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Christmas in Roseland is Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana’s premiere holiday event. The Gardens of the American Rose Center established Christmas in Roseland in 1983 to extend the enjoyment of the beautiful gardens well into the winter season.

Starting Thanksgiving weekend, the gardens are transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland featuring more than one million twinkling lights, dozens of lighted displays, more than 50 giant Christmas cards to the community, Santa’s Candy Shop, and much more.

The multi-weekend event features nightly entertainment, photos with Santa, a children’s area full of activities such as rides on the Roseland Express train, inflatable bounces, a model train display and tons of fun for the entire family.

This year it will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting November 27. The park will close December 20. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The park is closed Christmas Day. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per vehicle. Advance reservations are requested for mini buses and motor coaches. For more information call 318-938-5534 or 1-800-637-6534. Gardens of the American Rose Center, 8877 Jefferson-Paige Road, Exit 5 off I-20, Shreveport.

Wow, it’s almost Christmas. Well maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but it sure feels like it. I seems as though I was just welcoming the New Year and now I’m planning for Christmas in June.

The Holiday Trail of Lights organizations are all preparing right now for the throngs of visitors, we hope will experience all that Shreveport, Bossier, Natchitoches, Louisiana and Kilgore, Jefferson, Marshall, Texas have to offer.

The Louisiana Boardwalk, a shopping/dining/retail outlet/entertainment, venue on the riverfront of Bossier City is making preparations now for the annual lighting ceremony and nightly ‘snow’ blizzard. The Gardens of the American Rose Center is making changes to improve the visitors’ experiences at its Christmas in Roseland.

Natchitoches’ famous Festival of Lights just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The opening ceremony, Nov. 21 is a spectacular event for the entire family. But don’t despair if you can’t make it. There are many opportunities to check out the fireworks over Cane River. Visit our calendar of events for a complete listing, http://www.holidaytrailoflights.com/index.php?month=11&year=2009.

The Wonderland of Lights will switch the lights on, open up the ice skating rink and begin tours of Marshall’s lighted neighborhoods on November 25. Kilgore offers nightly tours of Christmas in the Patch. While Jefferson opens its doors for the Tour of Homes.

Check the website often for special promotions and offers. This blog will give you the scoop on events that you can’t get anywhere.

In Jefferson, Texas many of their merchants are staying open late for those of you who still need to get one more gift for someone special in your life. To help you better make your shopping plans, below is a list of stores and their holiday hours.

* Amazing Grace
Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day:

* Blessings
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-till
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

* Der Baskit Kase
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

* Gold Leaf Antique Mall
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

* Jefferson Antique Mall
Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-until
Christmas Day: CLOSED

* Jefferson General Store
Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

* Michelle’s Antique Company
Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-until
New Year’s Day: 10:00 a.m.-until

* Old Mill Antiques
Christmas Eve: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 9:00 a.m.-until
New Year’s Day: 10:00 a.m.-until

* River City Mercantile
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-till
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’ Eve: 10:00 a.m.-till
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

* Rives Landing Kitchen Store
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

* Silver B Stoneworks
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

* Wall to Wall Treasures
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

* Yesteryear Nick Nacks
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Are you looking for dining options during the Christmas holiday? Don’t despair, there are several great options for you in Jefferson, Texas - the self-proclaimed Bed and Bed Breakfast Capital of Texas. This quaint town is a great place to spend the holidays. Here are some dining options for the holidays:

* Auntie Skinner’s Riverboat Club & Restaurant:
Christmas Eve: 6:00 a.m.- until
December 25 (Christmas Day) CLOSED
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
* Big Cypress Coffee House
Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
December 26, 30, 31, & New Year’s Day – 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
* Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant
Christmas Eve: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
* Excelsior House Hotel
Christmas Eve: Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. BY RESERVATION ONLY
Christmas Day: CLOSED
* Hamburger Store
Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED

The Rail of Lights Christmas Train, in Jefferson, Texas, is operating Christmas Day, 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. They are very pet friendly, so a small dog is okay to bring along for the ride. Listed below are hotels and bed & breakfasts that are also pet friendly:

Delta Street Inn Bed & Breakfast
206 E. Delta St.
Jefferson, TX 75657
www.deltastreetinn.com
1-877-665-2929
903-665-2929

The Jefferson Hotel
124 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX 75657
(903) 665-2631
www.historicjeffersonhotel.com

Aunt Doe’s Bed & Breakfast
409 W. Austin
Jefferson, TX 75657
(903) 665-8518

McKay House Bed & Breakfast
306 E. Delta
Jefferson, TX 75657
(903) 665-7322
www.mckayhouse.com

Breckenridge Garden Cottages
502 Houston Street
Jefferson, TX 75657
(903) 665-7738
1-800-665-7758
www.breckenridgegc.com