Natchitoches

Downtown Natchitoches will kick off the holiday season during “Turn on the Holidays” on Saturday, Nov. 21.

“Turn on the Holidays” is an entire day of free family entertainment in downtown Natchitoches that will serve as the official start of the Festival of Lights season for the City of Natchitoches. The highlight of the event will be the official turning on of thousands of Christmas lights that illuminate the Natchitoches Historic District through the first week of January.

“Turn on the Holidays” is part of Louisiana Main to Main: A Cultural Road Show, which is designed to showcase the Louisiana Main Street Program and foster economic development for Louisiana Main Street communities. Throughout November, Main Street communities across the state will host various events and activities that promote cultural tourism.

Activities begin at 11 a.m. and include holiday concerts, children’s magic and puppet shows, face painting and caricature drawings, holiday arts and crafts, food demos and sampling, and a children’s opera performance of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.

Join us at 6:30 p.m. for the turning on of thousands of Christmas lights and a spectacular fireworks show.

For more information, call toll free (866) 941-6246.

The September issue of National Geographic Traveler just announced that Natchitoches is one of the 20 “Drives of a Lifetime.”

The 20 drives featured in the magazine are part of the online roundup of 50 classic road trips in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean-all drives you’re sure to enjoy.

The Creole Country route is the Cane River Road, a 70-mile loop through Creole Country, starts and ends in Natchitoches interlacing several state highways.

It is filled with many highlights such as Natchitoches National Landmark Historical District, Fort Jesup State Historic Site, and St. Augustine Catholic Church. The many plantations to visit include the Oaklawn, Cherokee, Beaufort, Oakland, Melrose, and Magnolia plantations. It is recommended that the best time to drive through is in Late September through May.

For more information, visit the site at http://traveler.national.geographic.com

Hannah Crews, a senior at Natchitoches Central High School, was just selected as the 53rd Miss Merry Christmas. Six high school seniors were selected to serve as Christmas Belles. Those selected as Christmas Belles were: Hillary Ackel, Paige Anderson, Jameshia Below, Lenee Gill, Karlye Pope and Hailey Warner.

Miss Merry Christmas and the Belles will reign over the Natchitoches Festival of Lights, which officially kicks off on Saturday, November 21.

One of Miss Merry Christmas’ first appearances will be at the Holiday Trail of Lights Media Day on October 20 at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, La. While you’re at the media day, you can have your picture taken with Miss Merry Christmas and Santa Claus. Be sure to join Miss Merry Christmas Hannah Crews and the Christmas Belles as we celebrate the start of the holiday season!

The Natchitoches Area CVB has the new 2009 Festival of Lights brochure. The brochure has the full list of events for Natchitoches’ Festival of Lights season with times, dates, entertainment lineups and more. The complete schedule of the Holiday Tour of Homes is also included in the brochure.

The Christmas brochure is made possible by the City of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Events Center, Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, Natchitoches Historic Foundation and the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

To receive a brochure, contact the CVB at (800) 259-1714 or visit www.natchitoches.net. You can also stop by the office at 781 Front Street to pick one up.

For up-to-date information on the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, visit www.christmasfestival.com.

Do you like Christmas? Does a pageant sound like fun? How would you like the title of Miss Merry Christmas? Well right now the City of Natchitoches is looking for contestants for the 2009 Miss Merry Christmas Pageant!

To be a contestant, you simply must be a Natchitoches resident, a senior in a Natchitoches Parish high school, and there is a $75 entry fee. Contestants will compete in scholastic achievement, interview, attitude, eveningwear and onstage question.
Girls, this is a fun and great opportunity because the winner will receive a NSU tuition scholarship, cash scholarship and other prizes and awards! Miss Merry Christmas and the Belles will also serve as the official hostesses of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and at other events throughout the Christmas season.

If this sounds good to you, call Nona Jordan at (318) 228-9592 or Courtney Hornsby at City Hall at (318) 357-3822. Get your application and entry fees to City Hall no later than Friday, August 28th girls and don’t miss this opportunity to be Miss Merry Christmas!