By Lola Magazine with Sandi Kallenberg | Photography Courtesy of Kevin Beasley
Imagine stepping into Louisiana Downs and discovering that the familiar racetrack has transformed into a spectacular showplace of artistry, engineering and creativity. The surroundings have given way to a fantasy world filled with towering sculptures, elaborate costumes, theatrical performances, music, magnificent food and thousands of beautifully dressed guests.
Welcome to Christmas in the Sky, Northwest Louisiana’s internationally acclaimed fundraising extravaganza, recognized as “Best Gala in the World” by Special Events International Magazine. But behind the glitter and grandeur lies an even more remarkable story.
Christmas in the Sky is the signature biennial fundraiser for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC), supporting arts education, public art and cultural experiences that enrich communities throughout Northwest Louisiana.
The idea for Christmas in the Sky was born in the heart and imagination of Sandi Kallenberg. The first gala took place in December 1982, inspired by a vision far greater than a single fundraising event. For Sandi, the arts represented an opportunity to make a community better, brighter and more beautiful. Her belief in the transformative power of creativity helped inspire what would become one of the region’s most anticipated celebrations.
Of all the unforgettable moments, one remains especially dear to Sandi’s heart. Following an Outer Space-themed gala, her father, Leonard Phillips, offered a compliment she will never forget: “It was so beautiful, it took my breath away!” His words meant the world to her. And her favorite Sky gala? Each holds a special place in her heart, though she is always most excited about the one yet to come.
What began as an elegant fundraising evening evolved into something far more imaginative. Rather than simply surrounding guests with beautiful decorations, Christmas in the Sky made the arts themselves the attraction.
The concept was both simple and ambitious: Create an unforgettable experience celebrating the very creativity the event exists to support. More than four decades later, that vision continues to soar, with Sandi’s daughter-in-law, Heidi Kallenberg, serving as Chairwoman of Christmas in the Sky 2026. Alongside a dedicated team of creative minds and volunteers, Heidi carries forward a cherished family legacy while bringing fresh imagination and energy to this year’s celebration.
Every two years, Louisiana Downs undergoes a transformation that is difficult to imagine until you experience it. The racetrack’s multiple levels become distinct themed environments, allowing approximately 2,500 guests to wander through entirely different worlds in a single evening.
But the defining feature of Christmas in the Sky is that the event is not simply decorated. It is created.Artists, designers, builders, engineers, performers and volunteers spend months bringing imaginative concepts to life. Towering installations are designed and constructed, elaborate costumes are fashioned, and theatrical experiences are choreographed. Ordinary spaces become immersive settings that transport guests far beyond the familiar surroundings of Louisiana Downs.
Every detail requires ingenuity, planning and remarkable collaboration. What makes the production especially extraordinary is that so much is accomplished through the creativity and generosity of people right here in Northwest Louisiana.
Businesses contribute financial support, merchandise, services and auction experiences. Artists share their talents. Volunteers devote countless hours to preparing the celebration. Together, they create something no one could accomplish alone—one enormous collaborative work of art.
Worlds are colliding. The sky is opening. And Northwest Louisiana is about to discover what its everyday heroes are made of.
This year’s theme, VA-BOOM! An Epic Collision of Superheroes & Villains!, promises to take that imagination to heroic new heights. Guests attending the December 12 celebration can anticipate a fantastical world inspired by larger-than-life characters, extraordinary powers and dramatic adventures.
But perhaps the most fitting connection between the theme and the purpose of Christmas in the Sky lies beyond the costumes and theatrical creations.
After all, what makes a hero? Is it extraordinary strength? The ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible? Or is it the willingness to use one’s gifts to make life better for someone else?
In the world of Christmas in the Sky, heroes don’t necessarily wear capes. Some carry paintbrushes, power tools and sewing needles. Others bring business expertise, financial support, organizational skills or a willingness to spend countless hours doing whatever needs to be done. Together, they accomplish something no single person could create alone.
And in doing so, they help ensure that children encounter the wonder of artistic expression, emerging artists find opportunities to share their work, and communities experience the beauty and inspiration of the arts. Perhaps that is the real superpower behind Christmas in the Sky.
For one extraordinary night every two years, thousands gather to celebrate the arts. But the true impact of Christmas in the Sky unfolds during the hundreds of days between celebrations.
The evening’s proceeds help sustain programs and opportunities that make the arts an essential part of life in Northwest Louisiana. There is something especially meaningful about the contrast between the extraordinary spectacle of Christmas in the Sky and the extraordinary generosity that makes it possible.
Hundreds of people invest their time, imagination, talent and resources into creating one unforgettable evening—not simply for the applause, celebration or glamour, but for what that evening makes possible long after the lights go down.
What began as a shared vision in 1982 has become a remarkable expression of what a community can accomplish when creativity and generosity come together. And this December, when superheroes and villains take center stage at Louisiana Downs, perhaps the greatest heroes of all will be the ones who have been there all along.
The people who believe that art matters. And those who give so generously to make certain it continues to thrive.