The City of Natchitoches will “Turn on the Holidays” Saturday, Nov. 19!  Turn on the Holidays is a Louisiana Main to Main and Natchitoches Christmas event that officially marks the beginning of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival season. The event will feature live musical performances, amusements, food, lights and fireworks.  Admission is free and open to the public.

Turn on the Holidays, the official start to the six-week Natchitoches Christmas season, is an entire day of family entertainment in downtown Natchitoches.  The event kicks off the festival season as the city prepares for the 90th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival taking place Saturday, Dec. 3.

Amusement and food vendors for Turn on the Holidays will open at 11 a.m. All vendors will require Natchitoches Christmas tickets for purchases. Tickets may be purchased at automated ticket dispensers located along the downtown riverbank.  Tickets may also be purchased in advance at Dickens & Co., Kaffie-Frederick and Georgia’s Gift Shop.

The entertainment schedule for Turn on the Holidays begins at noon with a Local Talent Showcase in front of the riverbank stage.  Local spirit groups and dance teams participating in the annual Festival of Lights Parade Dec. 3 will give spectators a preview of what they can expect at this year’s festival parade.

Live musical performances begin at 3 p.m. with a performance by local favorites Trace & D’Nissa from 3-5 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., the party continues with the Nola Dukes Band, a premium high-energy band hailing from New Orleans. The Nola Dukes Band prides itself on having a “cooler-than-average” song list that is never cheesy and focuses squarely on filling the dance floor. Playing a wide range of genres including pop, rock, classic hits, jazz, funk and New Orleans-style music, the Nola Dukes Band is sure to have the crowd dancing all night long. The Nola Dukes Band will perform from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on the riverbank stage.

The highlight of the evening will be the official turning on of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that will illuminate the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District throughout the holiday season. A lighting ceremony will be held at 6:45 p.m. followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Cane River Lake at 7 p.m.

For more information on Turn on the Holidays, call the Natchitoches Main Street office at (318) 352-2746 or visit http://www.downtownnatchitoches.com. For more information on the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and Christmas Season, visit http://www.NatchitochesChristmas.com.