The oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase comes alive with a burst of spring color as tulips take over the brick Front Street of Natchitoches. Founded in 1714, Natchitoches invites visitors to step back in time as they stroll through the downtown historic district. Springtime events showcase its outdoor beauty at scenic, historic properties. Evenings along the Cane River are filled with the sounds of guitars and lilting vocals rising from the riverbank.
Welcome to springtime in Natchitoches (it’s pronounced Nack-a-tish, but you knew that!). In the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, these post-winter months are a time when the city turns its face to the sun, and celebrates the pleasures of a Southern springtime with a distinctive charm that is entirely its own. Let’s turn a spotlight on some of the city’s most appealing events, which play out against the historical backdrop of a settlement that has stood on the banks of Cane River Lake since 1714. Consider this your official invitation to hit the road to discover a must-visit Louisiana destination—one that's perfect for couple’s escapes, girlfriend getaways, weekends of outdoor, family-friendly fun, and all sorts of adventures in-between.
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Brian Jarreau
Tour boat ready to welcome passengers aboard at the Natchitoches riverbank
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BRIAN JARREAU
Spring strollers on the Natchitoches riverfront walk
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Oakland Plantation, in the Cane River National Heritage Area, is one of the nation's best, most intact examples of a French Creole cotton plantation complex.
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BRIAN JARREAU
Shopping on Natchitoches' Front Street
Bloomin’ on the Bricks
Saturday, March 9
Each winter, thousands of tulip bulbs are carefully planted to ensure that the brick-paved streets of Natchitoches’s historic district will be bursting with color by the time this beloved garden festival dedicated to the beauty of spring rolls around. For those who love to garden—both active and aspiring—local nurseries throw open the garden gates to reveal an array of plant paraphernalia, including flowers, shrubs, garden tools, yard decor, and more. Also part of Bloomin’ on the Bricks are children’s activities, food vendors, and live entertainment. Blossoming alongside the gorgeous Front Street floral display is Art Along the Bricks, an outdoor showcase of two- and three-dimensional works by regional artists and artisans, presented each year by the Natchitoches Art Guild and Gallery. Both family-friendly events happen with free admission (how do they do that?!).
In April, tulips planted along Natchitoches' Front Street are in full bloom.
Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival
April 20—21
Melrose on the Cane, the iconic, two-centuries-old plantation property and multi-building museum on the Cane River, has been hosting this fine arts festival for upwards of fifty years. A thriving artists’ colony in the early part of the 20th century, Melrose makes an ideal (and atmospheric) venue in which to get acquainted with artists representing every creative milieu—from painters and furniture-makers to jewelers and ceramicists. The premier event also attracts an eclectic gathering of food vendors and live music, and also offers tours of the historic property to the thousands who attend this two-day outdoor arts bazaar each year.
Melrose on the Cane is a National Historic Landmark and one of the largest plantations in the United States built by and for free Blacks.
Sale on the Trail
May 3—4
Genuinely a one-of-a-kind experience, this scenic, 175-mile driving tour crosses state lines and traverses multiple terrains—from rolling hills to ranches, to unbroken forest tracts. Taking travelers from Natchitoches, LA to Nacogdoches, TX, (and all the way to Mexico City, if they want), this historic route is officially known as the El Camino Real Trail (the King’s Highway). This weekend, throughout Natchitoches parish and beyond, local flea markets, antique stores, sidewalk and yard sales, and trade shows along the historic byway stage coordinated openings, invite travelers to “shop ‘til they drop,” discovering new and used treasures including antique furniture, first-edition books, heirloom dishware, and lots more. Of course, this storied thoroughfare offers numerous significant historic sites to visit between the shopping stops. Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historic Site and Los Adaes State Historic Site are two local examples. Visit natchitoches.com/el-camino-real-0 to learn more.
Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival
May 10—11
The dazzling array of musical genres—jazz, rhythm & blues, country, zydeco, soul, gospel, rock & roll, and more—represented each year at the Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival reads like a who’s-who of American roots music genres. For the 27th annual festival, headliners will be the Chapel Hart Band, who hail from Nashville and achieved national prominence with a show-stopping performance on America’s Got Talent; and country music superstar Craig Morgan, an Army veteran whose memoir was released last fall, and who has more than a dozen albums and numerous chart-topping hits to his name. Kicking off the festival will be two tribute bands—Texas-based Lonestar Skynyrd, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute act, and Rumours, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band from Atlanta. Upwards of 20 regional and local bands will be featured across multiple stages on both days. Visit natchjazzfest.com/ for more details.
Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs will perform during the 2024 Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival, May 10-11
Natchitoches Farmers Market
April 27—July 27
Popping up right on the riverbank every Saturday from April through July, the Natchitoches Farmers Market gathers the best of locally-grown, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, plus local favorites like infused honey (recently-announced flavors include maple, butter rum, even English toffee), homemade jams, jellies, and preserves, and lots more. With lots to see, hear, and taste, the Farmer’s Market makes a perfect spot for picking up essentials for an afternoon picnic by the riverbank, or a leisurely parkside lunch.
This spring selection is just the beginning. For complete information on where to stay, what to eat, which historic sites to visit, and more things to do, visit Natchitoches.com and begin planning your visit today.
