Holiday Open House

The West Baton Rouge Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House on us Friday, December 12, 2025 from 6 – 8 PM. Join us for a festive evening featuring 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 campus while enjoying their favorite traditional activities.

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, hand-sewn crafts from vintage material by Pam Byrd, 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 on violin to welcome visitors, West Baton Rouge Oasis Jazz Band performing holiday classics, Lazarro Nettles and Dee Davis performing Blues and Jazz seasonal sounds, and a special edition of  the museum’s monthly  Cajun Jam led by guest presenter, Wallace Trahan.

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 the Weaving Nature: Louisiana’s Native American Basketry and An American War in Vietnam exhibits. 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 ornament making activities, a visit from Père Noël, 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.

This program is FREE, open to the public, and for all ages.