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2026 Festival of Lights
Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Tickets available for purchase on our site starting November 9th.
Food vendors will be available on the Riverbank 7 days a week.
There is no admission to enter the Riverbank area Sunday through Friday.
Vehicular traffic will be permitted on the Riverbank Sunday through Thursday only.
THE 2026 CHRISTMAS SEASON WILL BE CASHLESS. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED AT TICKET BOOTHS OR BY FESTIVAL VENDORS. NO GREEN TICKETS.
100th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Season
schedule of events is being updated.
Please keep in mind dates and times below are subject to change.
Saturday, November 21
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1pm, ages 6 and under are FREE
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10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
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10:00am-4:00pm - Cookies with Santa $ (Tickets go on sale in November–Date To Be Confirmed)
4:30pm-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 Open Late (Date To Be Determined)
7:00pm - Drone & Fireworks Show over Cane River Lake
Music on the Riverbank Stage
3:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Friday, November 27
Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
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3:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
6:00pm-8:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Saturday, November 28
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1pm, ages 6 and under are FREE
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9:00am-4:30pm - Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Mall
Natchitoches Events Center | FREE (Date To Be Determined)
10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
7:00pm - Drone & Fireworks Show over Cane River Lake
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Music on the Riverbank Stage
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3:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Wednesday, December 2
7:00pm-8:30pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala (Date To Be Confirmed)
Thursday, December 3
7:00pm-8:30pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala (Date To Be Confirmed)
Friday, December 4
Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
6:00-8:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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7:00pm-8:15pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala (Date To Be Confirmed)
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9:00pm-10:00pm - Northwestern State University Christmas Gala (Date To Be Confirmed)
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100th Annual Christmas Festival
Louisiana’s Premiere Holiday Event!
Celebrate the Christmas season in Louisiana’s oldest city. Enjoy our daylong festival filled with music, entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and our famous firework show choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.
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Saturday, December 5
Festival Area - $20 admission beginning at 6am. Ages 6 and under are FREE
7:00am - 7:00pm - Mistletoe Market (City Bank parking lots on Second Street)
1:00pm - Festival of Lights Parade
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6:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake
Music on the Riverbank Stage
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3:30-pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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6:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Tuesday, December 8
7:30pm - Lessons & Carols: The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church featuring the NSU University Chorus (Date To Be Confirmed)
Friday, December 11
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 Homes - (www.nhfla.com)
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6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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Saturday, December 12
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1pm, ages 6 and under are FREE
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10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
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1:00pm-4:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes - (www.nhfla.com)
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5:00pm - Lighted Boat Parade (Date To Be Confirmed)
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7:00pm - Drone & Fireworks Show over Cane River Lake
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Music on the Riverbank Stage
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3:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Friday, December 18
Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
4:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
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5:00pm - 8:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes - (www.nhfla.com)
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6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Saturday, December 19
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1pm, ages 6 and under are FREE
10:00am-4:00pm - Cookies with Santa $ (Tickets go on sale in November–Date To Be Confirmed)​
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10:00am-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
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1:00pm-4:00pm - Christmas Tour of Homes - (www.nhfla.com)
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7:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake​
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Music on the Riverbank Stage
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3:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
Saturday, December 26
Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
3:00pm-9:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
Saturday, December 26
FREE Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
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10:00am-6:00pm - Holiday Kids Fest on the Downtown Riverbank $
7:00pm - Fireworks over Cane River Lake
Music on the Riverbank Stage
3:30pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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6:00pm - Entertainment To Be Determined
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Santa Claus House, December 8th - 23rd
6:00pm - 8:30pm | FREE (Saturday visits will require an armband for Riverbank access)
Visit with Santa in his house on the South end of the Downtown Riverbank
Christmas In The Park
Only a 5-10 minute drive from downtown, Christmas In The Park is a family friendly environment with over two hundred and fifty thousand LED lights and decorations, tasty holiday treats, nightly Christmas character meet and greets, the Mistletones singing Christmas trees and much more!
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Visit their website for more info! http://www.darkwoodschristmas.com/