Bogalusa's Christmas in the Park Controversy

Bogalusa's Christmas in the Park this year is a "GO", despite what the Mayor and others say. This was confirmed at the Bogalusa City Council meeting on November 18, 2025.

In a letter to Bogalusa's Mayor Truong and City Council (see below), Fiscal Administrator Robert Neilson has advised that the Christmas in the Park Commission is temporarily suspended. Neilson notes that

• the Commission does not have a functioning quorum

• the Commission has not held required meetings for an extended period

• the Commission has not completed all required compliance filings with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor

• the Commission cannot lawfully conduct business, authorize activities, or approve expenditures

• Commission membership will be reviewed and reactivated once quorum and compliance requirements are restored

• all Christmas in the Park activities will be managed directly by the City under Fiscal Administrator oversight

Mayor Truong is not happy with this development! In a November 17, 2025 Facebook post Truong was critical (surprise, surprise) of Mr. Neilson and even stated (in part), “There will be no Christmas in the Park this year, per Fiscal Administrator Robert Nielson.” NOT TRUE. This is a pause with regard to current Commission membership - not with regard to Christmas in the Park activities.

Following his lead, some of the Mayor's surrogates are urging those who would enjoy the celebration to "Stay at home".

This is just another chapter in the Christmas in the Park controversy. 

In August of 2023, the Mayor, through his Director Christopher Dudzienski, relieved all members of their duties. Colonel Bobby Miller, President of the now disbanded Christmas in the Park Commission, stated  (in part) at the time, “The cooperation and support of all businesses, individuals, civic organizations, churches, schools and other public and private agencies interested therein has been appreciated by Christmas in the Park Commission members for the last twenty-nine years.” Click here for the letter from Colonel Miller. And as said by The Silent Lantern, "For decades, Christmas in the Park was held together by people who met month after month, year after year, rain or shine. Ordinary neighbors doing extraordinary work building a tradition that outlived many of us.

The disbanded members, all volunteers, were then replaced by the Mayor and the Commission was renamed by him as Christmas in Cassidy.

Bogalusa's Christmas in the Park is a tradition. Volunteer if you can but be sure to come and appreciate the Celebration of the Season. And by the way, Neilson is not the Grinch! He is just making sure the real Grinch doesn't steal Christmas in Bogalusa.