December 1- 30, 2025
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Lighting Up Lafreniere L ighting Up Lafreniere
Each year since its humble beginnings in 1986, the Lafreniere Christmas Light Show transforms Lafreniere Park into a dazzling wonderland of color, creativity, and community spirit. The display has evolved into a captivating show that rivals even the most renowned holiday extravaganzas in the country. It is a source of great pride for the local community and for those who work all year to pull off this cherished annual tradition for local families. This holiday spectacle is the product of remarkable teamwork and dedication behind the scenes.
Featuring an estimated 10 million LED lights, the Lafreniere Christmas Light Show truly takes a small village to put together. While many visitors may not realize it, the event is a joint effort between two teams:
Lafreniere, led by Stephen Accardo, focuses on the walking island portion, while Parks and Recreation, headed by Kyle Beske, oversees the driving portion. This year, their collaboration shines brighter than ever, blending the walking and driving portions of the display into a seamless, immersive holiday experience.
Both sides have worked closely together over the past year to create a seamlessly blended experience that offers guests a whole new way to enjoy the holiday lights — with new scenes, enhancements to existing displays, and even elements moved from the walking island to the driving route that driving visitors have never seen before. Two features that have moved
to new locations this year are the First Responders scene and Grandma Got Run Over by a Monster Truck, which are now visible along the driving route. It takes about two months to set up all of the lights, starting in early October, and Christmas is worked on year-round. Takedown and storage take about a month, and any pieces needing repair are set aside to be fixed throughout the year. While the display is up, plans for the following year are developed, including updates to existing scenes and ideas for new ones. There is a long list of additions and improvements, and anything that can’t be completed in the current year is added to the list for the next year or even two years out.
After the retirement of longtime Christmas in the Park visionary John Hayes in 2024, Stephen Valiente officially joined Lafreniere Park as Special Event Coordinator. A lifelong Christmas enthusiast, Valiente has
embraced his new role with passion and creativity, taking the lead on designing and crafting new scenes and figures that will delight visitors for years to come.
Drawing inspiration and guidance from the best — John Hayes and Paul Clark — Valiente personally welded over 30 brand-new lighted figures for this year’s display. He now joins the talented veteran team of Paul Clark, Stephen Accardo, Michael Couch, David Fray, and Jonathan Accardo — and, of course, Jessica Kovacs and The Grinch — as they all play important roles continuing to bring the holiday magic to life. Of course, none of Valiente’s creations would shine without the meticulous work of Ronnie Tew, who single-handedly wraps each fixture with thousands of lights, ensuring every piece sparkles throughout the season.
This year marks year 18 for Kyle Beske with Recreation. Beske has led the Recreation Team since the retirement of Scott Muhoberac in 2022 and continues
to build on a proud legacy of teamwork and dedication. With the invaluable support of Kris Christoffel, who has been part of the Christmas in the Park effort for over 15 years, and Justin Mayeux, whose craftsmanship has shaped nearly every feature of the driving portion, the Recreation team continues to deliver an exceptional Christmas experience.
The team’s experienced crew includes: Maverick Charles, who you can catch at ticket collections; James Vasquez, who keeps operations running smoothly while Charles provides guidance and administrative support for the Recreation team; Sidney Watkins; and the dependable duo of Anthony Corpora and James Behne, who never miss a single day from setup through the final night the lights shine. Raymond Johnson tirelessly contributes his time wrapping and setting up displays, while Anthony Centanni, James Vasquez, Bryce Campos, Jamal Chapman, Jennifer Maunoir, Riccardo Gonzales, and Joe Barbara round out the Recreation team
— the dedicated group that ensures the driving portion remains a magical, seamless experience for all. Of course, Lafreniere Park Director Tripp Rabalais has been the driving force behind the lights for many years. He constantly pushes and challenges the team to be bigger and better, and allows their creativity to reach new heights.
As the lights twinkle and families gather to celebrate the season, the Lafreniere Christmas Light show stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through passion, craftsmanship, and teamwork. From the creative artistry of Stephen Valiente and his fellow designers to the tireless dedication of the Recreation crew, every figure, bulb, and scene reflects the shared joy of bringing holiday magic to the community. With each passing year, new ideas and fresh energy ensure that this beautiful tradition continues to grow — reminding everyone that the true spirit of Christmas shines brightest when a whole community comes together.
New This Year
• Welcome Christmas Scene located just after the ticket collection area
• A Dog Park Scene featuring Bluey, Clifford, Snoopy, and Scooby
• An expanded Video Game Scene that now includes Duck Hunt alongside Mario, Minecraft, and Pac-Man
Park Amenities
RECREATIONAL
Bark Park
Five-acre park sectioned for large dogs and small dogs
Marsh Island
A redeveloped and preserved marshland with views of natural vegetation and animal life.
Singing Oaks
A peaceful area of the Park where you can enjoy the numerous donated Wind Chimes.
Open Meadow
A large open area with a performance stage for outdoor events.
Carousel
A whimsical ride featuring 30 moving horses, a tiger, a zebra and two chariots.
Spray Park
A 4,000-sqft. area with 13 water features.
Tripp’s Treehouse
An all new inclusive playground.
SPORTS
Soccer/Multi-Use Fields
Five multi-use fields primarily used for soccer
FIFA Soccer Complex
FIFA certified professional Soccer Complex with quality turf fields
Healthtrack
Two-mile track with two warm-up areas
Disc Golf Area
Free 21-hole disc course
MEETING AND PARTY FACILITIES
Foundation Center
Indoor building space for special events equipped with a small kitchen and fantastic park views. Features outdoor patio garden.
Shelters
Shelters of varying sizes for groups between 10-70 people. Includes BBQ pits, water and electricity.
New & Recently Updated Amenities
The Island Pavillion, Copeland Open Meadow Concert Stage, and eight shelters have also undergone renovation, with fresh paint and new roofs - ensuring a welcoming, family-friendly environment for all visitors.
THE POINTE
A new dining destination with Lafreniere Park is complete with three distinct restaurant kitchens inlcuding Louisiana Purchase Kitchen Express, Nonno’s, and Coast BBQ Company. This open-air food hall offers a variety of delicious, chef-driven menus - from casual bites to creative cuisine - designed to bring people together through food, community and the beauty of nature. Dine in comfort in our spacious shared seating area, where you can enjoy your meal surrounded by picturesque views of the water and park landscape. Modern common restrooms and thoughtful amenities ensure a welcoming, family-friendly environment for all visitors. and enjoy the best of what the park has to offer.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Crescent City Classic Christmas Race
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Dawn Busters – Breaking Dawn 5K Run/Walk
February 1, 2026
Food Fight Fest
March 2026
Park 2 Park 10K
New Orleans Track Club (NOTC)
March 14, 2026
Dawn Busters Kiwani’s Bunny Bash
April 2026
Asian Heritage Festival
Asian Pacific American Society (APAS)
May 16, 2026
Summer Series
New Orleans Track Club (NOTC)
June - August 2026
Uncle Sam Jam
Jefferson Convention and Vistors Bureau Inc.
July 3, 2026
Gator Classic Soccer Tournament
Louisiana Fire Soccer Club
September 2026
Que Pasa Fest
October 2026
Trunk or Treat
October 2026
Help
Santa Claus find his way to
the Christmas Tree
