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SEE THE LIGHTS AT BR ZOO’S ZOOLIGHTS

Let the festive family fun begin! ZooLights returns to the Baton Rouge Zoo on Friday, November 26. See more than 50 illuminated display sculptures of animals and traditional holiday displays on a mile-long trail through the Zoo. The Zoo has teamed up with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank once again, and every guest presenting a non-perishable food item during the hours of ZooLights will receive a 50 percent discount from the regular admission price. The displays will shine through Thursday, December 30. The Zoo and the displays will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission gates are open from 5:30-8 p.m., with the Zoo grounds closing at 9 p.m. Admission is $3-5. ■ brzoo.org/zoolights

Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida, Louisiana fall elections were postponed. However, be sure to mark your calendars because they have since been rescheduled. The election that was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 9 has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 13. The election previously scheduled for Saturday, November 13 has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 11. The ballots feature Constitutional amendments, a 10-year renewal of a property tax for the Capital Area Transit System–or CATS–in Baton Rouge, and questions for localities around the state. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. ■ geauxvote.com

Our Lady of the Lake (OLOL) has established the OLOL Cancer Institute and plans to break ground in 2022 on a new state-ofthe-art cancer center that will be a destination and leader in advancing cancer care for Baton Rouge and the Gulf South region. Construction will be an expected investment of $100 million with additional investments advancing care and services. The facility will include more than 80,000 sq ft that will be connected to the Regional Medical Center, providing access to a full suite of services. The Cancer Institute will include medical and surgical oncology practices, a chemotherapy/infusion center, advanced imaging and diagnostics for treatment, dedicated infusion pharmacy, and an on-site pharmacy. ■ ololrmc.com

GET OUT AND VOTE THIS MONTH

OLOL PLANS CANCER FACILITY

AUDUBON LAUNCHES NATURE AT NIGHT SERIES

Now your little ones can discover what the animals do all night at the zoo. Audubon Nature Institute is offering a Nature at Night series for children. The series will feature events for children ages 6-11 years old, where they can enjoy an up-close animal encounter, pizza party, special event-themed art or science project, and a flashlight tour of the zoo. This series will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights. “We are thrilled to offer kids an exciting new opportunity to explore nature this Fall,” says Audubon’s Director of Education Llewellyn Everage. “Nature at Night events are going to be a blast! We will be meeting special animal friends, touring the Zoo after dark, and learning all about the natural world and what we can do to protect it.” ■ audubonnatureinstitute.org

PEDIATRIC MODERNA VACCINE TRIAL

Pennington Biomedical Research Center is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12. “This is crucial and potentially life-saving research,” says Dr. Daniel Hsia, Associate Professor, Clinical Trials Unit, and site Principal Investigator of the study. “In the past two months, we’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of children testing positive for COVID-19. Unlike earlier variants of the virus, the Delta variant is taking a considerable toll on kids, most of whom haven’t been vaccinated.” Moderna’s KidCOVE study is being conducted in collaboration with the NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. ■ pbrc.edu

Lace up those running shoes and don’t forget to stretch because it’s time to run. The Girls on the Run 5K will take off on Saturday, November 20 at 9 a.m. This year’s 5K will be set at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana on Reitz Avenue in Baton Rouge. You can register now, and the run is open to all ages and experience levels. Even if you think you aren’t prepared to complete the full length of the run on race day, they still want you to join in on the fun and simply “go at your happy pace and keep moving forward.” Participants who register for the run will receive a t-shirt, bib, and medal. This is not a timed event, so don’t let the jitters get to you. Get ready for an exciting time the whole family can enjoy. ■ girlsontherunsola.org

GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K IN BATON ROUGE

NETWORKING FOR YOUTH IN BR

Founded in January 2021 by representatives from Capital Area United Way and The Huey & Angelina Wilson Foundation, the Baton Rouge Area Youth Network (BRAYN) is a network of youth service providers and youth supporting organizations in the Greater Baton Rouge area that are dedicated to sharing resources and time to increase youth engagement in high-quality youth opportunities and build the youth services field to create more equitable outcomes for youth. BRAYN organizations offer a variety of programming, including academic support, mentoring, positive youth development, sports and recreation, the arts, and workforce development. ■ ourbrayn.org

LOUISIANA HARVEST OF THE MONTH

Celebrate the bounty of Louisiana’s crop through the new digital-first series from the LSU AgCenter and LPB. The Louisiana Harvest of the Month series celebrates foods grown in Louisiana and Louisiana’s farms and gardens. Each month, a new video will premiere on LPB’s YouTube Channel, featuring information on a different Louisiana crop. The series presents fun facts, planting and growing advice, visits to farms, and ways to include the harvest of the month in everyday cooking and in school environments. Upcoming videos include sweet potatoes (November), lettuce (December), greens (January), and strawberries (February). ■ lpb.org/harvest or youtube.com/lpbtv

CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS IN NOLA

Hop in the car for a quick drive to New Orleans to experience the most spectacular lights festival this holiday season. Celebration in the Oaks will light up New Orleans City Park, beginning Thursday, November 25. This incredible light festival has enchanted visitors since the 1980s and features a Driving Tour Experience, where the park’s oaks are adorned in over a million twinkling lights. Breathtaking light displays add some fun to the 2.25mile tour. Your family can even enjoy the Carousel Gardens Experience, which features 18 rides, marshmallow roasting, dancing lights, a new train experience, and for the adults, a festive outdoor bar. Tickets are on sale now and begin at $39.99 for sedans and SUVs to $225 for sprinter vans. ■ neworleanscitypark.com

RETURN TO THE LAND OF THE SWEETS

After taking a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre will revive its popular Land of the Sweets Nutcracker Tea at the Lod Cook Alumni Center on Sunday, November 28 at 2 p.m. Everyone’s favorite characters from The Nutcracker–A Tale from the Bayou will be on hand for a fun-filled festivity of treats, teas, and hot chocolate. There will even be plenty of fun activities and photo opportunities that cannot be missed. Best of all, aspiring dancers will be able to join company members to learn some of their favorite parts of the ballet. Seating is limited. Tickets are on sale now at $60. ■ batonrougeballet.org

CHIMP CHATS AT CHIMP HAVEN

After more than a year’s hiatus, Chimp Haven, the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary, is once again opening for exclusive Chimp Chats this fall. Guests seeking the rare opportunity to get an inside look at the 200-acre forested campus that more than 330 chimpanzees know as home are invited to attend. “We are happy to be able to welcome visitors on site once again where they will have the chance to witness

chimpanzees climbing, playing and exploring the forest, and simply, living ‘The Chimp Life’,“ says Chimp Haven President and CEO Rana Smith. The next Chimp Chats will take place on Saturday, November 13 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. ■ chimphaven.org

LASM’S NEW PLANETARIUM SHOW

From the award-winning producers of the documentary National Parks Adventure comes MacGillivray Freeman’s Into America’s Wild, a cross-country adventure into the hidden wonders of the natural world. This large-screen cinematic experience celebrates America’s natural treasures and time spent in the wild, and it can now be viewed at Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Planetarium. “From kayaking Oregon’s stunning coast to the ancient canyons of the Southwest, from the wilds of Alaska to the Appalachian Trail, Into America’s Wild will connect audiences to the trailblazer in all of us and show that nature is the best classroom of all,” states Jam Lamm, Planetarium Director of LASM. ■ lasm.org or intoamericaswild.com