unique and especially to the gardens.

So each garden room is a different activation that highlights that garden.

So part prismatic parterre, radiant Rangel, oscillating orchard.

They're all different for the garden.

And to highlight that part of the garden melodic sounding names.

Yes, yes.

We had a wonderful landscape architect who is actually a native of Tiverton.

So he designs live shows all over the country, and we hired him and Patrick Larkin to come and design the show for us.

You know, I ask a lot of people, have you been to Atlanta Botanic Gardens light show, have you been to Fort Worth?

And they're like, no, we have often.

And so this is going to be something that I believe most people in Baton Rouge just never have never experienced anywhere.

And so this is going to be something that is going to be a unique experience in Baton Rouge that they could get if they travel four hours away.

But it's right here in their hometown.

I took a behind the scenes tour of this immersive light show in the weeks leading up to its debut, as workers were prepping the gardens, improving pathways and installing electricity.

It's really rehabilitating this 100 year old garden that's unique to the region.

That's also a big part of what we were trying to accomplish out here.

Oak trees wrapped in color, changing lights welcome visitors as illuminated paths lead through Windrush Gardens on an hour long walk.

Still burn and design the 25 acre garden in the early 1900s, modeled after European landscapes and the grounds of historic southern homes.

We wanted this to honor the gardens we wanted it to be not your typical sort of holiday light experience, so it's much more garden focused here.

This might be the most Christmasy aspect of it that we have.

This colorfully lit Christmas tree serves as a guiding beacon along the garden's interconnected path.

Through ten immersive experiences, visitors cross a scintillating stream through the quaint Myrtle Alley light tunnel and stroll around the Enchanted Forest and the oscillating orchard with glowing doves above.

This is the first one it's going to be Baton Rouge and Beyond's newest holiday tradition.

People are going to want to come back year after year and see it grow and develop.

But right now, you know, we've got so many people who appreciate the bird Museum and Gardens property.

440 acres left in perpetuity, right in the middle of Baton Rouge.

I like to say we are in the middle of Baton Rouge, but we're 100 miles away from anywhere.

When you get back here.

The multimillion dollar light show took more than a year to plan and aims to be an annual South Louisiana holiday tradition.

This also is not just a wonderful, unique holiday event that people will cherish for years to come, but it's also a big way that we're raising funds to help maintain this garden.

Five acres of formal gardens takes a lot to maintain, as well as 440 acres in the middle of Baton Rouge.

So between the real life museum, the Titanic Gardens, this is a way for the community to come to this light show to help support this wonderful gift that the bird family gave us.

When you become a member, you help LPB share Louisiana's stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LPB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 tea, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug.

For $10 a month, choose the Bajoran pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LPB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 RT.

A bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart, hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you.

With the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive visions, LPB Monthly Program Guide and LP passport to stream the very Best of LPB and PBS.

Hello everyone!

I hope that you are enjoying a Louisiana holiday.

We are certainly enjoying bringing it to you.

I'm Linda magid.

I'm the executive producer at Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

What a great evening.

This is a special time of year, and it's especially special for us at Louisiana Public Broadcasting because this is our 50th anniversary.

That's amazing.

It is amazing.

50 years as Louisiana storytellers and you, our audience, is always telling us we want stories from around Louisiana.

It is our honor and our privilege to share those with you.

But we need your help.

So tonight I am joined by our newest member of Louisiana, the state Marine, Christina Jensen.

Christina, welcome.

Thank you.

I'm so happy to be here.

It's been a blast.

Great.

And James Fox Smith, who is our long time host of Art rocks and the publisher of country magazine.

Hello, everybody.

Fantastic to be back at LPB today.

You know a few things about Louisiana, James.

Well, you know, we've come across the story of two.

I mean, and in some ways we're kind of both in the storytelling business, right?

We are we are about showing people that live in Louisiana a richer experience of the state and giving them the tools they need to truly appreciate it in all its breadth and diversity.

So 100%, I think in that way, we have a very similar mission and cover a lot of the same ground.

Well, we've had years of wonderful partnership.

We have partners around our state.

We have had wonderful people in front of the camera, of course, like the two of you, and then also behind the scenes.

And so that leads us to our member challenge tonight.

That's right.

And we have a wonderful one to share and hopefully that you will choose to share with us as well.

