These fantastical creations—and the 10,000 volunteers, 1,800 pounds of glitter, 1,000 strands of twinkle lights, and 145 gallons of paint used to construct them—entice thousands of art patrons to don their best black-tie outfits, get in the mood to party like there’s no tomorrow, and pull out their wallets to bid on lavish trips, glitzy designer jewelry, and one-of-a-kind art items at Christmas in the Sky to fund the arts in Northwest Louisiana, benefitting the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC).

SRAC has been orchestrating this black-tie, glitzy, glamorous, internationally award-winning fundraiser every other year since 1996, and it’s only gotten bigger and better. Saturday, December 8, 2018, from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., will mark the thirty-sixth Christmas in the Sky year at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. And what better way to celebrate than to give our regards to Broadway—by stepping right into the hustle and bustle of Times Square with a Wicked attitude, determined to “raise a glass to freedom” as only Hamilton might do. Everything will be fantastically Broadway-themed, including the 17 separate locally created areas, 10 entertainment stages, 100 costumed characters, 11 lavish hot and cold buffets created by professional chefs, 12 auction areas with 900 auction items—the entire extravaganza defies imagination, and it’s all put together by volunteers who spend 18 months working to advance the arts of Northwest Louisiana. More than 1,000 businesses and individuals donate flabbergasting auction items and sponsorships, and 2,500 guests travel from as far away as California and New York to this giant  Cabaret of fun.

The funds garnered at SRAC’s “Christmas in the Sky” support free and accessible community arts programming for the city of Shreveport and ten Northwest Louisiana parishes for a two-year period. The SRAC mission is to “Imagine That!” by developing, promoting, educating, and maximizing access to all of the arts for people in Northwest Louisiana.

Tickets to this year’s 2018 “Christmas in the Sky: Broadway” go on sale November 1, 2018, and like Sweeney Todd pies, they go fast. If you would like to receive an invitation, contribute to the auction or purchase tickets, contact the Shreveport Regional Arts Council at 318-673-6500 or visit www.skybroadway.com or www.shrevearts.org.

www.shrevearts.org