Natchitoches to “Turn on the Holidays” Nov. 19

Official kick-off to the Natchitoches Festival of Lights

Downtown Natchitoches will kick off the holiday season during “Turn on the Holidays” on Saturday, Nov. 19.
 
“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 thousands of Christmas lights that illuminate the Natchitoches Historic District through the first week of January.
 
“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.
 
Events in downtown Natchitoches begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 with the final Cane River Green Market of the season.  From 1-5 p.m. Bart’s Kids World will perform magic, puppets, and games.  Other children’s activities include: the Natchitoches Parish Bookmobile, a monster spider jump, and face painting.
 
Musical entertainment includes a jazz performance by Uptown Jazz and Variety from 9-11 a.m. at the Cane River Green Market, a “barbershop style” holiday concert by River Cities Jubilee Chorus at 1 p.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. That evening, the headliner River Road will perform from 5-9 p.m. River Road is described as high energy country with South Louisiana flair.  They have had 2 top 30 singles on the country charts.
 
The evening will be capped off with the official lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on the downtown stage immediately followed by a fireworks show over Cane River Lake.
 
These events are free to the public. Sponsorship for these events 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 85th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 3.
 
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.
 
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