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Christmas with kids in Natchitoches
Natchitoches calls itself the City of Lights, and the story began with a few bulbs. In 1927 a city utility chief strung Christmas tree lights along Front Street, and the festival has grown for almost a hundred years since.
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Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights
When: Nightly at dusk, Nov 21 to Jan 6; Saturdays add kids activities
Where: Downtown Natchitoches riverbank, Natchitoches
Cost: See host page
The story of Christmas in Natchitoches
How Natchitoches celebrates
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival began in 1927, when Max Burgdorf, the city's Superintendent of Utilities, strung 10-watt Christmas tree bulbs along Front Street and lit a display on the riverbank. Its first set piece was a six-foot metal Star of the East beside Cane River Lake. Fireworks came in 1936, the first parade is believed to date from the 1940s, and the Miss Merry Christmas tradition began in 1956. The Santa Claus House was built in 1965 and remodeled in 1984.
Christmas last year in Natchitoches
In 2025 the 99th annual festival opened with Turn on the Holidays on Saturday, November 22, on the downtown riverbank, and it ran through January 6, 2026. Crews strung thousands of lights and decorations along the riverfront, and the mayor promised new set pieces. Fireworks and live music filled five festival Saturdays. On December 6 the parade had 117 floats, bands and marching units, with Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee Vickie Johnson as Grand Marshal, followed by music on the riverbank.
Fun facts about Christmas in Natchitoches
The first fireworks show in 1936 cost $300, while today's shows cost over $100,000. Charles Solomon built about 40 set pieces over four decades, and more than 100 now line the east side of Cane River Lake. Until 2002 the set pieces stayed on the riverbank all year, and now they are taken down at the end of each season. In 2001 the project earned the city utility department a Louisiana Main Street Award for Best Public Improvement.
Trains and Christmas near Natchitoches
We did not find a Natchitoches Christmas train story, but Louisiana has railroad history worth a drive. The Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf is a 57-acre sawmill complex with a roundhouse, three steam locomotives and rides on a vintage railbus. The DeQuincy Railroad Museum is a free museum in a 1923 Kansas City Southern depot with a steam switch engine, a Pullman coach and two cabooses. The Kansas City Southern Historical Society keeps that railway's story alive.
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum: A 57-acre sawmill complex in the piney woods with three steam locomotives and rides on a vintage railbus.
- DeQuincy Railroad Museum: A free museum in a 1923 depot with a 1913 steam switch engine, a Pullman coach, two cabooses and a playground next door.
- Kansas City Southern Historical Society: A Shreveport area society that preserves Kansas City Southern history, though it has no museum building.
Traditions today
- Turn on the Holidays: The festival opens on the downtown riverbank with the switching on of the lights, in 2025 on November 22.
- Lighted set pieces on Cane River Lake: More than 100 set pieces glow along the east side of the lake each season, and they are removed at season's end.
- Saturday fireworks: Fireworks light the sky every Saturday from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve, a tradition since 1936.
- Christmas Festival Parade: Floats, marching bands and Santa roll through downtown, with 117 entries in 2025.
- Miss Merry Christmas: A festival tradition that began in 1956 and still appears in the parade.
- Santa Claus House: Built in 1965 and remodeled in 1984, it is a place for kids to meet Santa.
A fact for kids
Natchitoches's very first Christmas decoration was a six-foot metal star covered in lights, set on the bank of Cane River Lake in 1927. Today there are more than 100 glowing set pieces!
Questions about Christmas in Natchitoches
When did the Natchitoches Christmas Festival start?
The festival started in 1927, when Max Burgdorf, the city's Superintendent of Utilities, decided to celebrate the Christmas season with lights. He bought 10-watt Christmas tree bulbs to string along Front Street and lit a display on the riverbank. The 2025 festival was the 99th annual one.
Who started the Natchitoches Christmas lights?
Max Burgdorf, Superintendent of Utilities for the City of Natchitoches, started them in 1927. He strung 10-watt Christmas tree bulbs along Front Street and built a lighted display on the riverbank. The city's utility department still installs the lights and set pieces each year.
What was the first Natchitoches Christmas set piece?
The first set piece was a six-foot metal Star of the East, strung with Christmas lights and placed on the banks of Cane River Lake across from Front Street. Charles Solomon later built a much larger star, about 21 feet across, and went on to create about 40 set pieces over four decades.
How many Christmas set pieces are in Natchitoches?
More than 100 set pieces are displayed today along the east side of Cane River Lake. Until 2002 they stayed permanently on the riverbank, and now they are removed at the end of each season. The city utility department also adds new set pieces from year to year.
When were fireworks added to the Natchitoches festival?
