Festival Schedule – 2015
DECEMBER EVENTS
Wednesday, December 2 & Thursday, December 3, 2015
* 7:00 p.m. Natchitoches/Northwestern Christmas Gala, AA Fredericks Auditorium NSU campus. For additional information, ticket prices and to order advance tickets contact Jane at 357-4483 or Ladelle at 357-4522.
Friday, December 4
* 7:00 & 9:00 p.m. Natchitoches/Northwestern Christmas Gala, A A Fredericks Auditorium NSU campus. For additional information, ticket prices and to order advance tickets contact Jane at 357-4483 or Ladelle at 357-4522.
Saturday, December 5 – 89th Annual Christmas Festival, Louisiana’s premiere holiday event.
Ranked 3rd “Best Holiday Light Show” behind the Rockefeller Center and Disney World in the nation by Yahoo.com. Celebrate the Christmas Season in Louisiana’a oldest city! Enjoy our daylong festival filled with live musical entertainment, arts, crafts and food vendors, a parade and a magnificent fireworks show choreographed to holiday music over the riverbank of Cane River Lake.
Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street & Downtown Riverbank. Advance armband will be available to purchase November 2nd. $6 ages 12 & over, $4 children 6-11 & Free under 5. Festival Day: $8 ages 12 & over, $5 children6-11, Free under 5.
* 7:45 a.m. – Natchitoches “City of Lights” 5K – NSU Campus
* 10:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m. – Fe’te de Hiver at Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS, Celebrate Christmas 18th century style with historians, re-enactors and period merchants. $4 for persons over 12 & under 62.
* 10:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. – LA Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum OPEN with FREE admission
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Entertainment – Brody Caster & other SMG NAshville Artists – Downtown Riverbank
* 1:00p.m. – Festival of Lights Parade
* 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Entertainment – Chicken on the Bone – Downtown Riverbank
* 6:00 p.m. – Fireworks over Cane River Lake
Sunday, December 6
* 10:00a.m. – 4:00a.m. – Fe’te de Hiver at Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS, Celebrate Christmas 18th century style with historians, re-enactors and period merchants. $4 for persons over 12 & un
*7:00 p.m. Community Carols and Chorus. First United Methodist Church Natchitoches. Join us for singing and celebration in hope of our coming Lord. FREE
Tuesday, December 8
* 7:30 p.m. “Lessons & Carols” Featuring Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 613 Second St FREE
Wednesday, December 9
* 5:00-8:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714 $
Steamboat House, 200 rue Jefferson. This two-story home was reportedly constructed by a Captain Haynes from materials taken from two dismantled steamboats in the 1850’s. The interior ofthe home features bousillage construction. The beautiful second-floor veranda has hosted many wonderful evenings for visitors and locals alike. The home has been recently renovated by new owners and is a private residence.
Green Gables, 201 Pine Street. Built in the 1890s by Estelle Ducournau Plôché as a wedding gift for her niece, Green Gables remained with the original family until 1939 and is an excellent example of a one-story Victorian. Turned and sawn woodwork on the exterior and a wrap-around front gallery, ornate fireplaces, stained glass windows, original art and eclectic antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries, create a unique ambiance for all who visit this bed and breakfast.
Samuel Guy House, 309 rue Pine. Built in 1850 by Samuel Eldridge Guy, this Greek revival style house remained in the Guy family for more than 150 years before being moved by its current owner from Mansfield to Natchitoches in 2002. Known for its ornate collection displays and elaborate Christmas decorations, Guy House operates as a bed and breakfast.
Friday, December 11 – Free admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
* 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
* 5:00-8:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation. For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714 $
Metoyer Brown House, 366 rue Jefferson. The house was constructed by Trizzini and Soldini for the Metoyer family at a cost of $17,000 in 1850. It is a typical 2-story Late Greek Revival with French influence. Remodeled in the early 1900s in a Mission Bugaloid manner and again in 1974 when purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Brown III, the original architecture of the house was preserved. The home is a private residence.
Chamard-Dunahoe House, 120 rue Amulet. This unique and historic French Colonial home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has features including hand hewn cypress rafters, bousillage walls, and fireplaces on the interior of the rooms rather than on the exterior walls. The home features an extensive display of Old World Santas and a collection of Pat Martin’s cypress Santas and is a private residence.
Prudhomme-Rouquier House, 446 rue Jefferson. This Save America’s Treasures property, circa 1790, is the only known two and one-half story bousillage structure on the North American continent. Owned and operated by the Service League of Natchitoches, Inc., the house went through an extensive restoration in 2005. League members take pride in its period décor and decorations appropriate for the Christmas season in the City of Lights. Used as the Service League headquarters, Prudhomme-Rouquier is available for rental throughout the year as well as during the holiday season.
Saturday, December 12 – Admission to Downtown Riverbank beginning at 2p.m. – $5 Ages 12 & over. Advance armband will be available to purchase November 1st.
* 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
* 1:00-4:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714 $
Chaplin House, 434 rue Second. A fine example of Victorian architecture circa 1892. Particularly interesting are the wide gallery, the original fan-shaped floor and the curved roof of the main entrance. Chaplin House contains much of the original family furnishings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is decorated for the Christmas Season and is a private residence.