This member challenge comes from Gary Allen, former LPB senior producer who is honored to support LPB programing and is challenging viewers to donate now in honor of LPB 50th anniversary.

Gary will match dollar for dollar.

The first $1,500 donated during this program, only effectively doubling the impact of your contribution to help.

So call 888769 5000 or go to LPB dawg.

Or you can scan the QR code that is on your screen.

Well, I love the spirit of giving that Gary is is modeling for oh nice 100%.

Yeah.

That's wonderful.

There's so many people that have just given their hearts and souls to LPB, but we like to give something back.

So take a look at these special gifts that we have for you when you become a member.

You help LPB share Louisiana stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LPB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 t, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug for $10 a month, choose the Bajoran pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LPB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 t, a bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you with the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive.

Visions.

LPB is Monthly Program Guide and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.

Those are some fantastic gifts.

So now we have a little tradition that we started just last year.

It's a little holiday quiz show.

Tell me more.

Okay, so there's an important, essential question that has to be answered.

Do you say pecans or pecans?

Okay okay.

We could all weigh in on this based on our own heritage.

Is everyone's doing this different?

Exactly what?

So when I lived in north Louisiana, I said pecan and they quickly said, if you want to live here, it's pecan.

So I said pecan.

So in California you would have said, yeah, I would have, yes.

But now I have switched.

Okay.

So with the Australian.

So where's the pecan line.

Is it somewhere like.

So it's hot or pecans.

And you don't say pecan in Australia.

Oh yeah we do.

We absolutely.

So you say you can't even here.

Yes ma'am I can now.

I feel so vindicated because last year everybody was all about pecans.

And this year I feel like I have some peeps I get well, you know, I do.

I have this argument with my Louisiana family all the time.

Yeah.

It's never going to get resolved.

Okay.

I say pecan now.

Okay okay okay.

I'm sitting.

You said it.

Kind of sad.

Okay.

All right, so we have another important question.

When you have sweet potato casserole, do you put marshmallows on it or do you put.

Oh, pecans.

Pecan topping.

You know, the brown sugar and all that stuff.

Question.

100% pecans, 100% marshmallows.

Yeah.

Okay.

We're never going to.

Yes.

We just can't eat a meal together.

That's not happening.

So, James, I assume that Christmas down Under is a little different than it is in Louisiana.

Oh, okay.

Well, this is where it gets weird.

Okay.

Now you think the pecan pecan thing was strange?

How about Christmas?

Absolutely.

Bang in the middle of summertime.

That is wild southern hemisphere.

So, December 25th, you are in the peak height of summertime, so the kids will get out of school.

They go to Christmas, you open your presents, you have some seafood for Christmas lunch, and then you go to the beach.

Doesn't that sound like a great way to start your day?

I would look pretty awesome.

I would love to.

And I mean, if you want to carry on, you go to the mall and you see Santa and Santa is wearing shorts.

It's like, who would want to wear the fur boots when it's 100 degrees outside?

Of course not.

I could go on and on and on.

All right, let's be honest, though, there are plenty of Louisiana Christmases that have felt like the middle of summer.

Well, I mean, you guys had a tent here.

You never know what you're going to do.

You never know.

Here.

Hot or cold.

I just feel acclimated.

And regardless of what you're going to come up with.

Yeah.

So is there any OPV in Australia?

Well, not strictly speaking.

Although I do happen to know that we have at least one loyal viewer and member, and that is my mother.

I love them, so I'm thrilled.

Thrilled to, know that, a certain Australian will be watching.

I love that.

That's wonderful.

Well, we have members globally, apparently.

We have a whole lot of members here in Louisiana, and that includes some of our wonderful past employees.

So one of those employees is giving us a member challenge tonight.

That's right.

I'd love to tell you about it.

This is Gary Allen, former LPB senior producer who is honored to support LPB programing and challenges viewers to donate.

Now, in honor of LP's 50th anniversary.

Gary will match dollar for dollar, the first $1,500 donated during this program only, which is doubling the impact of your contribution to help.

You can call 888769 5000 or go to lpb.org or scan the QR code right there on your screen.

Well, James, we don't have a whole lot of Australian accents around here, but we do have some Cajun ones.

But before we go to Acadian Village with Kara Saints here, let's take one more look at the special gifts that we have for you.

