Louisiana celebrates Christmas with grandeur, blending cultures and traditions into a unique experience with parades, fireworks, holiday events and lights
There is plenty of holiday cheer in Alexandria, including an annual holiday concert. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement
The beauty about the holiday season is that you get to see so many different kinds of celebrations around the world, and it is no different with the USA.
Among the many, Louisiana celebrates Christmas with grandeur, blending cultures and traditions into a unique experience. The festive season ushers in diverse celebrations from parades to fireworks, holiday events to lights, counting down to the most exciting time of the year.
1. North Louisiana Christmas celebrations
Begin with ‘Kickoff to Christmas’ in Ruston, featuring festive activities, holiday tunes, a tree lighting ceremony, carriage rides, and a special visit from Santa. Nearby in Monroe, visit the Christmas Open House at the Biedenharn, where the holiday décor is a delight. Be sure to stop by the Coca-Cola exhibit.
Moreover, the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, formed in 1992, offers more holiday experiences in north Louisiana across Shreveport and Bossier, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, and Alexandria/Pineville. Festivities start in mid-November and run through the New Year with holiday lights, parades, fireworks, shopping, and many exciting events.
In Oil City, near Shreveport, is the Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival, with arts and crafts, live music, food booths, and pictures with Santa.
Celebrate one of Louisiana’s longest-running Christmas traditions — the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Each year, downtown Natchitoches transforms into a holiday wonderland with hundreds of thousands of coloured lights and set pieces. During the festival, shop for Christmas gifts at the Mistletoe Market, enjoy the Festival of Lights Parade, and end the night with fireworks over Cane River Lake.
2. Christmas in the country in St. Francisville
St. Francisville hosts ‘Christmas in the Country’, where visitors can shop at local businesses, groove to live music, make new friends at a street party and enjoy a parade.
3. Light up the lake Christmas celebration
In Lake Charles, experience the ‘Light up the Lake Christmas Celebration’ featuring a Holiday Art Walk, local food trucks with festive eats and drinks, live musical performances and a Santa’s Workshop, where children of all ages can create holiday crafts and meet Saint Nick himself. This family-friendly event continues into the night with a Lighted Boat Parade and fireworks show along the Lakefront Promenade.
4. Logansport Christmas festival
This year's Logansport Christmas Festival's theme, Storybook Christmas, invites visitors to sit back, relax and enjoy decorations and lights straight from “A Christmas Story.” Browse food and craft vendors, visit Santa’s house, and ride the holiday train, then wander Main Street after dark to take in the beautiful Christmas lights.
5. Christmas markets
Get your retail therapy fix with a lovely selection of gifts for Christmas! Check out the Merry Market in Gonzales, one of the largest Christmas markets in the state, and browse through vendors from across the country. Over in New Roads, visit the Holiday Market at the Mill for shopping, dining, and a charming holiday atmosphere.
6. Cajun bonfires
Celebrate the tradition of holiday bonfires in South Louisiana at the Algiers Bonfire & Concert. Listen to musical performances, eat delicious food from local vendors and shop at the holiday craft market as you watch a 30-foot sculptural bonfire set ablaze. The tradition is also kept alive at the Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher, so head over for carnival rides, a massive bonfire and Santa’s Very Merry Forest, a collection of 5- to 7-foot Christmas trees.
7. Northshore Christmas events
On the Louisiana Northshore, you will find plenty of holiday options. See the town lit up and glimmering in holiday lights, celebrate with a Christmas Parade on the Mandeville lakefront, hear the Sounds of the Season, shop the Annual Christmas Extravaganza Arts & Crafts Expo, taste holiday dining specials and more.
8. Alexandria holiday events
There is plenty of holiday cheer in Alexandria, including an annual holiday concert by the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and the Holiday Light Safari at the Alexandria Zoo.
9. A rural life Christmas
In Baton Rouge, stop by the Rural Life Museum for A Rural Life Christmas — a 19th-century Louisiana Christmas celebration with decorations representative of special times of long ago displayed throughout the museum’s grounds. See artisan demonstrations like syrup making, open hearth cooking, textiles, soap making and blacksmithing.
10. NOLA ChristmasFest
In New Orleans, NOLA ChristmasFest lasts for over a week, offering lots of time to experience all there is to offer, such as a real indoor ice-skating rink, ice slides, carnival rides, Santa and friends, holiday stage, giant decorations and more. Looking for the perfect holiday selfie for the ‘gram? Stop by the famous Roosevelt Hotel for a look at their wildly popular, ornate decorations, the perfect backdrop for a photo-op. While you are there, have a drink at the Sazerac Bar or grab a sweet treat at Teddy’s Café.
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