Holiday of Lights Will Herald 20th Anniversary of the Tammany Trace
When the annual Holiday of Lights exhibition begins Dec. 7, St. Tammany Parish will mark two important anniversaries. For starters, it will be the 13th year that Holiday of Lights will have bathed a section of the Tammany Trace in twinkling light.
But the parish also will use the event as a way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the purchase of property that would eventually become the Trace -– the only Rails to Trails conversion in the state.
Holiday of Lights will open Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. when many thousands of lights will
set aglow the Koop Drive section of the Tammany Trace just north of Mandeville. There will be sparkling Christmas trees, a 160-foot tall “Tower of Lights,” as well as many other lights and displays adorning the area. Also that night, there will be rides for the youngsters, and Santa Claus will be on hand to hear the wishes of all good children.
The display will be open until 8 p.m. each evening through Jan. 2.
Live entertainment is scheduled Dec. 7-8, and again on Dec. 14-15 from 6-8:30 p.m. Santa will be on site each of those days, as well.
The full lineup includes:
Dec. 7 – 6:05-6:20 p.m., Abita Springs Children’s Academy; 6:20-6:45 p.m., Kehoe France; 6:45-7:15 p.m., Mandeville Show Choir; 7:15-8:15 p.m., Mandeville High School Choir; and, 8:15-8:30 p.m., Captain Papillion.
Dec. 8 – 6-6:45 p.m., Northlake Academy of Music; 6:45-7:15 p.m., Woodlake Elementary; 7:15-7:45 p.m., Marigny Elementary; and, 7:45-8:30 p.m., Captain Papillion.
Dec. 14 – 6-6:30 p.m., Lancaster Elementary Choir; 6:30-7 p.m., Mary Dee’s Dance Studio; and, 7:15-8:30 p.m., Northshore Music Academy.
Dec. 15 – 6:05-6:35 p.m., St. Tammany Children’s Chorus; 6:35-7:05 p.m. , Lake Castle; and 7:10-8:15 p.m., Milliken Farms Animal Education.
A patron’s party, which is open to persons 21 and older, will be held Dec. 6 from 6-10 p.m. at Koop Drive. The soiree’ is held each year to honor benefactors of the Trace. This year’s party will feature barbecue ribs and beans, raw oysters, gumbo, a carving stations, libations and more. There will be a silent auction for items including restaurant gift certificates, wine baskets, art, sports memorabilia and more. Entertainment will be provided by the Ed Barrett Jazz Trio and The Meanies. Tickets to the party cost $50.
“We want the people who donate to the Trace to be recognized, to see how we progress from year to year, and to unveil our latest expansions,” said St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister. “What better time of the year to do it than in December (the anniversary of the acquisition of Trace property )? Our patrons can look around and know that their dollars have been put to good use.”
The idea of the Tammany Trace gained momentum in December, 1992, when St. Tammany Parish Government acquired the right-of-way of the property from the Illinois Central Railroad. Today, the Trace winds 31 miles from Covington to Slidell and is used by approximately 300,000 persons each year.
Holiday of Lights is the Trace’s largest annual event and is made possible by generous sponsors and by the hard work of Trace staff and volunteers.
For information on Holiday of Lights, the patron party or to become a sponsor of the festivities, call 985.867.9490.