When you become a member, you help LPB share Louisiana stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LBB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 tea, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug.

For $10 a month, choose the Bajoran pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LBB 50th Anniversary cheers to 50 RT.

A bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you with the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive visions LP, B's monthly Program Guide and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.

Most of these houses are dedicated, and all the houses are named, and the names of the houses or the families that lived in it.

Which is really cool because this house we're about to pass on a right.

Last fall, a 97 year old man came in and said, I grew up in this house.

I want to go look around.

Wow.

Yeah, what an experience.

All authentic.

Find Hen skins is a CEO of Larc, a nonprofit organization with the goal of providing comfort for Lafayette's intellectually disabled population.

On his mission to make this community a better place, Henriques never imagined he'd fall in love with this.

A ten acre display of Acadiana's past.

Just amazing to walk through it and and have living history.

The living history.

Brian's referring to is called Noel Acadian Overlarge.

It's a display of a 19th century Cajun village decorated with authentic homes and artifacts taken from Cajun descendants all over south Louisiana.

But when the temperature drops and dusk sets in at 5 p.m., this quaint relic of history becomes a beautiful showcase of heritage and lights.

For the church at its centerpiece.

Let's talk about the significance of this place.

It's really historical, and you can tell by looking around.

Yeah, so we were just in the church.

The church was in 1860.

Church.

Most all of the houses actually are early 1900s.

And all of those buildings are authentic.

They were brought here either and pieces and put together a party on a trailer from all around south Louisiana.

So I was talking about the one here on the right.

It was brought here from south of USA.

But they were all brought from south of here.

And, sort of made a village that would look like it would back in the early 1900s.

And that's even with the by going through it's about because they live next to I used and the church was next door by because the priest might not come out once a month, he'd go down the bayou stopping at villages.

He'd come up like so if you had to get married, wait until he came back.

So when he got back, he baptized, married.

He confirmed the first communion.

He said mask.

And then he moved on down the bayou.

Why is it important to preserve a history like that?

I think it makes you appreciate what you have because nothing just popped up.

All this, you know, all this society didn't just pop up.

Somebody built, somebody made it.

Somebody worked really hard for us to have what we have here.

We take blacktop roads for granted.

We take cars for granted.

We take air conditioning.

That they had no lotion because of the work they did, because the Acadians came here and was so resilient and so good at what they did was the farming, they built an economy.

For the holiday season, the church, all the other neighboring homes in the fields surrounding the display will be draped in lights.

Half a million, to be specific.

The village is transformed into almost a Christmas wonderland.

Can you tell me all that goes into it?

It's a lot of work.

Late October early September, we start putting up the lights.

At that time as well.

So over a million lights.

It's a lot of work.

And all the houses for us, we have to wrap those in.

We have to wrap those in a way that, you know, we we're not putting staples in these houses, so it makes it a little more difficult.

You have to be, really creative about how you put the lights on them.

So it's huge.

It's 45 volunteers a night, and we go 23 nights.

The process is hard, but to Brian, the effort is well worth the work.

All of the money collected from ticket purchases is used to better the lives of Lafayette's intellectually disabled at large.

Last year, when temperatures dropped, Brian's organization took a hit.

Less people showed up, making this year's ticket sales crucial.

It was really cold.

Weather was really bad.

Turnout was low because of that.

And so thank you, Lord.

This year the weather's beautiful.

It looks like it's going to continue to be beautiful.

It's cool but not too cold.

So it's really got a Christmasy feel.

And honestly there there's more to see this year.

There's more lights in there.

Ever been?

This year, Brian is expecting about 6000 people to show up on the final weekend.

Those who do choose to get lost in the Christmas revelry can expect carnival rides, Louisiana's culinary staples, and a store packed with art and holiday whimsy.

It's this attention to detail that attracts visitors like Sarah and Wyatt Lanier every single year.

So this is our yearly tradition.

Every year we come to see the lights at Acadian Village.

Do a couple of the rides that have hot chocolate, listen to carolers, and then take a picture with Santa.

I have two girls, so we have pictures from when they were babies in front of all of the displays in the houses.

So it's a beautiful thing to look back on to see how they grow throughout the years.

And I think it's important to know who you are and to know where you live, even if you aren't Acadian.

It's important to know this area was built by Acadians.

