Candy Cane Lane Returns, Our Tradition Continues

The lights flip on, the phone lines light up, and a simple neighborhood display grows into a destination that pulls families from across Acadiana. We’re opening Candy Cane Lane on Nov 28 with more than 20,000 bulbs, fresh sponsored features, and a few surprises we’re keeping under wraps. It’s the kind of community ritual that makes the season feel real: a crisp evening, a warm cup in hand, kids pointing at glowing arches, and neighbors lingering to say hello.

We talk through what’s new and what’s proven, from improved audio and a staffed guard station to the partnerships that bring the entrance and major pieces to life. The numbers tell the story—hundreds of nightly visitors and rising—fueled by clear schedules and simple planning. Open on Black Friday, the display runs through New Year, so you can map your own tour and come back as the weeks unfold. Safety and clarity matter, too, with a short-term road closure near the setup zone to keep crews moving and guests comfortable.

The parade makes its triumphant nighttime return on Dec 10 at 6 p.m., a shift that turned a dwindling event into a packed spectacle. We share how moving to the evening revived the energy, why it works for families, and how to join the lineup. Registration is quick on our website and Facebook page, and we’d love to see local groups, schools, and businesses ride along. Beyond the park and the lane, we’re issuing a friendly challenge: light your storefronts, paint your windows, add something small that sparks delight. When every window glows, Main Street feels like a storybook, and the whole town shines.

Mark your calendars, invite a friend, and help us spread the cheer. Subscribe for updates, share this episode with a neighbor who loves the holidays, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show and plan their visit. We’ll keep posting details and registration links on Facebook and the website—see you under the lights.

Transcript

Holiday Plans Kick Off

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We're back again, another Town Talk podcast. It is Chris and Mayor Spakey. It's hard to believe, but we're talking about Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Yeah, it seems like we just talked about Christmas and it's back again.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

It is, man. It seems like maybe you just took down the decorations on Candy Cane Lane and it's time to put them up again.

Candy Cane Lane Dates And Growth

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Put them back up. Yeah. And that's what we're doing right now. Because we've got a hard opening of the 28th of November. So Candy Cane Lane will be open again. Because uh it's been a success. This is what, Chris, the fifth year?

SPEAKER_00 0:39

I think so, Mayor. I think it would have to be at least the fifth. Yeah.

Sponsors And New Additions

SPEAKER_01 0:45

But it's getting bigger and bigger every year. You know, I've been working with you on transmitters and speakers, and we're gonna be adding like a little guard shack for workers to sit in and watch the grounds, and it's gonna be uh a great success again. I I think we're over 20,000 bulbs now, I would think, and we keep on adding.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

So are there any added attractions this year?

SPEAKER_01 1:12

Oh, yeah, they got a couple of them, two or three of them. Okay, I'm not gonna let them out on the air right here.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

But um, we have a couple of new sponsored items. We actually have a couple other businesses that's trying to make something to put in by the 28th, okay, which will be good. And I mean, our entrance, uh if you remember, was sponsored by KDS St. Landry Hospital. Yeah. And, you know, we've had McBead Engineering, Kirkpatrick construction, you know, and we're working on getting some more. So it's it's turning into the little vision, it's turning into a big vision, yeah, which is very, very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

It's a good thing, man. And it seems like every year more and more people will pass through it.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Uh get some out-of-town people coming in that uh maybe they go to different places, different towns and cities around Acadiana just to check out some lights, and and we're becoming one of those places where people will come and and look and see and celebrate Christmas.

Visitor Numbers And Regional Buzz

Nighttime Parade Details And Signups

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Yep. We're averaging three to four hundred a night coming through there. And I totally anticipate that going up this year because we're starting to hear people they're already calling City Hall from other towns and saying, when are y'all opening to where they can come and and enjoy it, you know? So that's exciting. We're gonna have the Christmas parade, nighttime parade on uh the 10th of December, six o'clock. It's gonna be uh, you know, nighttime. We're gonna put out applications for people to sign up to ride in it. So we're just gearing up for the Christmas season, you know?

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Yeah. The I'm sure very soon we'll get it up on the website and we have a registration form there. That way, if you, your business, or whatever it is wants to be a part in the parade, you can simply go there and you can register. Yeah. But man, even that, Mayor, I mean, that has been, and I think we kind of discuss it every year. It was a parade that was was dwindling a a little bit. There wasn't much participation, there wasn't many people going out to watch the Christmas parade, and you decided to switch things up a little bit, do a nighttime parade, and it brought back the excitement, and it brings everybody out to an enjoy a nighttime Christmas parade, and then a lot of well, like with everything else, Mayor, I hate to say it, uh, a few other places around here kind of took the same idea and ran with it, I'll just say.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

Hey, and that's okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Yeah, that that that just means we we the trend set up.

Opening Night, Schedule, And Road Notice

SPEAKER_00 3:57

Exactly. But uh officially it's gonna open up on the 28th, which would be Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. So maybe go shopping during the day, or maybe shop around town, and then that evening, what maybe 5530-ish will be the official lighting of the tree and the lights.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Yeah, it will run until New Year's.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

Uh the I guess what is it, the the 30th.

Decor Challenge To Local Businesses

SPEAKER_00 4:30

Okay. All right. So the day before New Year's Eve. Yes. Yep. That's right. And also, if you're traveling around town, something else that's that's been done, uh, right there, root Ari LeJane until Horky, that is, that is closed. Obviously, there's a lot to do. There's some decorations going up. So that little part right there is closed, just a little heads up for everybody. And also getting in the Christmas parade. Uh, that information's gonna be on our Facebook page. We'll have the registration up there too. But it's gonna be a great time, Candy Can Lane opening up Friday, November 27th. And then don't forget Christmas Parade on December 10th at 6 o'clock, the nighttime parade again.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

One more challenge out there. We're doing Central Park is is gonna be decorated to the nines, you know. But I do reach out to all the business owners to decorate your storefronts. Okay. I think if we all buy in, I think this would be a great, great asset. Not only are we building the Central Park Christmas up, but we're bringing our town up. You know, if we could get every I mean, it don't cost a whole lot. A couple of strands of lights, figurine something, put somebody in the window in the window.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

The window, yeah. You know, painting the windows or inflatable, whatever, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:48

Yeah. It just if everybody down Main Street would do a little bit, it would make this town look like the Hallmark chapter. Yeah. And that's my challenge to the businesses out there is to do something. I'm not saying me, I put things on the balcony, I do all kinds of stuff. Not actually for all that. I'm actually do something. And it would be much appreciated.

SPEAKER_00 6:14

Awesome, man. I and and you're right, I agree with you 110%, Mayor. Just just having the rest of Main Street lit up along with Candy Cane Lane, along with our nighttime parade. Yeah, I think our town would be it would be it's beautiful already. I don't mean any disrespect, Mayor, but it would just it would just add to the Christmas season.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

It would show the community support behind this, and I would sure appreciate it. So that's my my plea.

unknown 6:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

And and you you have a little time. Again, it's hard to believe that we're getting into the holiday season. Very hard to believe that 2025 passed by so fast, but it's here. So uh happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, happy new year. We're at that time.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Favorite time of year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

So, Mayor, thank you. Uh, anything else we failed to mention or everything Christmas wise, parade wise, we we got all that information out.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

And I mean, we're doing one closer to it uh with updates, and we will update the Facebook and the website as we go. But just be prepared for it because it's coming.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

All right, Mayor, we'll catch you back on the next episode of Town Talk.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Thank you so much. You have a great one. Bye.