Collection:LPB

Genre: Documentary

Place Covered: Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, St. James Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2011-12-6

Duration: 00:29:20

Subjects: Holidays | Christmas | Christmas lights | Acadian Village (Lafayette, La.) | LSU Rural Life Museum (Baton Rouge, La.) | Natchitoches Christmas Festival | Bonfires on the Levee | American Rose Society

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Harper, Iris Interviewee
• Dickens, Sandra Interviewee
• Cathey, Gary Interviewee
• Pierce, Deborah Interviewee
• Nini, Susan Interviewee
• Romero, Erin Interviewee
• Romero, Blake Interviewee
• Primeaux, Abigail Interviewee
• Guilbeaux, Carroll Interviewee
• Ware, Jeffery Interviewee
• Scott, Maria Interviewee
• Floyd, David Interviewee
• James, Trenton, II Interviewee
• Whitney, Jeff Interviewee
• Adams, Kim Interviewee
• Bourgeois, Hunter Interviewee
• Roussel, Larry Interviewee

This program from December 6, 2011, features host Charlie Whinham highlighting the unique Christmas traditions around Louisiana. He first visits the annual Christmas Festival of Lights in Natchitoches. He also participates in the holiday tour of homes and celebrates a 19th century Christmas with an upside down Christmas tree. He interviews: Iris Harper of the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau; Sandra Dickens, the owner of Dickens & Co.; and Gary Cathey, homeowner. Next, Whinham visits the half a million Christmas lights on display at Acadian Village in Lafayette, an annual event that supports the Lafayette Association of Retarded Citizens (LARC). He interviews: Deborah Pierce, the associate director of Acadian Village; Susan Nini, the LARC director of community relations; Erin Romero, Blake Romero, and Abigail Primeaux, visitors; and Carroll Guilbeaux, volunteer. Then, Whinham visits the Christmas in Roseland celebration at the Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, a participant in the Holiday Trail of Lights. He interviews Jeffery Ware, the executive director of the American Rose Society, and Maria Scott, the director of communications at the American Rose Society. Next, Whinham visits the Christmas celebrations at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge for a look at 19th century Christmas traditions in both north and south Louisiana. He interviews David Floyd, the museum director, and Dr. Trenton James II, a museum docent. Lastly, Whinham visits St. James Parish as the communities of Lutcher, Gramercy, and Paulina prepare for the annual Christmas Eve Bonfire on the Levees. He also attends the Festival of the Bonfires, where he helps to judge the gumbo cook-off. He interviews: Jeff Whitney, resident; Kim Adams and Hunter Bourgeois, festival goers; and Larry Roussel, festival organizer.