Holiday festival lights up Natchitoches in December
The state's oldest town is a beautiful holiday destination, with spectacular lights and festivities from mid-November until after New Year's Day.
Natchitoches (NACK-a-tish) has been called the “City of Lights” since 1926, when the city’s chief electrician decided that stringing Christmas lights along Front Street would be a nice gift to the town's residents. His gesture has evolved into a six-week-long Festival of Lights.
Each November, the area is transformed into a winter wonderland, with hundreds of decorations and thousands of lights glowing along the scenic Cane River Lake. People from far quarters flock to the town for the annual Christmas Festival of Lights – a beautiful reason to visit this National Historic Landmark District. Need another reason? Think snow!
Look for snow and carolers on Front Street celebrating the "45 Nights of Christmas Lights," and watch for the spectacular fireworks over Cane River. Start your holiday shopping at the Fleur de Lis Craft Show at the Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second St. Browse Christmas crafts, jewelry, decorations and gifts. Enjoy the Christmas by Candlelight Tour of Homes. And don't miss the beautiful Christmas Parade, as lighted barges "parade" on the river!
Throughout the festival, you'll find food booths stocked by local restaurants and home-bakers, along with – of course – the popular Natchitoches meat pie. Watch LouisianaTravel.com for details of the 2013 festival or check NatchitochesChristmas.com for more information.
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