text: You'll quickly discover there are no shortage of Christmas-light displays locally.
  But if you are searching for some more unique displays within driving distance of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, here's a few you might want to check out.
  Distance from Houma-Thibodaux: 63 miles.
  Julie LaCour, director of special events for Celebration in the Oaks, said "this beloved southeast tradition attracted more than 122,000 visitors in 2010."
  Food and refreshments are available on site as well as an assortment of activities for the old and young alike. Organizers also are excited about the light show and snow machine that will keep Mr. Bingle chilled with hourly snow showers.
  There also will be ice skating and $17 ride bands available. Admission is $7 per person with children under 3 admitted free. Single ride tickets cost $3.
  For information, call 504-483-9415 or visit www.celebrationintheoaks.com.
  Distance from Houma-Thibodaux: 35 mile s.
  Officials from the Cajun Coast Convention and Vis it o r 's Bur e a u en c ourag e s ever yone t o ta ke a driving tour along a path filled with elaborate displays of Christmas lights and music from 6 to 9 a.m. beginning Nov. 25 at Kemper Williams Park, 266 Cotten Road, Patterson. Admission costs $ 2 per car.
  For information and a complete schedule of events, call 395-4905 or visit www.cajuncoast.com.
  Distance from Houma-Thibodaux: 3 8 miles.
  Located in Assumption Parish, Ray and Sue Daigle's house can be found on La. 1 right after you hit the junction with La. 70.
  A train and ferris wheel are only a few of the amazing decorations you'll see in Daigle's yard, which has been featured on TV several times through the years. Da igle has asign inviting people to drive into his driveway for a closer look. The driveway wraps around his three acres of property and back onto the highway.
  Daigle credits the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks for inspiring him to start his display.
  According to Daigle, he stood atop one of the Twin Towers exactly one week before the tragedy.
  "That's how it began," Daigle said. "I wanted to bring some joy into others people's lives during a tough time. Before that I was a real 'Scrooge' who didn't even put up lights. I started off small with 35,000 or 36,000 lights."
  Daigle said he expects to put out somewhere between 1.5 million to 2 million lights this year.
  Along with collecting Toys-for-Tots at his home for those less fortunate, Daigle dresses up as Santa Claus and hands out candy canes to the children from 7 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
  Daigle said he keeps his lights on nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through
  Distance from Houma-Thibodaux: 249 miles.
  Once dusk descends on downtown Natchitoches, lights are visible up and down the Cane River. Barges with lights can often be spotted on the river. Concessions are available and admission to view the lights is free, except on special nights such as the Snow Fest scheduled for Nov. 26 and the 85th annual Christmas Festival planned for Dec. 3.
  The Snow Fest features tubing down 110-feet of wintery fun, while the Christmas Festival includes arts and crafts, food vendors, a parade, fireworks, a laser show and the lighting of more than 300,000 Christmas bulbs and 100-plus riverbank set pieces. The cost for the Snow Fest is $5 for an entire day of riding, while the Christmas Festival costs $6 in advance or $8 on the day of the event. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
  Distance from Houma-Thibodaux: 103 miles.
  Located in Lafayette, Noel Acadien au Village is located on the grounds of Acadian Village, 200 Greenleaf Road.
  Highlights include more than 500,000 lights, nightly entertainment, Christmas shopping, photos with Santa, local cuisine and rides for the kiddies.
  Annual visitors number in the tens of thousands throughout Noel Acadien au Village's yearly run, which lasts from Dec. 1-23.
  Tickets cost $9 at the gate and all proceeds benefit the Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens. Tickets costing $7 are available at most Acadiana Shop-Rite stores.
  "The annual festival attracts tens of thousands of people (more than 42,000 last year) and is the largest fundraiser for the Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people with developmental disabilities become self-sufficient, productive members of society," said Megan Morris, special events coordinator for Noel Acadien Au Village.