10 Of The Best Louisiana Christmas Towns
Christmas is a magical time of the year for many reasons. Of course, the first and most important is the birth of Christ. It is a time of year that calls us all to remember his biblical story and celebrate the joy of his coming into the world. It's a time of coming together, making preparations, decorating, and reuniting with family and friends.
I love this time of year because I like picking up all the new decorations and ornaments for our house and tree. I also love to go out to see all the gorgeous Christmas decorations and lighting throughout the city. We usually visit neighboring lighting celebrations in other cities and towns, which is how I came about doing this post. I looked at schedules for Christmas celebrations nearby and around the state and found a list of some of the best places to go.
It was pretty good, but I knew of a few more locations and increased the count to 10! I hope you enjoy and check out some of these locations on your next family road trip. It's always something my family looks forward to because it gives us a chance to learn something new about the cities and towns around us.
Here are the 10 Of The Best Christmas Towns In Louisiana!
1.) Lake Charles, LA
The Lake City is the perfect place to celebrate the Christmas holidays. The annual Light Up The Lake event is a perfect example. There is everything from a city-wide gingerbread house contest, holiday art walks, lighted boats, and Christmas parades, to a lighting ceremony when all the downtown lights come on at once, with a fireworks display to close the night! That is just one of the many free open-to-the-public activities that occur throughout the Christmas holidays.
2.) Dequincy and Leesville, LA
KC Holiday Express Train is a beautiful six-car holiday train lit up like a Christmas tree for the whole community to enjoy for free. Santa and his elves arrive at the Railroad Museum in Dequincy and KC Yard in Leesville, spreading joy at the annual event. Visitors could board the train, meet Santa and his elves, and tour the inside of three cars. Monetary donations are also excepting as the KCS Holiday Express is also a charitable project that has helped to raise money for the Salvation Army for more than 21 years.
3.) Lafayette, La
LARC's Noel Acadien au Village in Lafayette is part of a non-profit charity that hosts 23 nighttime Christmas festivals in the month of December every year. Proceed from this event benefiting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Christmas village features a zillion lights, animations, food, and live entertainment. Plus, families can take pictures with Santa and then go shopping in the Christmas Store!
4.) Lutcher, La
Enjoy Christmas on the River...Cajun style! Check out the Festival on the Bonfires an annual and very unique Christmas celebration. Experience Santa's Very Merry Forest, live entertainment, great food, and more over the course of a fun-filled weekend. Every night wraps up with a bonfire lighting!
5.) Minden, La
Everyone should visit Minden for Christmas to see the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights. Enjoy the beautiful lights downtown while taking part in several holiday events throughout December. Thousands of lights light up the sky, and visitors stroll through the streets while shopping for Christmas gifts and exploring various outdoor markets each year.
6.) Natchitoches, La
Since the 1920s, the oldest city in Louisiana has been a major holiday go-to for more than 90 years! Named after Natchitoches Native Americans, the 2022 holiday marked the 96th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival. It is more than six weeks long, starting the week before Thanksgiving and ending on January 6! Also known as the oldest community Christmas celebration in the nation, this event is a must-see featuring more than 300,000 lights and displays, weekend fireworks, parades, great food, plenty of holiday shopping outlets, and much more!
7.) New Orleans, La
The second oldest city in Louisiana offers a wonderful variety of NOLA Christmas Events during December for the entire family. Take part in Holiday Teas, Concerts & Merriment, Sips & Shops, go the Nutcracker, tour St. Charles City Park or Lafreniere Park to see holiday lights, take the kids to meet Santa, and so much more!
There are many holiday concerts and plenty of merriment to engage in the spirit of Christmas.
8.) Opelousas, La
Named after Native Americans of the Attakapa Tribe, this St. Landry Parish town offers a beautiful way to enjoy Christmas at the Le Vieux Village Heritage Park & Museum in Opelousas. Le Vieux Village is French for "the old village" and includes amazing Christmas light displays on buildings that date back to the 1700s. This historic village and museum give visitors a unique holiday experience.
9.) Shreveport-Bossier City, La
Celebrate Holidays on the Red in North Louisiana this Christmas and see the Bakowski Bridge of Lights along the Red River. The first stop should be the nativity display at the American Rose Center. It is amazing! Then embark on the Holiday Trail of Lights in Roseland, the fireworks at the annual Rockets Over the Red Festival, and check out the snow in the Sno-Port exhibit at the Sci-Port Discovery Center! Before heading home, enjoy great food and sweet treats and go shopping for the holidays along the Louisiana Boardwalk.
10.) New Iberia, LA
Watch the Lifetime movie, 'Christmas in Louisiana.' This holiday flick is centered around the Winter family of New Iberia. Sarah Winter (Jana Kramer), is a successful lawyer and former Miss Christmas of the town’s Sugarcane Christmas Festival. She comes home to enjoy the holidays with her mother (Moira Kelly) and her grandparents (Dee Wallace and Barry Bostwick) and gets hit with Cupid's arrow.