And so in my opinion, you sort of owe something to them.

And and we owe it to people to keep that heritage alive, in my opinion.

And we owe it to people, and we owe it to history to take care of these homes.

Wow.

How nice is it to hear a saint see his voice and storytelling back on LP busy away I know I miss her, I know me too.

So am I right in thinking that she's now based in San Francisco, California?

Yeah, that's what I heard.

And I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm from the West Coast.

No way.

Yeah.

Born in Los Angeles, raised in San Francisco.

What are the chances?

I know we need to connect with her.

Do you think she'll find some good stories to tell out there?

Definitely.

Okay, but I know one thing.

Papa Noel is not there.

Well, you know where else Papa Noel isn't Australia?

Where I'm from, Santa is pulled by kangaroos, not reindeers.

They're a lot different over there.

Very, very different.

But I'll tell you the place where you can be sure.

Papa Noel shows up every year.

And that's right down the river in Saint James Parish in Letcher.

Along the Mississippi River levee in Gary Ville, wood structures start taking shape around Thanksgiving as bonfire builders get to work stacking and hammering wooden shapes to ignite on Christmas Eve night.

It's a tradition in Saint James Parish that dates back to the early 1700s, tied to Cajun folklore started by early settlers of the river parishes.

The belief is that the levee bonfires light the way for Papa Noel to deliver presents.

I wanted to take you behind the scenes to show you the kind of work that goes into building these bonfires that light up the levee.

So we are visiting the site of blood, sweat and bonfires.

It's a group of bonfire builders who've been together since 1998 as kids, building here on the levee.

And each year they build these extravagant bonfires and they're different.

Let's take a walk.

And I want to take a look at this.

All right.

What is it that you're building this year?

All right, so this year, we decided to do an alligator dogfish because it kind of fits the thing.

We know it year after year with Louisiana.

So I bayou Swamp Thing, a swamp creature.

From.

Starting a few days after Thanksgiving, the group gathers each weekend to build the wooden structures leading up to Christmas Eve.

It's also a time to socialize and connect with the community.

There are many people who stop by to chat and watch the bonfire building, so this is our very first bonfire we ever built as a group of kids on the levee.

And this was done in like 98.

I'm up here.

We've been here.

Over the years, this group of friends has built bonfires in the likeness of all sorts of Louisiana creatures a large mouth, bass, a crawfish, a crab, a pelican, snapper, a turtle, and occasionally deviating from Louisiana themes to produce the space shuttle, a guitar, and a breast cancer memorial, just to name a few.

In its long history.

The bonfire builders say their latest creation puts the Gar in Carrie ville with their gar gator spending 40ft long and seven feet tall.

So it's kind of more of things like a Louisiana style Christmas.

We put our own twist on things, and this is just something so unique to our region, and we've been doing it so long.

It's got history to it and we just enjoy doing it so much.

It's just been so much fun for us over the years.

We look forward to it every year.

The build up to the main event includes the beloved festival of the Bonfires in Letcher.

You know, we always it's been a family tradition in Saint James Parish to build bonfires on the levee, to light the way for Papa and Noel, for people can see our small town, Saint James Parish.

And that's what we decided to do a festival, the bonfires, to kind of give a little glimpse of it.

If you can't come Christmas Eve.

So we lights and bonfires, at the festival, and then, we get ready for Christmas Eve, where we open our doors to, the tourists.

They come into our homes a combo, just chat around and then light a bonfire on the levee for Papa Noel.

Folks, gather around the festival bonfire with a modern day twist on this Cajun tradition.

A fireworks show of cascading lights that dance above the flickering bonfire flames.

The night is a glow from the ground up to the sky.

It's always the second full weekend of December.

And we just have live music, you know, arts and crafts.

We have a gumbo cookoff on Friday night that always has over 100 got bows.

We have day.

We had actually our teen and miss, parts of the bonfires pageant.

We have teens that come throughout the, entire state of Louisiana to come and support the girls.

Today, these bonfires line the levee for miles, attracting thousands of visitors.

Many Louisiana families that make Christmas Eve bonfire outings part of their holiday tradition.

At 7 p.m.

on Christmas Eve, fire chiefs send the signal to light the fires.

So all the kids are going to thank you because Santa Claus or Arcade.

Come on, Noel.

