By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – As in most places across the country, activities surrounding the holiday season run the gamut in the River Parishes, where tree lightings, Christmas services and bonfires are all a part of the mix.

Although each tradition is unique, most people in the River Parishes prefer to celebrate them with family and friends.

As Christmas continues to creep closer, visitors to carpenter-media.go-vip.net.lobservateur.com were asked to give their favorite holiday activity. More than half of those who responded selected visits with friends and family as the top priority, beating everything else by a wide margin.

The next closest vote getter in the poll was lighting and viewing the Christmas bonfires along the Mississippi River from Reserve to Lutcher. The age-old tradition drew about 17 percent of the votes. Just off pace was “viewing lighting displays,” which netted 15 percent.

The lowest vote getter in the poll was “decorating the Christmas tree,” which only mustered 4 percent.

A full breakdown of the results follows below:

• 52 percent of respondents chose “Visiting with family and friends.”

• 17 percent of respondents chose “Lighting and/or viewing the bonfires.”

• 15 percent of respondents chose “Viewing lighting displays.”

• 11 percent of respondents chose “Christmas mass or services.”

• 4 percent of respondents chose “Decorating the Christmas tree.”

This week’s question: “With the sudden rash of violent crime plaguing the River Parishes, what is the best way to make the area safer?”

Visit carpenter-media.go-vip.net.lobservateur.com to cast your vote.