The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission met Thursday, April 16 via Zoom’s online meeting software.

Topics of discussion included:

What next year’s budget will look like if funding gets cut significantly due to the fallout from the Covid-19 epidemic.

Northwestern State University utilizing virtual services for events like freshmen connection to try and get as much information out to incoming freshmen, including creating committees to find new and interesting ways to do things. The date for move-in day will be moved forward in connection with a “Be a Tourist in your Hometown” event to introduce new students to the downtown area.

Members of the Historic District Business Association are crossing their fingers in hopes that the City’s annual Fourth of July celebration will be able to happen, especially since it falls on a Saturday this year. The annual Sale on the Trail event was rescheduled for the last weekend in July. The annual Car Show should be bigger than ever because so many other car shows have had to cancel due to the coronavirus.

The National Park Service and the Natchitoches Historic Foundation are in a holding pattern, planning for fall events and waiting to see if closures need to be extended into May as everyone watches how things go with the spread of the virus.

Some events are being rescheduled, including the Lady Bass Anglers Association, which was moved to September; the Dragon Boat Races and Pub Crawl, which should be rescheduled for Nov. 7; while other events are hoping to go as planned, including the Zydeco and Meat Pie Festivals.

The big questions it seems is hanging over everyones’ heads is how will all this affect business and how will the community be operating when it’s all over.