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2026 Festival of Lights
Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027
Tickets available for purchase on our site starting July 24, 2026.
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 admissions after 1pm Ages 6 and under FREE
- 10AM – 3PM Cane River Kids Christmas Village Ages 2-12– LSHOF
- 10AM-4PM Cookies with Santa www.natchitocheschristmas.com $ tickets go on sale
- 4PM-6:30PM Holiday Open House – Historic District Business Shops Open Late
- 4:30 – 9PM Turn on Holidays – Official Start to the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Season. Musical Entertainment, Drone
Shows and Fireworks
- 6:30PM Official Welcome – Mayor Williams
o Christmas Angels Introduction
o Miss Merry Christmas & Bells Introduction and Song
o 100th Birthday Presentation
o Countdown to Lights
- 7PM Drone Show & Fireworks Celebration – Cane River Lake
Music on Riverbank Stage
- 4PM -6:00PM MacDaddy & The Blue-Eyed Soul Revelation
- 7:30PM-9:30PM Kelli Roberts Band
Friday, November 27
Free Admissions to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
- 3PM-9PM Holiday Kids Fest – Downtown Riverbank $
Music on Riverbank Stage
o 6PM -8PM TBD
Saturday, November 28
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1PM Ages 6 and under free
- 9AM-4:30PM Fleur de lis Christmas Craft Mall –Natchitoches Event Center, FREE
- 11AM-3PM Cane River Kids Christmas Village Ages 2-12 –LSHOF
- 10AM-9PM Holiday Kids Fest – Downtown Riverbank $
- 3PM Wakeboarding Santa & Elf - Cane River Lake along Riverfront
- 7PM Drone Show & Fireworks - Cane River Lake
Music on Riverbank Stage
- 3:45PM-5:45PM LaCour Trio
- 6PM- 8:30PM The Caravan Band
Wednesday, December 2
- 7PM- 8PM Northwestern State University Christmas Gala $
Thursday, December 3
- 7PM – 8PM Northwestern State University Christmas Gala $
Friday, December 4
FREE admission to Downtown Riverbank
- 7PM-8:15PM Northwestern State University Christmas Gala $
- 9PM-10PM Northwestern State University Christmas Gala $
Music on Riverbank Stage
- 6PM-8PM Jenny +Kelli
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
Front Street and Downtown Riverbank $20 admission All Day Ages 6 and under are FREE
- 9AM-6PM Mistletoe Market (City Bank Parking Lot on Second St)
- 1PM Festival of Lights Parade
- 6PM Fireworks – Cane River Lake
Music on Riverbank Stage
- 3:30PM- 5:30PM Mike McKenzie Band
- 6:30PM-8:30PM Johnny Earthquake and The Moondogs
Tuesday, December 8
- 7:30PM-9PM Lessons & Carols: The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church featuring NSU University Choir
Thursday, December 10
- 5PM – 8PM Steel Magnolias Walking Tour of Homes (www.nhfla.com) $
- 3PM - 9PM
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 Candlelight Tour of Homes - (www.nhfla.com) $​
Gospel Music on the Riverbank Stage
5:30pm-7:30pm - TBD
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Saturday, December 12
Downtown Riverbank $20 admission after 1PM Ages 6 and under are FREE
- 10AM – 9PM Holiday Kids Fest – Downtown Riverbank $
- 10AM-3PM Cane River Kids Christmas Village Ages 2-12 LSHOF
- 1PM – 4PM Christmas Tour of Homes (www.nhfla.com) $
- 5PM Lighted Boat Parade along Downtown Riverfront Cane River
- 7PM Drone Show & Fireworks Cane River Lake
Music on Riverbank Stage
- 3PM – 5PM Henry Reegans & Friends
- 6PM – 8:30 PM Sonny Gullage & The Blues Groovers
Tuesday, December 15
- 6PM Advent Lessons & Carols: Trinity Episcopal Church
Friday, December 18
FREE ADMISSION to Downtown Riverbank
- 3PM – 9PM Holiday Kids Fest Downtown Riverbank $
- 5PM – 8PM Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes (www.nhfla.com) $
Gospel Music on the Riverbank Stage
- 5:30PM TBD
Saturday, December 19
Downtown Riverbank $20 Admissions after 1PM Ages 6 and under are FREE
- 10AM – 4PM Cookies with Santa (www.natchitocheschristmas.com $ Tickets go on Sale November 1)
- 10AM – 9PM Holiday Kids Fest Downtown Riverbank $
- 10 AM - 3 PM Cane River Kids Christmas Village Ages2-12 LSHOF
- 1PM – 4PM Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes (www.nhfla.com) $
- 7PM Fireworks Cane River Lake
Music on the Riverbank Stage
- 3:30PM – 5:30 Becky & The Shuffle Kings
- 6PM – 8:30PM Coteau Grove
Monday, December 21
- ? 6PM Blue Christmas Service led by Rev. Kristen Paul –Trinity Episcopal Church
Friday, December 25
FREE Admission to Downtown Riverbank
Saturday, December 26
FREE admission to Downtown Riverbank
- 10AM-9PM Holiday Kids Fest $
- 7PM Fireworks Cane River Lake
Music on the Riverbank Stage
- 6PM- 8:30PM Deep Water Rehab
Thursday, December 31
FREE Admissions to Downtown Riverbank
- 8PM Fireworks Cane River Lake
Monday, January 3
Free Admission to Front Street and Downtown Riverbank
- 6PM Christmas Lessons & Carols – Trinity Episcopal Church
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/