The Oil Center’s Festival of Lights Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
Nov 16, 2018 11:46AM ● By Staff Writer
The Oil Center’s Festival of Lights – presented by Lafayette Utilities System - is celebrating its
25th anniversary this year. Organized by the Oil Center Association, the Festival of Lights is the largest event held in the Oil Center annually and has traditionally been the first event to kick off the holiday season in Lafayette.
Festival features include the lighting of Santa’s sleigh above Lafayette General Medical Center’s skywalk, lighted displays, photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriages rides, face painting, live ice sculpting, carnival games, photos with Rudolph and Mrs. Claus, holiday shopping at Oil Center retailers, several stages with live entertainment, and more. Food and beverages will be for sale by local vendors. Some restaurants in the Oil Center will also be open during the festival.
A new feature this year is the Sneaux Zone, sponsored by Lafayette Coca-Cola, in which children and adults can play in the snow, build snowmen and make snow angels.
Santa’s Mailbox, sponsored by Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe, will be located across from the U.S. Post Office in the Oil Center from the last week of November through Christmas. Children are encouraged to drop their letters to Santa in the mailbox anytime during that period.
LAGCOE also returns this year with “Light and Learn with LAGCOE” where children will be able to participate in age-appropriate, fun activities designed to introduce the next generation to the energy industry. The LAGCOE Christmas Tree Corner will showcase mechanical oilfield Christmas trees, decorated to look like standard Christmas trees.
“The pleasure of being associated with an event that has continued for 25 years is exciting and rewarding,” said Kirk A. Taylor, OCA Board President. “The Christmas spirit in Acadiana has always been strong, and the Festival of Lights showcases that spirit in the Oil Center. The OCA board continues to focus on improving this event every year, and we anticipate the 25th anniversary to be very special.”
Family packs are on sale at www.theoilcenter.com. A Small Family Pack includes 30 tickets and a Large Family Pack includes 75 tickets. Each pack comes with a festival guide map and sponsor giveaways.
Event sponsors include: Lafayette Utilities System, Heymann Foundation, Lafayette Coca-Cola, Lafayette General Health, Travis Technology Center, The Palmetto Club, LAGCOE, Home Bank, Healthy Blue, Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, Peoples Health, Acadiana Prescription Shop, Acadian Total Security, Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe, MidSouth Bank, Trahan Real Estate Group, Acadiana Travel, Business First Bank, Cullen Investment Group, Dwayne Brown, MD, Liskow & Lewis, Mirian Real Estate, Neel-Schaffer, NeunerPate, OB/GYN Associates of Lafayette, The Lemoine Company, Vintage Dental, The Daily Advertiser, FACE Magazine, Nouveau Photeau, Lafayette Moms Blog, 008 Magazine, and IBERIABANK.
The Festival of Lights, held annually on the first Friday in December, is scheduled for November 30 from 5-9 p.m. The lighting of Santa’s sleigh above the LGMC Skywalk is scheduled for 6 p.m. Admission is free. For all festival details, visit www.theoilcenter.com
About OCA
The Oil Center Association (OCA), established in 1994, is a 501c6 non-profit, volunteer-driven organization contributing toward the revitalization, improvement and vision of the future for the Oil Center. Its mission is to unite the business community to preserve, enhance, and assure the continued viability of the area recognized as Lafayette’s Oil Center, while encouraging orderly growth, avoiding urban decay, and promoting a positive image of the Oil Center.
OCA helps to drive economic development and sustainability in the Oil Center by holding annual events and projects, such as the annual Festival of Lights. It also helps to maintain the image and public awareness of the Oil Center and its businesses, and partners with local charities and organizations on co-advertising projects. To learn more, visit www.theoilcenter.com.
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