That's right.

Well, see his way along the lighted levee thanks to the bonfires.

Like we just wanted a minute as a tribute to his light on the way down.

So all the kids and gamble.

Good to see you.

Merry Christmas today.

Bells.

You know, James, I really love these old world traditions and the people that preserve them.

Oh, me too.

They're fabulous stories to say, Christina.

But you know, these old world traditions, the rural parts of the state are not the only places to find them.

New Orleans has its own fair share of completely unique holiday traditions.

Of course they do.

It's the city of New Orleans.

If you want to get out of the countryside and into the big city, here are some fun reasons to dress up and make it happen.

From holiday lights that illuminate the night sky, carriage rides touring through the city, Rivian dinners and spirits exclusive holiday boutiques and hotel halls decked with holly.

The magic of Christmas is in full swing in the city of New Orleans, and it's regarded as one of the top destinations to visit during the holiday season.

We just love people.

We love to entertain everyone's.

Welcome to New Orleans.

We are truly a city that's built to host.

Mark Rome, a native New Orleanians and chief marketing executive officer at New Orleans and Company, beamed with joy as he reflects on the many things that make holidays and New Orleans special.

New Orleans has so many things that you can do during the holidays, and I say New Orleans, but really the region.

Yeah, if you think about the lights, people decorating their own homes or you come into a beautiful hotel lobby like the Roosevelt and the hotel lobbies come alive in New Orleans, whether it's the Roosevelt, the Westin, the Windsor Court, the Ritz-Carlton, it's a grand way to just enjoy the lights of the of the season.

While touring the city, we visited three hotels that capture the spirit of the Crescent City and the essence of Christmas.

The Hotel Monte Leon flaunted their dazzling lights throughout their halls and lobby area, while the Ritz Carlton held their customized canopy dangling from the ceiling.

Their in-house baked gingerbread street car paying tribute to local New Orleans legends and their wide array of Christmas decor in every corner of the hotel.

Both were ready for the season and spared no expense in their preparation for a jolly old Christmas.

But the last stop, the Roosevelt Hotel, with over 140,000 Christmas lights, 46 Christmas trees and customized meals and drinks for the season.

Like some of their staff say, nobody does Christmas like the Roosevelt.

We took our time to make sure to soak it all in.

Dorothea, we are in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel.

I will call this the Grand Lobby because it just comes alive during the holidays, and there are so many families that walk through on any given day, at any given hour.

And it's just the experience of being part of the magic of new Orleans for the holidays, while walking down the halls of the Roosevelt.

It's similar to walking down Santa Claus Lane.

It's filled with so much wonder sparkling lights that would bring joy to any Scrooge.

Then the shopping area, the place where the magic is made.

Look at the magnificent items.

I mean the candles, the ornaments, the clothing.

And.

And here we have an ornament that represents the lobby of the Roosevelt.

You can actually have it in your home on your tree.

Like many hotels in the area, the Roosevelt participates in the Rivian, a holiday tradition that originated in the 1800s.

Chef Daniel Mills, executive chef at the Roosevelt, has been participating in this tradition for the past ten years.

He prepares three course meals every year to commemorate the season.

It's an amazing tradition.

You know, the Rivian starting in the 18th century, just people coming back from midnight mass.

And that's, you know, Rivian means awakening.

So they would get together with their entire family and they would have this meal starting after midnight mass.

You know, dinner at 2 a.m.

might sound a little strange these days, but they ate all the way through the night.

And then that was really the awakening and the start of their Christmas this year.

He whipped up a few dishes he's especially proud of.

That gives both a taste of the season and New Orleans.

So we have a pan seared venison, that's going with some herbs, basil and some foraged mushrooms.

We've made a cranberry demi gloss that goes, you know, ties it all together with kind of the Christmas flavors.

And then this dish is duck again, Louisiana kind of game food.

We have some sweet potato puree which we've kind of holiday spiced.

So some familiar flavors there.

Yeah.

And it's served with a savory bread pudding that has foie gras, blackcurrants, walnuts.

And that's going to tie in together with our Sazerac, rye demi glass, seeing that's how we're the Roosevelt Sazerac is tied to us, and the flavor really goes well with everything else on the plate.

This is one of our starters, too.

It's, local blue crab.

I Groton.

