The Victory Belles will spread holiday cheer with a special Christmas performance on Monday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. at the Hammond Branch of the Tangi Library, honoring military veterans and the community with festive music and spirit. The event is free to attend and promises to be a joyful way to kick off the Christmas season.
–The City of Mandeville will once again welcome the holiday season with its beloved Winter on the Water Parade and Festival on Saturday, December 6, 2025, bringing festive cheer to the scenic Mandeville Lakefront and Trailhead. The celebration begins at 3 p.m. with the WOW Parade, featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, decorated floats, marching bands, and holiday characters traveling along Lakeshore Drive and Girod Street before concluding at the Trailhead, where the festival opens at 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment—including performances by the Mandeville Elementary School Bell Chorus, scenes from The Nutcracker by Arabesque Ballet Theater, and candlelight caroling—as well as a holiday market, vendor village, and a Kids Tent offering crafts, face painting, Santa letters, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free and open to the public, the annual event promises a full day of family-friendly fun and festive traditions.
–The Hammond Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting that occurred around 5:15 p.m. on November 29, 2025, at a hair salon on the west side of town, where 18-year-old Jermaine Stevenson Jr. was wounded and transported to North Oaks Medical Center by an acquaintance before later dying from his injuries. Police say the suspect, 19-year-old Kylan Green, fled to Main’s Market after the incident and contacted authorities to report that he had shot someone; responding officers took him into custody without incident. Green has been booked on charges of second-degree murder and illegal discharge of a weapon, and investigators are still working to determine the motive. Calling the shooting a “senseless crime,” Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. emphasized the tragedy of a dispute between two young people ending in violence.
–The National Weather Service in New Orleans warns that another round of cold weather is expected mid-week, with temperatures early Wednesday morning forecast to dip near freezing south of I-10/12 and fall below freezing to the north. Officials advise residents to take precautions to protect people, pets, and plants as the region prepares for the coldest night of the week.
–The City of Covington will celebrate Christmas in Covington on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m., beginning with a parade at 3 p.m. led by the Lollipop Marching Group that travels from the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center along Columbia Street, Theard, and N. Jefferson Avenue before ending at the Covington Trailhead. The festive event will feature Santa’s arrival at 4 p.m., the lighting of the Christmas tree, Deck the Rails kids’ crafts, and Christmas karaoke, offering families a fun-filled holiday celebration.
–Visit the Northshore is highlighting a full slate of holiday light displays and festive events across the region, noting that the Northshore is glowing with seasonal cheer from late November through early January. From tree lightings, parades, and boat displays to strolls and drive-thru attractions, celebrations include Mandeville’s Holiday of Lights (Dec. 5–Jan. 1), Sips of the Season (Dec. 5), and the Winter on the Water Parade & Festival (Dec. 6), along with Madisonville’s Lighting of the Oaks (Nov. 29) and Christmas Market (Dec. 7). Slidell will host Christmas Under the Stars (Dec. 12–14 & 19–23) and Christmas on Front (Dec. 1–Jan. 3), while Covington welcomes the Lollipops Parade, Christmas in Covington, and the 12 Days of Christmas display. Additional events include Twinkle on the Tchefuncte (Dec. 13), Christmas at TerraBella (Dec. 12), and Christmas in Folsom (Dec. 13), offering residents and visitors numerous ways to enjoy the season.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Library System is gearing up for the holidays, announcing that Santa will be visiting multiple branches for family-friendly celebrations featuring holiday movies, snacks, activities, and free photos with Santa. Families are encouraged to stop by their local branch to join in the festivities, and a full schedule of locations and events is available at tangilibrary.com.
–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police, has arrested 19-year-old Livingston Parish resident Andres Gutierrez after a late-night shooting in Ponchatoula led to a multi-parish pursuit. Deputies responded to a home on Highway 22 early Wednesday, where a dispute between two men escalated and Gutierrez allegedly fired multiple shots, striking a female bystander in the arm before fleeing toward Slidell. The chase ended at a gas station when the suspect’s truck ran out of fuel, allowing deputies to take him into custody. Gutierrez faces charges including Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Second-Degree Battery, Aggravated Flight from an Officer, and Animal Cruelty, with additional charges possible. The injured woman was hospitalized and is expected to recover, and TPSO thanked its partnering agencies for the swift and safe arrest.
–The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says it is continuing to work alongside the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department in the search for a plane that went missing over Lake Pontchartrain earlier this week. According to NOPD, specialized sonar exploration conducted on November 24 and 25 by JPSO’s LASER Division and STPSO’s Marine Division identified several objects later examined by NOPD divers, which are believed to be debris from the missing aircraft. Search efforts have been hampered by challenging weather conditions on the lake, but all agencies report that operations remain active as the investigation continues.
–American Dream TV recently filmed part of its upcoming Ponchatoula episode at NOCTURNE, and the team is partnering with Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center to host a free watch party on December 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., where attendees may even spot themselves on screen. The event will feature live jazz by Jim Markway and Hank Mackie, complimentary small bites from Rind Specialty Cheese and Candlestick Bakery, and a viewing of the NOCTURNE segment from the show. Sponsored by Spectrum Roofing, JDMK Home Inspectors, and Fleur de Lis Title, the gathering invites the community to enjoy an evening of music, food, and local pride at Twin Steeples.
–30 by Ninety Theatre announced that all regular performances of its 7th Annual A Very Merry Christmas Spectacular have officially sold out, prompting the addition of one extra show to meet the high demand. The added performance is set for Saturday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m., offering families another chance to enjoy the popular holiday production featuring singing, dancing, festive entertainment, complimentary milk and cookies, and photos with Santa. Tickets for the added show are available now at 30byNinety.com and are expected to sell quickly.
–Louisiana State Police Troop A is investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on November 26, 2025, on LA 447 at Rougk Lane in Livingston Parish, claiming the life of 47-year-old Jeremy Grubbs of Walker. According to preliminary findings, Grubbs was walking south in the southbound lane when he was struck by the front passenger side of a southbound 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. Grubbs died at the scene from his injuries, while the driver—who was properly restrained—was uninjured. Impairment is not suspected, though routine toxicology samples were taken, and the crash remains under investigation.
