Festive Christmas Lights – 2025
Imagine walking down a gravel path in the dark surrounded by hundreds of Christmas lights. Welcome to Louisiana Lights. This light display was open to the public during the month of December. We enjoyed several hours one evening after Christmas walking down enchanting and mystical pathways full of holiday lights. While some of the light displays were the typical ones common to this area where the live oak tree branches are covered with lights, there were lots of surprises. The Burden Museum & Gardens is a 440-acre property in the heart of Baton Rouge. Once part of a huge plantation on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, it was gradually swallowed up by the city. The owner, however, kept some of the property for himself. In the mid-1800s he developed the Windrush Gardens full of azaleas, camellias and other native plants. Eventually, he gifted all the remaining property to LSU with the condition that it be kept as an agricultural research center. On the property, there is a LSU Rural Life Museum, Windrush Gardens and LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Plus, there are acres of farmland which are used for research on plants, roses, vegetables, flowers and trees.
The light display is in its second year and is sponsored by the LSU organization which administers the property, museums and gardens. Professionally planned and implemented, the paths for the light displays cover 1-1/2 miles in length over 5 acres. There are more than 360,000 white and colored lights which sparkle from trees, the grounds and structures. Plus, lights illuminate trees in the distance giving some eerie glows.
Simple statues in pools made interesting light displays as the Christmas lights reflected on the water.
A lights marked the path to follow as we wound our way along the maze.
Here is one of the first light displays which we encountered.
The geometric cone or pyramid was filled with the two-dimensional shaped Christmas ornaments formed by colorful lights.
Here is a closer view.
We took our time at each exhibit. Walking completely around the pyramid lead us to completely different perspectives. Looking up from inside the cone, this is what we saw.
Back on the path, we encountered a series of trees and features made of blue lights.
Next was an opening in the dense foliage. The small trees were lite with lights which changed colors in sync with blaring holiday music.
As we rounded the corner, we found a platform — a stage with about three steps — for spectators to stand on. Here you could watch a field of Christmas lights which blinked and changed colors along with illuminated trees in the background, The loud speakers again filled the air with contemporary Christmas carols.
Then, more trails.
We came to an opening with a lake in the front. Different geometric shapes were illuminated and their shadows reflected in the water.
And in the distance, the trees were illuminated from the bottom creating eerie shadows. The moon was close to a full moon. With the clouds, interesting effects were the result.
Couldn’t decide if I liked the green/grey lights or blue lights better.
Or magenta lights.
A majestic oak tree was filled with light strands which hung down from the massive limbs.
In case you were thirsty or hungry, food trucks and refreshment stations along the route sold beverages and snacks. And, fire pits which were set up along the way provided a fun activity for families — roasting marshmallows for s’mores.
And, a tunnel of lights made a surreal walk. A volunteer was available to take photos of families as they entered the tunnel.
One of the most unique displays was a series of white doves which hung down from the tree limbs of a massive oak tree. Lights from above shined on the doves which then made shadows on the concrete. The doves flashed in different flying formations along with the music. (Didn’t get a photo of this,)
As we got closer to the exit, there were more photo opportunities under the live oak trees.
Finally we came to the exit. As we looked back, we saw one last light display of crepe myrtles filled with lights. We saw many additional visitors making their way through the beginning of the pathways and displays. The “Louisiana Lights” exhibit was sold out almost every night — rain or shine. We happened to come on a great, warm and cloudy night. Thank goodness. We thoroughly enjoyed our captivating journey through the holiday light displays.
Which display did I enjoy the most? It is hard to deicide. However, the structures filled with lights reflecting upon the still water of the lake made an impressive show, It was a perfect night to view these displays — still with no wind or rain, cloudy and dark.
If you visit Baton Rouge in December, think about this holiday activity for your family.
For more information visit the Burden Museum & Gardens website
