Friday, December 13, 2024
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Port Allen- West Baton Rouge will host its annual Holiday Open House with a twist. We are bringing back the ambiance this event once held a couple of decades ago when the museum grounds and historic houses took on a whole new light at night! Join us for an evening at the museum for hot cider, gingerbread, and merriment. The museum will be decorated for the season with a beautiful Christmas tree that makes for a lovely backdrop for photographs. Guests will also be able to "Find the Elves" on a scavenger hunt adventure around our six-acre camps while enjoying thier favorite annual festivities.
The big red barn will take on the role of Santa's Workshop with historic craft and trade demonstrations inside. There will be woodworking activities presented by the Baton Rouge Wood Workers Club, blacksmithing demonstrations by museum artists in residence twisting iron into candy canes, pottery demonstrations by Lisa Nelson of TNL Pottery, and tatting demonstrations by traditional Louisiana folk artist, Christy Castille.
Musical guests will be rocking around the Christmas tree, roaming the grounds, and playing inside the museum's Juke Joint! Entertainment includes the museum's Juke Joint Juniors from our Blues After School partnership program with Rockin' Mozart with support from New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Zach Castille in period attire playing Christmas tunes on his own violin to welcome visitors, West Baton Rouge Oasis Jazz Band performing holiday classics, and Lazarro Nettles and Dee Davis performing Blues and Jazz seasonal sounds.
The historic buildings will be open for complementary tours with tableau performances in the historic 1830 Aillet House. Museum gallery spaces will be open for viewing Haitian Art: The Jacques Bartoli Collection and WBR Parks and Recreation: Building a Community. The museum gift shop will be stocked with unique artist made items, and vendor pop-up Christmas shops will be on site.
The evening also boasts Victorian ornament making activities, a visit from Pere Noel in his long, white robe, and a telling of the Cajun Night Before Christmas. The museum will also take a moment to honor the wonderful volunteers who have supported museum projects this past year.