We mix it up with some Mornay, with some fresh kale and, guanciale, which is, cured, pork jowls.

Bon appetit.

And what's a holiday meal without a customized holiday drink?

We visited the bar area of the Roosevelt and witnessed that Christmas cookie.

We're going to start off with Stoli Vanilla.

Oh, we're going to do two ounces.

Bring some nice sweetness to it.

Going to kick it up with sweetness as well with a little brown sugar.

Ooh okay a little vanilla extract okay a couple dashes of that and then some cream.

Just heavy cream.

You know.

Then we will finish that off with some nice colorful Christmas flavors.

Oh how cute.

This is our Christmas cookie.

I love it.

Oh, let's see if it tastes like a curse.

Yeah give it a try.

Oh, this is so good.

The last area of the Roosevelt to spread some cheer is the Teddy Bear Tea Room.

This event has been bringing families together for over 19 years.

The tea is named after President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt.

And guests are gifted a signature teddy bear in his honor.

I filled in for Santa Claus by making an entrance on their street car, but traditionally he joins families for tea, cookies, champagne and a wealth of laughs and cheer.

Now, the Roosevelt is definitely on the good list, and they make Louisiana proud.

I mean, the Roosevelt does holidays better than any place I've ever seen, especially in the city of New Orleans.

And we just really, I think, capture the spirit of the city, then take it to another level.

Wow.

Dorothea did such an extraordinary job telling that story last year.

Yeah, she really did.

I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to meet her, but she seemed like such a warm and vibrant person.

She was a wonderful person and she was a wonderful colleague.

We truly miss her at LPB and our hearts go out to her family this time of year.

Dorothea is one of many wonderful people who contributed to LPB over the years.

We've been so blessed to have a team in front of the camera.

Like you guys.

And then behind the scenes, people have contributed their time and their talents and their gifts in order to make Louisiana a better state.

And we have a special challenge tonight from a former colleague.

That's right.

One of those people, Gary Allen, former LPB senior producer who is honored to support LPB programing and is challenging viewers to donate.

Now, in honor of LPB 50th anniversary, Gary will match dollar for dollar the first $1,500 donated during this program, only effectively doubling the impact of your contribution to LPB.

And we have some wonderful gifts to thank you for your support of us.

Some of them are 50th anniversary gifts.

Let's take a look at when you become a member.

You help LPB share Louisiana's stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LPB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 t, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug.

For $10 a month, choose the Badger on pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LBB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 t, a bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you.

With the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive visions, LPB Monthly Program Guide, and LPB passport to stream the very Best of LPB and PBS.

Well, James, we talked a little bit about Australian traditions, but Christina, we have not learned about your family's traditions yet.

Yeah, so my mom's from the Dominican Republic and what's interesting is that we actually open gifts on January 6th to celebrate Three Kings Day.

So it's not the traditional December 25th.

Wow.

That's that takes a lot of patience, I think a lot of Haitian.

And even though when you're a six year old kid, January 6th thing is like a long way away, it really is.

Yeah.

And my mom's birthday's in seventh, so it's always a back to back event for her.

So it's a lot.

But does Santa ever like to sneak in a little gift for you on the 25th, or did you just really it was January 6th for us.

Look at you on the December character.

It's a character, but on the sesame seed, though, we had a big like dinner, but it was like a Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, pecans, pecans on the side.

Is that like the equivalent of a of a Louisiana Rivian dinner?

That's a like a Christmas Eve?

Yeah.

Catholic mass tradition, I would say so.

Okay.

So it's the same thing there.

And then okay, what do you do to fill the time between Christmas Eve and January the 6th?

Well, sometimes we went caroling out in the neighborhood that was really fun.

But we just all spent time together as a family and embraced one another.

You know, we all live far away.

I'm here in Louisiana.

They're in California.

It's a it's hard to get together.

And that's what's really important about the holidays.

Right.

And what about your, Christmas dinners?

Okay.

Yeah.

Well, okay.

It gets even weirder because my mother and father immigrated from the UK.

So not only was the as they have the Australian thing to contend with, but they were also homesick English expats.

And my mother, chronic overachiever, had to do two Christmas dinners.

She had to do the Australian one at lunchtime, and then she had to do turkey and dressing and all of the things in the evening.

