Natchitoches to “Turn on the Holidays” Nov. 17

Official kick-off to the Natchitoches Festival of Lights & Holiday Trail of Lights Bicentennial Celebration
 
Downtown Natchitoches will kick off the holiday season during “Turn on the Holidays” on Saturday, Nov. 17 while also celebrating Louisiana’s Bicentennial with members of the Holiday Trail of Lights (HTOL).
 
“Turn on the Holidays” is an entire day of free family entertainment in downtown Natchitoches that will serve as the official start of the Festival of Lights season for the City of Natchitoches. The highlight of the event will be the official turning on of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that illuminate the Natchitoches Historic District through the first week of January.  Grammy nominee and Louisiana native, Tab Benoit will headline the evening.
 
The Holiday Trail of Lights consists of 8 cities in northern and central Louisiana that work together to market their Christmas Festivals.  These cities include:  Alexandria, Bossier, Pineville, Minden, Monroe, Shreveport, and West Monroe. 
 
Events in downtown Natchitoches begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 with the Holiday Trail of Lights Marketplace.  This marketplace will stay open until 2:00 p.m. and will feature hand crafted items from each city represented in the HTOL.  The event will also feature many activities for kids including a Monster Spider Jump and an Electronic Bull Ride.  Each city in the HTOL will provide entertainment for “Turn on the Holidays.” 
 
Entertainment Schedule:
 
10:00 a.m. Red River Dance- Nutcracker (hosted by Alexandria-Pineville Area CVB)
11:00 a.m. The Side Men (hosted by Alexandria-Pineville Area CVB)
12:30 p.m. The Matthew Davidson Band (hosted by Shreveport-Bossier CTB)
2:15 p.m. The Lisa Lee Trio (hosted by Monroe-West Monroe CVB)
4:30 p.m. The Minden Community Chorus (hosted by Minden Main Street & Webster Parish Tourism)
6:00 p.m. Tab Benoit (hosted by the Louisiana Office of Tourism & Alexandria-Pineville Area CVB)
There will be a break from 6:30-7:00p.m. for a lighting ceremony and fireworks.
 
“Turn on the Holidays” is part of Louisiana Main to Main: A Cultural Road Show, which is designed to showcase the Louisiana Main Street Program and foster economic development for Louisiana Main Street communities. Throughout November, Main Street communities across the state will host various events and activities that promote cultural tourism.
 
There is no admission fee for this event. Sponsorship was made possible by grants from the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, and the Office of the Lt. Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and the National Park Service Preserve America.

“Turn on the Holidays” will kick off Natchitoches’ holiday season as the City prepares for the 86th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 1.
 
For more information about “Turn on the Holidays”, call the Main Street Office toll free at (866) 941-6246 or visit www.DowntownNatchitoches.com. For more information about the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, visit www.christmasfestival.com. For more information about the Holiday Trail of Lights, visit www.holidaytrailoflights.com .