Christmas Tree Festival Open House is Thursday; more holiday events listed

The 20th Annual Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum Christmas Tree Festival Open House will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Louisiana State Museum near Patterson’s Kemper Williams Park.
The festival features Christmas trees decorated by local clubs and students from St. Mary and surrounding parish schools and includes a singing performance by Immanuel Christian School.
Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.
Call the museum at 985-399-1268 for more information.
Also on the area’s Christmas calendar:
—A free public screening of the Christmas movie “Polar Express” will be held in downtown Morgan City’s Lawrence Park at 6 p.m. Friday. Contact 985-385-1770 for more information.
—The first of two theatre productions will be “Rudolph” by the Tri-City Youth Theatre at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium at 6 p.m. today. Admission is $5 per person at the door.
—The United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band from New Orleans will perform a Christmas concert benefitting Toys for Tots at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Paul Schreier Theatre in the Municipal Auditorium in Morgan City.
Admission is a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the Marine Corps League, St. Mary Detachment.
—Musical celebrations continue Sunday. The annual “Lessons and Carols” Christmas Concert will be held at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Main Street in Franklin. Meanwhile, Pharr Chapel on Federal Avenue in Morgan City will host the annual Christmas Cantata at 10 a.m. Dec. 20.
—The American Cancer Society, along with MC Bank & Trust Co., will host the 17th Annual “Love Lights a Tree” Christmas tree lighting ceremony from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the MC Bank location on the corner of Victor II Boulevard and Brashear Avenue in Morgan City to honor those who have been touched by cancer. Contact 985-384-2100 to find out how to dedicate an ornament to a loved one.
—On Saturday, the city of Patterson’s second annual Christmas Boat Lighting Parade will be held at 6 p.m. starting at Cajun Jack Swamp Tours and ending at Bridge Road in the Lower Atchafalaya. Any kind of personal boat is welcome to enter, and you do not have to be a resident of Patterson to participate. Registration is required with a $25 entry fee.
First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded to the best light decorated boats in the parade. Deadline for entering the boat parade has passed. For more information, contact Ryan Aucoin at City Hall at ryan.aucoin@cityofpattersonla.gov or call 985-395-5205. An awards ceremony will follow at Patterson City Hall.
—Also on Saturday is the kickoff of the Bernice Street Christmas by Candlelight event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Morgan City. Enjoy home decorations, entertainment, refreshments and Santa. Free to the public, but a donation of a canned good or cash to be distributed to the needy through St. Mary Outreach is requested. Contact 985-384-8003 for more information.
—The city of Patterson will host its annual Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday down La. 182 in Patterson.
For more events and information, contact the Cajun Coast office at 1-800-256-2931 or 985-380-8224.