The City of Baton Rouge will celebrate its bicentennial in 2017. Naturally, city officials felt the occasion required a mascot, and today they delivered one in spades.
Baton Rouge derives its name from a red stick that was observed in the area by French explorer Sieur d’Iberville in 1699, though it wasn’t officially incorporated as a municipality until 1817. The city’s new mascot, which appears to be a perpetually-smiling anthropomorphic red stick, pays homage to the town’s origin story.
The mascot was unveiled today at a press conference involving Mayor Kip Holden, members of the city’s bicentennial committee and others. According to Visit Baton Rouge, the new mascot’s name will be determined by an upcoming naming contest. Information on the contest hasn’t been revealed, but I’m going to prematurely suggest “Legally Safe Gumby Knock-off” or, perhaps, “Haunter of Your Children’s Dreams.”
In any case, Baton Rouge will kick off its bicentennial celebration at the annual Red Stick Revelry on New Year’s Eve. More commemorative events will take place throughout next year.
