Meet Me on the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights
From late November through the New Year, towns around North and Central Louisiana invite “trailers” to discover unique small-town traditions, festivals, and brilliant Christmas lights displays lining their streets and pathways.
Since 1992, Central and North Louisiana have heralded the Christmas season with a dazzling, region-wide display of twinkling holiday magic. The annual Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights joins Southern hospitality with a sense of adventure at the most exciting time of the year, taking travelers down I-20 and I-49, through Shreveport and Bossier, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, and Alexandria/Pineville, with Ruston and Logansport as the latest additions to the Trails.
From late November through the New Year, each stop along the way invites “trailers” to discover unique small-town traditions, festivals, and brilliant Christmas lights displays lining streets and pathways. Experience special menus for local restaurants, enjoy live music events, and end your festive night with a firework show. Then do it all again in the next town along the way!
In Ruston, for example, visitors get to experience the town’s annual Christmas play—this year, local actors will stage a production of ELF: The Musical! Marvel at vintage campers decked out for the season at Lincoln Parish Park, and try your hand (or feet) at ice skating at the Ruston Sports Complex’s “Winter Wonderland.” Catch the Rockets Over the Red Festival in Shreveport, and visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Logansport before hopping on the holiday train. Discover the history of Natchitoches and tour the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, where you’ll be sent three centuries into the past, before fetching up in a historic district all lit up with one of the most famous Christmas displays in the region. These are only half of the towns along the Louisiana Holiday Trail—the possibilities for magic are endless.
Embark on this adventure however, or whenever, you’d like! Whether a group tour is the right fit for you, or whether you prefer a weekend getaway in one of many charming lodging options—you’ll have the freedom to plan your trip along the Holiday Trail of Lights exactly to your liking. With the convenience of each town being just a short drive away, opportunities abound to experience the festivities that every location has to offer. For more information, visit holidaytrailoflights.com