The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights held a news conference Sept. 28 at the American Rose Center in Shreveport to announce dates for popular returning events, as well as new and expanded family-friendly offerings from November to December 2017.
The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, established in 1992, provides holiday related events in Shreveport-Bossier, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches and Alexandria/Pineville. The Trail’s mission is to increase regional leisure visitation and group tours in north Louisiana.
“Shreveport-Bossier has been a part of the Holiday Trail of Lights since its inception,” said Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “We see this partnership as extremely critical to boosting a peak need time for overnight visitation in November and December.”
On average, Shreveport-Bossier welcomes about 10 bus groups during the holidays. That represents a direct estimated economic impact of $123,750. Last year, nearly 50 groups experienced one or more cities along the Trail.
Visitors to the Trail this year can experience popular holiday traditions in Shreveport-Bossier like Christmas in Roseland. This Shreveport signature holiday event is hosting its 34th installment of the family-friendly event which runs from Nov. 24 to Dec. 17 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6-9 p.m. Special encore nights are Dec. 18-23.
Currently, Shreveport-Bossier has about two dozen confirmed holiday events that will be published in the Holly Jolly Handbook to Shreveport-Bossier.
These include Rockets Over the Red Fireworks Festival, Nov. 25; Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival, Dec. 2; Holidaze at Artspace, Nov. 14-Dec. 23; and Songs of the Season, Dec. 13-17. New events include Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer: The Musical, Nov. 27; Highland Christmas Home Tour, Dec. 9-10; and Christmas Jubilee at the Jubilee Zoo, Nov. 24-Dec. 17.
On Nov. 16 the City of Natchitoches will unveil and dedicate the Rue Beauport Riverfront, which has undergone a $4 million renovation just in time for the 91st Annual Christmas Festival of Lights, Nov. 18-Dec. 30. The park’s renovations include a new festival stage, amphitheater seating, wheelchair ramps, restrooms, and a brick promenade along the riverbank. Turn on the Holidays, Nov. 18, marks the official start of the holiday season in Natchitoches.
Minden will focus on shopping this year. In addition to downtown being adorned by hundreds of life-size nutcrackers, antique shops and retail stores will offer extended shopping hours. On Dec. 9 the Historic District Christmas Tour of Homes will showcase four homes, two of which have never been included in public tours. Tour tickets are $10 each.
The Monroe-West Monroe region will have a new holiday attraction. Candy Cane Lane, a drive-thru Christmas tour will feature one million lights, displays and tunnels. Located at 170 Highway 151 North in Calhoun, Candy Cane Lane will be open to visitors from Nov. 17-Nov. 26. Monroe-West Monroe is adding an additional walk-thru display in the downtown area to complement the shopping in Antique Alley, a very popular spot for shopping and dining.
The Alexandria/Pineville area will once again light up downtown for the third annual AlexWinterFête, which will take place beginning Nov. 30. After enjoying the opening ceremonies of AlexWinterFête on Thursday evening, prepare to be enchanted by Cirque-tacular’s Snowkus Pocus. In Snowkus Pocus, young Brianna is whisked away to an enchanted winter wonderland where she encounters the colorful characters that inhabit this magical world. Tickets are now available online at Ticket-Central.org.
For more information about the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, visit http://www.HolidayTrailofLights.com or call 800-551-8682.
