A wonderful week of events planned in Natchitoches the week of December 10 – 16, 2012 – The lights are on nightly so come enjoy.  The Church St. Bridge lighting show is nightly beginning at 6:30 pm.  The show last 12 minutes and runs every hour until 9:30 pm. There is no charge to drive through and see the lights. Tuesday December 11 7:30 pm-Lessons & Carols    Featuring NSU Choirs - Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 Second Street – FREE Wednesday December 12 5:00 – 8:00 pm-Candlelight Tour of Homes Hosted by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation – Admission $15.  Three (3) homes decorated for the holidays. Thursday December 13 2:00 pm - Historic District Walking Tour Guided by the National Park Service.  FREE Friday December 14 2:00 pm-Historic District Walking Tour Guided by the National Park Service.  FREE 4:00 – 8:00 pm- Snow Fest Experience Frosty’s Avalance Slide and other children’s activities - $3 per slide. 6:00 pm - “Changed by a Baby Boy” A contemporary Christmas musical, drama perfect for the entire family.  Natchitoches Arts Center, 716 Second Street.  FREE 5:00 – 8:00 pm-Candlelight Tour of Homes Hosted by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation – Admission $15. Three (3) homes decorated for the holidays. Saturday December 15 Admission to the downtown riverbank beginning at 2pm, $5 for persons 12 and over 10:00am – 8:00 pm - Snow Fest      Experience Frosty’s Avalance Slide and other children’s activities - $3 per slide. 12:00 – 4:00 pm-Cane River Creole Christmas at Badin-Roque House       The St. Augustine Historical Society hosts special tour with Creole holiday stories. FREE 1:00 – 4:00 pm-Candlelight Tour of Homes Hosted by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation – Admission $15.  Three (3) homes decorated for the holidays. 1:00 pm-“Changed by a Baby Boy”             A contemporary Christmas musical, drama perfect for the entire family. Natchitoches Arts Center, 716 Second Street.  FREE 1:00 – 2:30 pm-Christmas Downriver Cane River Creole National Historic Park presents a Creole Christmas with special tours, educational programs and musical events.  FREE 3:00 pm-“Changed by a Baby Boy”        A contemporary Christmas musical, drama perfect for the entire family.  Natchitoches Arts Center, 716 Second Street.  FREE 4:30 – 7 pm:                 Musical Entertainment by Johnny Earthquake & The Moon Dogs 5:00 pm-“Changed by a Baby Boy”           A contemporary Christmas musical, drama perfect for the entire family. Natchitoches Arts Center, 716 Second Street.  FREE 7:00 pm-Fireworks over Cane River Lake                 7:15 – 9:30 pm:            Musical Entertainment by Knight Train Sunday December 16 11:00 am - 3:00 pm  - Snow Fest Experience Frosty’s Avalance Slide and other children’s activities - $3 per slide. For additional information call 800-259-1714.      

A wonderful weekend of events in Natchitoches.
Sat. December 8:*

*Admission to downtown riverbank only beginning at 2 p.m. $5 ages 12 and over

9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Fete de Hiver. Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS, Celebrate Christmas 18th century style with historians, re-enactors and period merchants. $4 for persons over 12 & under 62.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Les Amies Christmas Treasures Arts & Crafts Sale – Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, FREE

1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Christmas Downriver. Cane River Creole National Historic Park presents Creole Christmas with special tours, educational programs and musical events, FREE

1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Children’s Christmas Party - Natchitoches Parish Library, 450 Second Street, FREE

1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation. Admission, For tickets call (800) 259-1714. www.historicfoundation.org

4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Musical Entertainment - Fat Chance

7:15 p.m.- 9:45 p.m.
Musical Entertainment – Jambalaya Cajun Band

7:00 p.m.
Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Cane River National Heritage Area and St. Augustine’s Historical Society invite you to join them in celebration Christmas Creole Style. 

Month of December, All Cane River area residents are invited to help with traditional Christmas seasonal decorating.  A special lighting committee will judge homes early in December that honor this long standing tradition.  This year the lighting contest will become the “Terrell A. Delphin, Jr. Annual Lighting Contest” in honor of Mr. Terrel who helped to create and promote Christmas Downriver.  The lighting of lover Cane River homes continues to create Christmas memories that are enjoyed by all who visit our area during the Holiday season.  Lighting displays spotlights the region’s strong bond of community.  So turn on the Holidays and you might be honored for your efforts. December 8, 2012 – Christmas on the Plantation, Magnolia Plantation Unit 1:00 – 2:30 pm.  Visit historical agricultural site and enjoy Christmas music and ornament designing activity.  Musical entertainment will be provided at the Overseer’s House.  Free and open to the public.  Dress according to the weather. December 15, 2012 – Christmas “Creole Style” at the unique Badin-Roque House.  11:00 am until 2:30 pm.  Few remaining structures of this “post-in-ground” technique exist in the United States today and on hand will be members of St. Augustine’s Historical Society to showcase and explain the site’s significance to our cultural landscape.  Any funds generated by this event go the preservation efforts of the foundation. December 15, 2012 – Christmas on the Plantation, Oakland Plantation Unit.  1:00 pm – 2:30 pm.  Enjoy ornament designing while listening to wonderful live music amid the historical live oaks that frame this Colonial farming operation.  Free and open to the public.  Dress according to the weather.

Don't miss Louisiana's premiere holiday event! There will be a daylong celebration with entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, parade, fireworks, laser show and the lighting of over 300,000 Christmas bulbs and 100 plus riverbank set pieces. Admission at the gate $8/$5 children 6-11.

Fri. November 30

6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Entertainment on Downtown Riverbank Stage, Hank Staples & Thunder Creek 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Natchitoches/Northwestern Christmas Gala, A.A. Fredericks Auditorium NSU campus. Call (318) 357-4522 for additional information.  Tickets are $10 on a first come basis.  Doors open 30 minutes prior to show. DECEMBER EVENTS

Sat. December 1: 86th Annual Christmas Festival**

86th Annual Christmas Festival, Louisiana’s premiere holiday event. Daylong celebration with entertainment, arts, craft and food vendors, parade, fireworks, laser show and lighting of 300,00+ Christmas bulbs and 100 plus riverbank set pieces. **Admission to Front Street & Downtown Riverbank