Steel Magnolias, 320 rue Jefferson. Constructed before 1841 by the Italian architects Trizini and Soldini, this home is reported to have been used as a hospital during the Civil War. The home was made famous by serving as a filming location for the movie “Steel Magnolias”. The “most photographed home in Natchitoches” is beautifully presented with classic Christmas décor and is open to the public for events and as a bed and breakfast.
Maison Louisiane, 332 rue Jefferson. A Queen Ann Victorian house that was built in the 1880’s by Giovanni Anselmo Rusca. Much of the home’s original architectural features such as the front doors, turned balustrades, gabled bay, and cypress pocket doors have remained intact. Maison Louisiana features traditional Christmas displays as is open year round to visitors as a bed and breakfast.
Complimentary Admission for Saturday Tour Ticket Holders to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum
* 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Entertainment – After Hours – Downtown Riverbank
* 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Entertainment – Hank Staples & Thunder Creek – Downtown Riverbank
* 7:00 p.m. Fireworks over Cane River
Sunday, December 13
* 6:00 p.m. – First Baptiste Natchitoches, 508 Second Street presents Christmas Fantasia.
Wednesday, December 16
* 5:00 -8:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714 $
Steamboat House, 200 rue Jefferson. This two-story home was reportedly constructed by a Captain Haynes from materials taken from two dismantled steamboats in the 1850’s. The
interior ofthe home features bousillage construction. The beautiful second-floor veranda has hosted many wonderful evenings for visitors and locals alike. The home has been recently
renovated by new owners and is a private residence.
Green Gables, 201 Pine Street. Built in the 1890s by Estelle Ducournau Plôché as a wedding gift for her niece, Green Gables remained with the original family until 1939 and is an excellent
example of a one-story Victorian. Turned and sawn woodwork on the exterior and a wrap-around front gallery, ornate fireplaces, stained glass windows, original art and eclectic antiques
from the 18th and 19th centuries, create a unique ambiance for all who visit this bed and breakfast.
Samuel Guy House, 309 rue Pine. Built in 1850 by Samuel Eldridge Guy, this Greek revival style house remained in the Guy family for more than 150 years before being moved by its
current owner from Mansfield to Natchitoches in 2002. Known for its ornate collection displays and elaborate Christmas decorations, Guy House operates as a bed and breakfast.
Thursday, December 17
* 6:30 p.m. “Lessons & Carols” Featuring Trinity Episcopal Church choir and special guests, Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 Second Street. FREE
Friday, December 18 – Free admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
* 3:00-9:00 p.m. Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
* 5:00-8:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation. For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714 $
Metoyer Brown House, 366 rue Jefferson. The house was constructed by Trizzini and Soldini for the Metoyer family at a cost of $17,000 in 1850. It is a typical 2-story Late Greek Revival
with French influence. Remodeled in the early 1900s in a Mission Bugaloid manner and again in 1974 when purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Brown III, the original architecture of the house was
preserved. The home is a private residence.
Chamard-Dunahoe House, 120 rue Amulet. This unique and historic French Colonial home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has features including hand hewn
cypress rafters, bousillage walls, and fireplaces on the interior of the rooms rather than on the exterior walls. The home features an extensive display of Old World Santas and a collection
of Pat Martin’s cypress Santas and is a private residence.
Prudhomme-Rouquier House, 446 rue Jefferson. This Save America’s Treasures property, circa 1790, is the only known two and one-half story bousillage structure on the North American
continent. Owned and operated by the Service League of Natchitoches, Inc., the house went through an extensive restoration in 2005. League members take pride in its period décor and
decorations appropriate for the Christmas season in the City of Lights. Used as the Service League headquarters, Prudhomme-Rouquier is available for rental throughout the year as well
as during the holiday season.
Saturday, December 19 – Admission to Downtown Riverbank beginning at 2p.m. – $5 Ages 12 & over. Advance armband will be available to purchase November 1st.
* 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
* 12Noon-4:00 p.m. Cane River Creole Christmas at Badin-Roque House.
The St. Augustine Historical Society hosts special tours and Creole holiday stories. FREE
* 1:00-2:30p.m. Christmas Downriver. Cane River Creole National Historic Park presents Creole Christmas with special tours, educational programs and musical events FREE
* 1:00-4:00 p.m. Holiday Tour of Homes, hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation For Tickets Call: 800-259-1714
* 3:30 – 6:00p.m. – Entertainment – TBA – Downtown Riverbank
* 6:00 – 8:30 P.M. – eNTERTAINMENT – Johnny Earthquake & The Moondogs – Downtown Riverbank
* 7:00 p.m. Fireworks over Cane River Lake
Friday, December 25 Free admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank – MERRY CHRISTMAS
Saturday, December 26
* 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
* 3:30-8:30 p.m. – Entertainment – Downtown Riverbank
* 7:00 p.m. Fireworks over Cane River Lake FREE
Thursday, December 31
*7:00 p.m. – Fireworks over Cane River Lake FREE
December 7 – 23
* 6:00-8:00 p.m. Photos with Santa. Visit with Santa & Photos with Santa on the south end of downtown riverbank.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum will have extended hours on Saturday November 21 and 28, December 12, 19 and 26, 2015 until 7:00pm, last ticket sold at 6:30pm. Regular admission prices will apply.
Natchitoches Historic District Business Association & the City of Natchitoches hosts the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival. For additional information call 1-800-259-1714.