🎅 Natchitoches Christmas Festival Guide

🎅 Macaroni KID Shreveport-Bossier ~for Moms In the Know Holiday Season Guide Series 🎅

Know BEFORE You Go

This year's festival will run Saturday November 23- January 6, 2025. Fireworks and live music will take place each Saturday during the Season as usual and Front Street will be closed to traffic.

Note that you will have the option to purchase tickets BEFORE you head over to enjoy the festival on Saturdays or you can plan to purchase them at the Festival Ticket booths near Front Street. You can also pick up pre-purchased armbands at these booths by showing your receipt via phone or printed.

This year, you will be able to purchase tickets at ticket booths near Front Street to gain admission to the riverfront area (where the lights can be viewed & most of the live music and food vendors are located.) These booths open at 1pm on Saturdays. They accept cash, credit & have scan codes available to use for purchase via smartphones.

There are food & merchandise vendors inside the gated area and they only accept green tickets as payment. Green tickets may be purchased from all ticket booth locations as well as at automated ticket machines on Festival day. Green ticket machines take $1’s, $5’s, $10’s or $20’s. An ATM is located on the Riverbank underneath the Church Street Bridge.

Armband Details

This year all armbands will be $15 (Ages 6 & under are free) for each Saturday of the festival which runs November 23-December 21st with subsequent Saturdays being free.

Armbands are REQUIRED to enter the Riverbank area on Saturdays ONLY.

The armband ordering page is linked in the schedule below for each applicable date that you will need one to enter the viewing area on the riverbank.

BOTH adults AND children will be required to have an armband to enter this area for each Saturday of the event EXCEPT for children 6 years of age and younger.

The armbands are NOT required to enter the businesses along Front Street and food vendors will be available on the Riverbank 7 days a week.

Keep this in mind for planning purposes as the food vendors ARE in the area which requires that armband to access.

There is no admission to enter the Riverbank area Sundays through Fridays OR on Christmas Eve/Day & New Year's Eve.

Keep in mind that vehicular traffic WILL be permitted on the Riverbank Sundays through Thursdays ONLY when planning your day trips to see the sights!

PARKING INFORMATION

Note that there is very limited FREE Parking available near the festival area. Most parking is spearheaded by area churches & nonprofits which use the proceeds as fundraisers for their entities. Parking rates will vary by venue and are set by the various property owners, businesses etc. Please plan accordingly and bring cash!

Keep in mind that there are NO SHUTTLES available to/from parking areas due to the wide variety of options. There are handicap accessible ramps to give access to the riverfront area portion of the festival, though.

Handicap Parking for dedicated Festival Days will be located in the City Hall Parking Lot located 700 Second Street. This lot must be entered from St Denis St. Only vehicles with a handicap hang-tag or license plate will be allowed to park in this lot and attendants will be on site to monitor this.

On December 7, 2024 beginning at 10:00am, no public parking is allowed in the first block of Williams Avenue to East Second Street including the following streets: St. Maurice, Adelaide Street, Sirod Street, Whitfield Drive, St. Clair Avenue, Stephens Avenue and Henry Avenue. No chairs may be set up in this area as well.

No cars are allowed on the Riverbank on Saturdays due to Fireworks and Children’s Activities.

Schedule of Events

CLICK HERE TO PULL A WALKING MAP OF THE AREA

Saturday, November 23

Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank.

Purchase Tix HERE

10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

10:00am-4:00pm - Cookies with Santa

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

4:30pmam-9:00pm - “Turn on the Holidays!” – Join us for the official start to the Natchitoches Christmas season. This event features musical entertainment and fireworks!

4:00pm-7:00pm - Holiday Open House – Historic District Business Association. Shops & Attractions Open Late

Music on the Riverbank Stage

4:30pm - 2 Easy

7:15pm - Kelli Roberts Band

7:00pm - Fireworks & Drone show over Cane River Lake

Friday, November 29

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

3:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

5:30pm-8:30pm - Entertainment on the Riverbank Stage - Jarrett Bailey

Saturday, November 30

Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank.

Purchase Tix HERE

9:00am-4:30pm - Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Mall, Natchitoches Events Center - FREE

10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

3:30pm - The LaCour Trio

6:10pm - Chubby Carrier

7:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Wednesday, December 4

7:00pm-8:30pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala

Thursday, December 5

7:00pm-8:30pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala

Friday, December 6

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

6:00pm-8:00pm - Live Music - Jenny & Kelli Riverbank Stage

7:00pm-8:15pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala

9:00pm-10:00pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala

Saturday December 7

Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank.

Purchase Tix HERE

98th Annual Christmas Festival

Celebrate the Christmas season in Louisiana’s oldest city. Enjoy our daylong festival filled with music, entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, the parade, and our famous firework show choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.

7:00am-7:00pm - Mistletoe Market - City Bank Parking Lot on Second St. - FREE

10am-Dark - Christmas on the Cane at Fort St. Jean Baptiste

1:00pm - Festival of Lights Parade

PARADE ROUTE - The Parade begins on the NSU Campus and proceeds North down Jefferson Street to Front Front Street (the riverfront Festival area). It turns West of Lafayette Street, then South on 2nd Street, ending on the NSU Campus.

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

3:00pm - The Cartoons

5:00pm - Nashville South

6:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Tuesday, December 10

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

7:30pm - Lessons & Carols: The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church featuring the NSU University Chorus

Thursday, December 12

FREE Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

5:00pm-8:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes | Hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

Click here for Tickets

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

7:00pm - Lessons and Carols: Trinity Episcopal Church

Friday, December 13

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

3:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

5:00pm-8:00pm - Christmas Tour of Home | Hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

Click here for Tickets

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

6:00pm - Gospel Night on the Riverbank Stage

Saturday December 14

Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank.

Purchase Tix HERE

10:00am-4:00pm - Cookies with Santa

10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes Hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation - Click here for Tickets

5:00pm - Lighted Boat Parade

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

3:30pm - Coteau Grove

7:15pm - Mike McKenzie Band

7:00pm - Drone & Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Thursday, December 19

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

5:00pm - 8:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes Hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation

Click here for Tickets

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Friday, December 20

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

4:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

5:00pm-8:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes | Hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

Click here for Tickets

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

6:00pm - Gospel Night on the Riverbank

Saturday December 21

Admission armbands are required for entry to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank.

Purchase Tix HERE

10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

9:00-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes hosted by Natchitoches Historic Foundation. Click here for Tickets

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

3:30pm - Louisiana Sidemen

6:00pm - Uncle Paul & Bayou Blue

7:00pm - Drone & Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Friday, December 27

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

3:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

6:00pm-8:00pm - Entertainment on the Riverbank Stage

6:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake

Saturday December 23

Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank

10:00pm-6:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank

6:00pm - 8:30pm - Santa Claus House FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access) Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank

Music on the Riverbank Stage

4:30pm - Cane River Soul

7:15pm - Becky & The Shuffle Kings

7:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake

More Festival Info HERE