It’s A Winter Wonderland DANCE

This Friday evening, Bayou Black Gym will host the 7th Annual Winter Wonderland Dance with DeeJay Juice for kids 13 years old and younger.

The dance first started as a way to get kids together from the different stops Justin “DeeJay Juice” Patterson made on his “Character Tour”—the tour in which he travels to different Tri-Parish schools and hosts dances that award students for good behavior.

“The Winter Wonderland Dance was kind of the extreme dance with all the schools in one,” Patterson said. “It’s kind of like the tour finale of the season.”

The dance, which had local celebrity guests such as recording artist Traci Brown and the dance team T.E.D.D. regularly attend, has always been a hit in the Bayou Region, as 250-350 kids attend the event every year.

This year’s Winter Wonderland Dance is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Admission, which gives the kids access to the free photo booth, giveaways and live entertainment by Traci Brown and other surprise guests, is $5. Proceeds go to Patterson’s annual Juice Fest, another event he started that contributes to local youth.

Kids must be signed in by an adult, who must also leave a working phone number and sign out the kid when they choose to leave. On top of several chaperones, a police deputy will also be in attendance for safety.

“It actually gives parents time to go out if they have to do any shopping…The kids are pretty much entertained by all the different kids that are from different places and schools and the entertainers I have that come for free,” Patterson said. “It’s had a positive impact.”

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