Natchitoches kicked off its Christmas season Saturday night, Nov. 18. Visitors and locals filled the new amphitheater and the renovated Rue Beauport Riverbank. The feature of the project is the new deluxe stage. Miss Merry Christmas and the Christmas Belles flipped the switch as the audience cheered down to zero and lit up Cane River with a myriad of lights. Then fireworks lit up the night sky. Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, featuring James Burton and Joe Stampley, played the night away.