Fireworks were added in 1936, and the first display cost $300. Today's shows cost over $100,000 and are held every Saturday from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. See our Natchitoches Christmas events guide on this page for this season's schedule.
How long does the Natchitoches Christmas Festival run?
In 2025 it began with Turn on the Holidays on November 22 and ran through January 6, 2026, about six weeks. There were five festival Saturdays, on November 29 and December 6, 13, 20 and 27, each with live music, food vendors and fireworks along Cane River Lake.
What happened at the 2025 Natchitoches Christmas Festival?
The 99th annual festival drew tens of thousands of visitors. The December 6 parade had 117 floats, bands and marching units, with Vickie Johnson as Grand Marshal, followed by live music on the riverbank and fireworks. The city also added new set pieces and expanded events that year.
When was the first Christmas parade in Natchitoches?
The first Christmas Festival Parade is believed to have taken place in the 1940s, about two decades after the lights began. Today the parade is a big part of festival day, with floats, school bands, the Natchitoches Fire Department, Miss Merry Christmas and Santa Claus.
Who was the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Natchitoches parade?
The Grand Marshal was Vickie Johnson, a Coushatta native, WNBA star, coach and 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee. The Natchitoches Army Junior ROTC color guard and the Natchitoches Fire Department led the procession, and Santa, Miss Merry Christmas and the Christmas Belles also appeared in the 117 entries.
Who is Miss Merry Christmas in Natchitoches?
Miss Merry Christmas is a festival tradition that began in 1956 with Judy Hubley, a 17-year-old high school senior. A Miss Merry Christmas rode in the 2025 parade along with the Christmas Belles and Santa, so kids can look for her among the floats.
What is the Santa Claus House in Natchitoches?
The Santa Claus House is part of the Christmas festival. It was built in 1965 and remodeled in 1984, and it is a place for children to meet Santa during the season. For this year's hours, dates and exact location, see our Natchitoches Christmas events guide on this page, since details can change.
What is Turn on the Holidays?
Turn on the Holidays is the opening night of the Natchitoches Christmas season, when the festival lights are switched on along the Downtown Riverbank. In 2025 it took place on Saturday, November 22. It kicks off a festival that carries on with music, parades and family activities until early January.
Why is Natchitoches called the City of Lights?
The nickname comes from its Christmas Festival of Lights, which has lit the riverfront since 1927. Thousands of lights and more than 100 set pieces glow along Cane River Lake every season, and tens of thousands of people visit each year to see them.
How can I explain the Festival of Lights to my kids?
Tell them that long ago a man bought a string of little light bulbs and hung them on Front Street, and the town liked it so much that it kept adding more. Now there are more than 100 glowing pictures along the river, and fireworks every Saturday.
Who built the bigger Christmas star in Natchitoches?
Charles Solomon later built a much larger star, about 21 feet across, after the festival's first set piece, a six-foot metal Star of the East from 1927. Over four decades he built about 40 set pieces in all, and today more than 100 set pieces glow along Cane River Lake each season.
Where can kids see big Christmas lights in Natchitoches?
Along the downtown riverbank and Cane River Lake, where more than 100 lighted set pieces and thousands of lights are on display each season. Our Natchitoches Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates, lighting night and festival Saturdays.
Are there fireworks in Natchitoches at Christmas?
Yes. Fireworks have been part of the festival since 1936 and light the sky over the riverbank every Saturday from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. See our Natchitoches Christmas events guide on this page for this season's confirmed schedule.
Is there a Christmas parade in Natchitoches this year?
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival Parade is a long running part of the festival, and the 2025 edition marked the festival's 99th year, so the 100th is next. For this season's confirmed date, route and entries, see our Natchitoches Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see trains near Natchitoches?
The Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf has three steam locomotives, a roundhouse and rides on a vintage railbus, so check for closures before driving out. The DeQuincy Railroad Museum is a free museum in a 1923 depot with a steam switch engine, a Pullman coach and cabooses.
Is there a free train museum in Louisiana for kids?
Yes. The DeQuincy Railroad Museum is free, housed in a 1923 Kansas City Southern depot, and has a 1913 steam switch engine, a Pullman coach, two cabooses and brass model engines. There is a playground next door, and the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, so check hours first.
Sources
- History of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Natchitoches Christmas Festival
- Natchitoches Christmas Festival is 99 years young, Natchitoches Parish Journal
- Natchitoches prepares to light up annual Christmas Festival and Lights display, KALB
- Christmas Festival turning 99; Turn on the Holidays Nov. 22, Natchitoches Times
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- DeQuincy Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Kansas City Southern Historical Society, Rally Takes the Train