Good morning, Baton Rouge.

Project Wellness (an LSU student organization) held a toy donation drive in the Life Sciences Annex lobby on Tuesday, Nov.

25 to help local children prepare for Christmas, and ensured donated toys were quality-checked before being given to a local charity.

Lincoln Theatre in south Baton Rouge — a historic venue abandoned for decades — is being renovated with $3 million in updates and will soft-open with a new stage and the Louisiana Black Hall of Fame before Christmas.

Organizers are raising funds for further improvements to revive its community role.

Baton Rouge General's ninth annual Holiday Lights event is now on display at the Bluebonnet campus with walk-through exhibits, light tunnels and singing trees.

The free event remains open nightly at 5:30 p.m. through Dec. 31.

Louisiana will join the 2026 Rose Parade on Jan.

1 in Pasadena with a float called Gulf to Gumbo - featuring a pelican chef stirring seafood gumbo and a performance by Addis native John Foster, an American Idol finalist. The float celebrates local teamwork and Gulf Coast cuisine.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board named state Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson as its new president and he will take office Jan.

1 amid a major reorganization of higher education leadership — his appointment followed a vote without the usual search process.

The Ascension Parish School District will start a tuition reimbursement program in January 2026 that pays paraprofessionals $1,500 per semester if they maintain at least a 2.5 GPA (a requirement to qualify).

The program will cost about $650,000 a year and help employees earn teaching certifications.

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport implemented a new AI service on Wednesday that offers checkout-free parking in its short-term garage and economy lots.

Travelers must register on the Metropolis app and link their vehicle + payment method to receive digital validations, with advance reservations available for stays after Jan. 1.

The FDA has recalled over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese sold at various retailers (Target, Walmart, and Aldi) due to potential metal fragment contamination.

The affected products were distributed in 31 states including Louisiana and carry a Class II warning.

New LSU head coach Lane Kiffin practiced hot yoga on Monday morning at Yogalates Studio on Perkins Road — he later worked out at ToneBR and Leela Yoga, and residents might soon see him at other local studios.

75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Gala

6-11 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate 75 years of legacy and leadership with a night of dining, music, and special programming.

Louisiana Cultural Music & Arts Festival

All day — Cary Saurage Community Arts Center — Free entry — Celebrate Louisiana's vibrant culture through music, arts, and food at this family-friendly festival.

Parent Meeting for ADHD

5-6:30 p.m. — Professional Development Center — Free entry — Experience an impactful ADHD simulation designed to help parents understand their children's challenges in everyday life.

Do The Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl

4:30-9 p.m. — Somewhere Neighborhood Bar — Tickets required — Embrace the holiday spirit at the most delightfully tacky pub crawl in Baton Rouge.

The Nutcracker - A Tale From The Bayou

6-9 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the enchanting story of 'The Nutcracker' like never before as it unfolds in the bayou setting.

The Nutcracker - A Tale From The Bayou

2:00 – 2:01 PM — Raising Cane's River Center — Prices set by resellers — Experience a unique blend of holiday magic and Southern charm in this captivating performance.

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland

7-9:30 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience a magical blend of circus artistry and holiday cheer for the season.

Skating On the River

11:59 p.m. – 1:29 a.m. — Raising Cane's River Center Arena — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate the holiday season with Baton Rouge's favorite winter tradition of skating on the river.

Parish County Line Concert

9:00 – 10:30 PM — Texas Club — Ticket prices vary — Experience the heartfelt country music of Parish County Line in an intimate setting.

Alabama State vs. LSU Women's Basketball

3:00 – 4:30 PM — Pete Maravich Assembly Center — Free trial available — Watch the undefeated LSU Tigers face off against the Alabama State Lady Hornets in an exciting college basketball matchup.