Two guests in winter coats in front of a green leafy backdrop with the City of DeRidder Merry and Bright frame
Two guests in winter coats in front of a green leafy backdrop with the City of DeRidder Merry and Bright frame
On Saturday, November 29, 2025, we brought our Portrait Booth to the City of DeRidder’s Merry & Bright, the city’s Christmas event in downtown DeRidder, and ran it outdoors from 5 to 10 PM with prints and texted photos for every group.
Merry & Bright is the City of DeRidder’s Christmas event. DeRidder is in Beauregard Parish, north of Lake Charles, and the 2025 edition landed on Thanksgiving weekend, which made it a nice way to kick off the holiday season.
We set up outdoors near the museum at 120 S Washington St in downtown DeRidder.
A downtown holiday event brings the whole community out, and we were glad to be part of it. Our job was simple: give people a fun spot to stop, pose with the people they came with, and walk away with a keepsake from the night.
The City of DeRidder booked our Portrait Booth with a backdrop and props. We chose a dark green leafy backdrop with soft light dots, which gave the booth a warm, wintry glow outdoors after dark.
The layout tied the whole look together. A string of colorful Christmas lights ran along the top of the frame, with the “City of DeRidder Louisiana” logo and a “Merry & Bright” badge. That way every photo carried the city’s name and the event’s name, which is exactly what you want from a community event.
Every group got two prints, so friends and couples could each take one home. Guests could also have their photos texted straight to their phones, which made it easy to share right away.
Merry & Bright was a family event, with people of all ages out enjoying downtown. Couples, friends and families stepped up together, some of them bundled in winter coats, and grabbed the props to make their photos their own.
One note on the photos in this post: they show only adult guests, and that is on purpose. This was a family event, and we keep kids out of the photos we publish.
Having the prints in hand and the photos on their phones meant guests did not have to wait for anything after the event. They could take a print home and share the digital copy that same night.
City and parish holiday events have a few things in common. Here is what we suggest if you are planning one for your city, parish or downtown district.
Put your name on every photo. A custom layout with your city or parish logo and the event name turns every print into a small reminder of your event. It also means every shared photo carries your name with it.
Plan for outdoors. An outdoor booth at a downtown festival is a great way to reach people as they walk by. Talk with us early about where the booth will sit, so we can plan the setup for an outdoor space.
Give every group prints. At a community event, a print is something people can hold on to. Pairing prints with texted photos gives guests both a keepsake and something to share.
Book early for Thanksgiving weekend and early December. These are busy weeks for holiday events, from city celebrations to company parties. If your date falls in that window, reach out as soon as you know it.
Know what goes into the cost. Final pricing depends on the date, location, hours and add-ons. Our photo booth rental cost page walks through it. If you want something guests can use from anywhere at the event, take a look at our Digital Social Booth too.
We also serve nearby towns like Moss Bluff and DeQuincy.
Thank you to the City of DeRidder for having us at Merry & Bright 2025. It was a festive night downtown, and we enjoyed being a part of it.
If you are planning a city, parish or downtown holiday event, we would love to help you make it memorable. Get a Quote and tell us your date, location and theme.
Carlos Lerma. Carlos Lerma owns and runs Ohh Snap Photo Booth, a Lafayette, LA based team that has brought photo booths to hundreds of weddings, corporate events, and fundraisers across Louisiana. He writes from what happens at real events: what guests line up for, what planners ask, and what makes a booth worth the space in the room. More about Ohh Snap.
Explore more helpful tips and answers to commonly asked questions. Our related articles offer additional insights to help you make the most of your photo booth experience and ensure your event is a success!