So a you ate yourself half to death, and then you also had to eat a giant honking turkey dinner in 100 degree heat at the end of the day.

Well, but your mum, we worked was not like that.

Like that is what I'm thinking.

Yes.

And an LPB member I might have.

Oh, well, I think that we need to send your mother, perhaps gratis.

One of these gifts.

Certainly.

Be sure that we have it for our members to thank for their support.

Take a look.

When you become a member, you help LPB share Louisiana stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LPB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 tea, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug for $10 a month, choose the basil on pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LPB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 t, a bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you with the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive visions LP, this monthly program guide, and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.

Well, we have a member challenge this evening that I'd love to tell you about.

This is from Gary Allen, a former LPB senior producer who is honored to support LPB programing and challenges viewers.

To donate now.

In honor of LPB is 50th anniversary.

Gary will match dollar for dollar.

The first $1,500 donated during this program, only effectively doubling the impact of your contribution to LPB.

This is a wonderful gift from Gary to LPB and we are very grateful for that.

We're grateful for all of the gifts that our members send to us.

And speaking of gifts, I have a question for you both.

Okay.

Is there any gift that you had as a child that you were given that really stands out as special or memorable?

Christina, you so okay, I'm going to say Nintendo 64.

I was big on video games, okay.

But I remember that console and the Mario Kart games and all of that.

But that was my favorite gift.

That's pretty cool, right?

That's a long time to get older I know.

Yeah.

How about you?

Well, I don't know.

Like I told you before, Australian summer, Australian Christmas kinda was the gateway to summer because this was the beginning of the long summer holiday.

A lot of people went to the beach afterwards, and I remember being about eight years old, and we'd only recently moved to Australia from England, and I got a boogie board for my eight Christmas.

Yeah, so that I got a lot of use out of it that summer.

And I can remember that thing from all of my life.

I love that.

Well, sometimes the simplest gifts are the best.

That's right.

It's really true.

I have one more, somewhat controversial question to ask Rafa for our, did you have cranberry sauce?

And if you did, who was it canned or was it a fresh cranberry sauce?

This is this is important information to establish, isn't it?

People feel strongly about this.

They do.

And I'm going to say canned.

Well, look, I mean, that's just I'm married and I can cranberry family as well.

So, you know, this is right.

I mean, what's wrong with that?

There's nothing wrong with that.

Let's hear from cranberries, everybody.

Yeah.

How about you?

You know, I grew up eating canned cranberry, but I actually make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce.

Now that my children really like it.

Has orange zest in it and cloves and spices, and it's really good.

But I have to say, I'll still eat the canned stuff and be very happy to do it.

Yeah, we might have to try her.

I would.

That sounds pretty good.

This table's big enough for both of them.

Yeah.

Okay, so we are about to, finish up our hour, and we're going to go to Logansport.

Yes, and I went there.

I got to meet Santa.

I got to see a great big fireworks show and a parade.

And the people there were just lovely.

What a great way to celebrate Christmas to kick off the holiday season.

Well, I can't wait to see it.

But before we take a trip to Logansport, let's take one more look at these.

Think it gives?

When you become a member, you help LPB share Louisiana stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LBB Christmas combo, which includes the cheers to 50 tea, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug for $10 a month.

Choose the Badger on pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LBB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 t, a bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you with the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive.

Visions LPB is Monthly Program Guide and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.

From.

The very little boy here in Logansport.

The Christmas season is officially underway in just a few hours.

This town will be glowing with lights and filled with holiday cheer.

The premiere date, the Logansport Christmas Festival, draws families from across northwest Louisiana to the Sabine River, where the town awakens in a glow of holiday lights, music and celebration, rows of arts and crafts booths, local vendors offering handmade ornaments and gifts you won't find anywhere else.

Parents shop, children play, and the smell of sweet treats fills the air.

I. The parade is fantastic with you.

We've been three years and not to mention the lights close to home.

This is a big thing for us.

So we have a big turnout, so it's just wonderful.

The annual Christmas parade sweeps through downtown, marching bands echoing holiday floats glowing and Santa's atop a fire truck.

It's a tradition that unites this entire community.

Joining me now is the one the only Santa Claus.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Ho ho ho.

So good to be here in Logansport, Louisiana.

We know you're a busy man delivering presents throughout the world, but why did you make this stop here in Logansport today?

