Seasonal Highlights Along the Holiday Trail of Lights

Stop #1: Alexandria/Pineville

In the twin cities of Alexandria and Pineville, the holiday season unofficially begins when historic Kent House fires up its reproduction 1840s sugar mill on November 11 for the 30th annual Kent House Sugar Day Fest. While not purely a holiday activity, this long-running CenLa mainstay offers visitors a glimpse of old-fashioned harvest-time festivities alongside historic home tours, traditional craft demonstrations from corn-grinding to blacksmithing, vendors selling handmade arts & crafts items, and a day-long schedule of creative children’s activities. 

The Alexandria Zoo’s beloved Holiday Light Safari returns on select evenings from November 24 to December 28, offering after-dark opportunities to “see the Zoo in a different light,” when the property is illuminated with whimsical animal lighted figures and thousands of glittering lights. 

During AlexWinterFête (November 30–December 2), downtown Alexandria is the place to find an outdoor ice-skating rink, Santa’s village, fireworks displays, and a diverting children’s area named Jolly Junction. 

The holiday season brings out the creative side in CenLa’s performing arts community, too. Holiday productions lighting up Alexandria’s Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center include Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker by Red River Dance Company on November 25 and 26, and Tidings of Comfort and Joy, a concert of traditional and contemporary Christmas Classics by the Rapides Symphony Orchestra on December 3.

On Friday, December 8 right across Red River, the much-anticipated Pineville Christmas Parade transforms Main Street into a festive spectacle, all the way from Hospital/Napoleon Boulevard to the Trotter Center.

holidaytrailoflights.com/alexandria-pineville to see all the options.

Stop #2: Monroe/West Monroe  

With lighting displays centered around Trenton and Desiard streets, decorated historic homes, a patriotic Freedom Tree Christmas tree exhibit at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, and the beloved Candy Cane Lane holiday lighting extravaganza spreading Christmas cheer along both banks of the Ouachita River and far beyond, there’re plenty of reasons to plan a day (or a weekend) outing to Monroe/West Monroe this season. The local calendar lists lots of special events, too. A Christmas Open House at the Biedenharn Home and Elsong Gardens sees the spectacular Biedenharn house and gardens richly decorated and hosting concerts by area musicians, refreshments, a model Christmas train, visits (and photos) with Santa, and more from November 30 through December 2. 

At the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, Santa’s Christmas Village has added a brand new “Mount Sneaux” exhibit, including a giant snow globe display that kids can actually get inside! Flurries of seasonal activities include a meet-and-greet with the local author of A Cajun Night Before Christmas. Open Thursdays—Sundays from December 1—23. 

December 2 is a special day. In West Monroe, Christmas on the River Festival Day lights up Alley Park with an all-day Christmas shopping market, food trucks, live music and holiday lights. Get your jingle on during a 5K fun run/walk at 9:30 am, then plan to make a day of it because still to come are the Twin City Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea and Christmas Gala performances, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ouachita Christmas Parade, and the rowdy, fun-filled Bawcomville Redneck Christmas Parade, where you could catch a roll of toilet paper, a hot dog, or even a turnip. Plenty to keep your family creatively entertained until the legendary Christmas on the River Fireworks display launches from the Endom Bridge when the sun goes down. 

That’s just the beginning. The bi-monthly Downtown Art Gallery Crawl throngs the streets of downtown Monroe and West-Monroe on December 7, with a Children’s Lighted Bike Parade (December 8), Calhoun Christmas Parade (December 9), Holiday Outdoor Movies (November 25 & December 15) and many more events before the big day comes. Visit holidaytrailoflights.com/monroe-west-monroe to see all the options.

Stop #3: RUSTON

With downtown shops dressed to the nines, Ruston welcomes visitors with sparkling holiday cheer on December 7 during the Holiday Sip and Stroll, when downtown merchants welcome visitors with seasonal specials, fun foods, and refreshments to extend the Christmas cheer into the evening. When the shops close, stick around to sing in the season at Ruston’s Community Caroling event in Railroad Park. 

