Holiday shopping is a special experience in Louisiana

Feel the spirit, relish the fun! Across the country stores and shops are dressing for the season. But shopping in Louisiana is uncommonly fun! You will love browsing gorgeous specialty stores – such as those in New Orleans' famous French Quarter – and beautiful, quaint boutiques in cities and towns throughout the state.

Where else will you find shopping and celebration so closely intertwined? Take the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in Hammond, for instance. More than 100 shops offer their wares at this unusual festival, right in the middle of a celebration that features Shakespearean drama, fire-eating performers, magicians, sword-fighting and jousting.

Or, catch the gorgeous holiday displays and enjoy specialty shopping in one of Louisiana's many "Main Street" communities, from Abbeville, Bastrop, Clinton and Crowley, to Donaldsonville, Houma, Leesville, New Iberia, Ruston and Winnsboro.

If the season sparks visions of antiques, don't miss the lovely antique stores decked out for the season in Ponchatoula, Covington, Natchitoches, Plaquemine, Denham Springs, Baton Rouge, Jennings or along Antique Alley in West Monroe.

During the whole month of December, enjoy holiday entertainment at the Louisiana Boardwalk, the well-known shopping and entertainment complex along the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier City.

Throughout the state you'll find exciting festivities surrounding the shopping experience, and they always include great food and entertainment. Visit Louisiana during the holidays, and find out what makes Louisiana shopping so much fun!