Famous chef Julia Child once said: “Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who’s going to know?”

The ninth annual Holiday of Lights on the Tammany Trace opens Dec. 5. St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis will flip the switch at 5:45 p.m. to light 45,000 lights on the 160-foot “Christmas tree,” created via the water tower on Koop Drive in Mandeville.

The free, community-wide event then continues that night and again on the 6th, 12th and 13th from 6-9 p.m. each night. There will be 45 depictions of Christmas, including a tunnel of lights, 15- foot snowman, 12-foot Santa, wreaths, angels, reindeer, nativity scene and Star of David. And there’ll be 40 Christmas trees decorated by local school children, Girl and Boy Scout troops, and other volunteer groups. Kids can play in the snow and enjoy the Kidz Konnection playground, too.

There will be plenty of live entertainment, as well, as area school choirs, musicians, violinists and carolers serenade visitors. Santa will be on hand to entertain kids, and there’ll be carnival-style rides for ‘em, too.

The event is produced by St. Tammany Parish Government in conjunction with the Tammany Trace Foundation and the generous support of area sponsors.

Wanna sneak preview? You’re invited to the Patron Party Dec. 4 featuring music, food and drink and lotsa fun. Tickets are $50 each.

Got questions? Phone my better half, Tammany Trace Director Lisa Maddox, at 867-9490 or Tammany Trace board member and publicity co-chairperson Debbi Smith at 882-3163.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Terry Maddox is publisher of St. Tammany News.