Logansport is one of my favorite stops of the year.

I've been coming here for, especially what's been going on for over 20 years.

This festival is entirely volunteer driven and it takes months of planning.

Cynthia Hendrickson and Tori Taylor are two of the people behind the magic.

Started with my mom and a group of ladies started.

They were from the Sigma Thar and they started with the lights on Main Street and came.

They came right.

It's a a community.

And I don't know if you noticed that down there when everybody is, it's like a lifetime movie.

That's how truly everybody feels about this town.

They love this town.

We we live and breathe this town.

And everybody comes together to make it work.

After the parade rolls through downtown, all eyes turn toward the riverfront, where one of the brightest moments of the season is about to begin, with a community wide countdown, the Sabine River is suddenly transformed into a shimmering, colorful Christmas wonderland.

A fireworks show lights the sky, reds, golds and greens reflecting across the water as families look on in awe.

And for a town built on the edge of two states, the setting itself is part of the story.

Said the river divides both Texas and Louisiana, and right down the middle is the land.

So if you sit in your backyard, you're looking at the state.

It's got so much history.

This whole town, this is always going to be a gold mine on the ground waiting to happen.

Well, with that, highway 84 to highway 84 is beginning to start at this.

Although premiere night in Logansport is the biggest celebration, the lights stay on long after the crowds go home.

From late November through the new year, the Logansport riverfront remains open nightly, giving families a chance to walk the trails, take pictures and soak in the Christmas spirit at their own pace and for the volunteers, this is exactly why they bring the festival to life.

Each year.

You.

Do too.

I do it for the kids.

It's the kids.

It's to see their face when they see Santa.

It's the experience that that matters.

Because you won't remember.

You know the little things.

It's just the the experiences you get to have together.

While it's true that come here.

Yeah.

It's a wonderful country down.

Oh.

What do you say to folks in Louisiana this holiday season?

Please enjoy your families, have a good time with your families and enjoy them.

Don't get caught up in the commercialism.

Just have family time.

That's what Christmas is all about.

Oh, thank you so much for joining us.

We know it's your busiest time of year.

Merry Christmas, merry Christmas.

To.

You from the volunteers who make it happen to the families who return year after year.

Logansport has truly created something special here along the Sabine River.

Merry Christmas from Logansport.

To.

Union.

Well, it's so fun to see what's happening around the state.

And it's so fun to discover it with you guys.

It is amazing going to Candy Cane Lane for the first time over in Calhoun.

It was so cool just to see over a million lights and all the smiling faces on the families that were driving by through it.

It was amazing.

Well, it's been great to get to know our state a little bit better, and also to get to know you guys a little bit better.

Like, I feel like I know things about you I didn't know when we started this.

I thought I'd be revealing quite as much about Australian Christmases.

Yeah.

We hope that you've enjoyed this time, this, holiday special that we've had.

If you've enjoyed seeing different parts of the state, keep your eyes open.

In 2026, we have a new series called LA 64 with Karen LeBlanc, and she's going to be visiting every parish of the state.

We're so excited to bring that to you.

So I want to thank you guys one more time for joining me tonight.

This has been so much fun.

It's been so fun, and it's so great to showcase the state of Louisiana.

Yeah, absolutely.

An opportunity to share all of it.

The state has to offer is just a wonderful experience.

And thank you for all that you do and for the ways that you support us.

We truly could not do our work at LPB without members like you.

So as you head into the holidays, take one more look at these very special thank you gifts curated just for you.

When you become a member, you help LPB share Louisiana stories with the world.

For $20 a month, you will receive the LPB Christmas Combo, which includes the cheers to 50 tea, an elegant tea infuser, a 3 pound box of fresh shelled Bajoran pecan halves, and the LPB 50th Anniversary Mug.

For $10 a month, choose the Bajoran pecan halves.

These fresh shelled pecans harvested in Louisiana are the perfect healthy snack for $9 a month, receive the LBB 50th anniversary cheers to 50 t, a bright and lively black tea with a medley of sweet citrus, tart hibiscus and warm spices, plus an elegant tea infuser or support LPB at just $8 a month and we will thank you.

With the 50th anniversary mug at any level, you will receive visions, LPB Monthly Program Guide, and LPB passport to stream the very Best of LPB and PBS.