You don’t have to wait that long, though. The season starts sparkling November 9—11 at the Ruston Civic Center, when Holidays in Cedar Town presents North Louisiana’s premier holiday shopping market for all your stocking-filling needs. On November 16, Downtown Ruston’s official Holiday Open House & Kickoff to Christmas features the town tree lighting ceremony, festive activities, and carriage rides for enjoying the spectacularly lit-up town. And From November 30—December 2, leave time for a detour through Lincoln Parish Park to see Lincoln lights up the Pines, a drive-through display of Christmas lights. holidaytrailoflights.com/ruston

Stop #4: MINDEN

Historic downtown district of Minden welcomes “Trailers” to its charming brick-paved streets lined with antiques, specialty shops and galleries. During December the town adds life-sized nutcracker statues, Disney characters, and thousands of lights. Area merchants move store specials to the sidewalks, creating an inviting, entertaining and festive atmosphere that burnishes Minden’s reputation as the “Friendliest City in the South.” Mark your calendar for the town’s Christmas Market on Main celebration December 8—9, with the lighting of the tree on December 8 at 5:30, and hayrides through the town’s spectacularly lit historic district from 6 pm. holidaytrailoflights.com/minden/

Stop #5: NATCHITOCHES 

In addition to being the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, Natchitoches enjoys the distinction of being chosen 2020’s “Best Public Holiday Light Display” Readers’ Choice award by USA Today. From the Saturday before Thanksgiving until Epiphany, the famous lights along the Cane River present one of Louisiana’s largest and longest-running Christmas lighting traditions.

The National Historic Landmark downtown district lends itself well to seasonal adornments, with walking and carriage tours meandering through the evening streets and regular live performances. The annual Christmas Gala at Northwestern State University gets the season underway November 29—December 1. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival - ranked 3rd “Best Holiday Light Show” by Yahoo! Travel (behind Rockefeller Center and Disneyland) - has a 97-year history as Louisiana’s leading holiday lights show. More than 350,000 of those lights bring their warm glow to downtown, with another 100 lighted set pieces completing a spectacular vista when fireworks, choreographed to holiday music, explode over Cane River Lake on December 2. 

The Natchitoches Christmas Tour of Homes, a self-guided holiday walking tour visiting uniquely decorated homes to hear docent-led commentaries on the history of each property, will be offered the evenings of December 8 and 9.

There’s lots more to explore. Visit holidaytrailoflights.com/natchitoches

Stop #6: Shreveport-Bossier

Shreveport/Bossier City promises a sparkling Christmas. It all begins when the annual Rockets over the Red Festival explodes across the city skyline on Saturday, November 25. After that, North Louisiana’s largest city keeps the Christmas spirit coming with events like Christmas in Roseland at the American Rose Center (November 24—December 23), chances for kids to learn about the science of snow at Sci-Port Discovery Center’s Sno-port exhibit, The Nutcracker Christmas Ballet at The Strand Theatre on November 18; and a Bossier Holiday Night Market at Pierre Bossier Mall on December 9. Speaking of Bossier, take a walk through RiverView Park in downtown Shreveport and don’t miss the Bakowsky Bridge of Lights joining the sister cities. There’ll be lots of fun holiday shopping to be found at the Louisiana Boardwalk outdoor shopping center in Bossier City.

That’s just the beginning. See holidaytrailoflights.com/shreveport-bossier and shreveport-bossier.org/holidays to discover lots more.

Stop #7: Logansport

Once an important stop on the Sabine River right on the Louisiana/Texas border in DeSoto Parish, Logansport is a historic riverport community midway between Shreveport and Natchitoches, making the three riverside towns fitting partners for the Holiday Trail of Lights. Today the tight-knit little community makes a charming Southern stopover that takes the business of Christmas seriously indeed. From its Christmas Festival Premiere Night (November 18), through the Festival of Lights (November 19—January 6), families can enjoy strolling or rolling in their own cars past and through the town’s riverside lighting displays. During December, highlights include December 2’s Grand Cane Christmas Parade, Market & Porch Tour, the Mansfield Christmas Parade and Sounds of the Season Community Christmas Concert (December 9), and a Downtown Holiday Stroll on December 14. holidaytrailoflights.com/logansport.

With this much ground to cover, it pays to plan ahead. To make the most of your time, use the Trail’s handy Plan Your Holiday Trip tool. It lets you filter events by location, price, and category, and add them to a custom itinerary alongside lodging and dining reservations. There are even themed itineraries to make planning even easier. Click HERE to get started.