Hotels by City

Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Natchitoches.
Experience the charm of the original French colony in Louisiana (1714) during the Festival of Lights and Christmas Festival, one of the nation?s oldest community-based holiday celebrations. The Festival of Lights begins November 18 and lasts into the New Year. The Natchitoches (Nack-a-tish) Christmas Festival has been held on the first weekend in December since 1927. This annual event draws in excess of 100,000 visitors each year for the parade, live entertainment, food fair, arts and crafts show and a spectacular fireworks show over the scenic Cane River Lake. Mini-festivals are held every weekend in December with a Holiday Tour of Homes, entertainment and fireworks every Saturday and at midnight on New Year's Eve. More than 500,000 visitors annually trek to Natchitoches during the holiday season to enjoy the light displays, riverbank vendors, shops, restaurants, and nightly tours by streetcar or carriages. www.christmasfestival.com

Rural Life Christmas LSU Rural Life Museum, Essen at Interstate 10, Baton Rouge. The LSU Rural Life Museum takes visitors back in time to Christmas of the 19th century with costumed re-enactors, musicians performing period music, caroling, hay rides, tent sale of handmade crafts and a visit by Papa Noel. The night ends with live music accompany the lighting of a bonfire. A Rural Life Christmas Adults, $7.00; children 10 and under, free.

Festival of the Bonfires, Knights of Columbus Home, Lutcher. Lutcher lights the way for Papa Noel with plenty of holiday activities along the levees and at the Knights of Columbus Home. Festival of the Bonfires Lutcher Recreation Park, 2545 Louisiana Avenue, Lutcher www.festivalofthebonfires.org December 24 Christmas Eve Bonfires Along the Levee Hwy. 44 Gramercy, Lutcher, & Paulina St. James Parish (225) 869-1717, 800-367-7852 BonfiresStJames

Natchez Christmas Pilgrimage, Natchez, MS. Dates to be announced Historic house tours, decorated for the holidays, will be offered daily, plus there will be drive-through tours and walking tours of Longwood, Natchez’s famous octagonal house. Christmas in Historic Natchez Area wide celebration of the holiday season with tours, plays, concerts, community caroling, holiday dinners, the Christmas parade and lighting of the downtown tree. Email Tammi Gardner or call 601.442.2929

Christmas Extravaganza The Annual Christmas Extravaganza in Covington, Louisiana. Covington Fairgrounds; Hrs: (9-6); Adm $5 Christmas Village Theme, 20 Food Booths All Booths Under Covered Metal Pavilion & Festival Tents. Phone: 504-796-5853 Fax: 504-796-5040

Plaquemines Parish Fair & Orange Festival, Fort Jackson, Buras. Cajun music, arts and crafts, citrus exhibits, food, adult and children’s contests, such as orange peeling and eating contests, and carnival rides are planned. There will be a 5K race at 8 a.m. Saturday and a 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at the Fort. Fort Jackson is on La. 23 at the Mississippi River, six miles south of Buras. 10 a.m.-dusk both days. Free. (504) 564-2951.

Christmas Past

Look for festival updates in each week's Friday FUN section of the Morning Advocateand Visit Baton Rouge