Natchitoches is the oldest town in Louisiana, the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Louisiana and home of the famous Natchitoches Meat Pie. On our way back from Houston, we decided to make a detour through Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-Uh-Tish) to catch the Christmas Festival of Lights before it ended on January 4. Although this is the 88th year of the festival, I’ve only been to see the lights once before – suprising considering I grew up only 60 miles away in Shreveport.
However, it wasn’t until the Christmas lights were featured in the 1989 blockbuster movie “Steel Magnolias,” starring Sally Field and Julia Roberts, that people in Shreveport started paying attention to Natchitoches – the sleepy (yet Lousiana’a oldest) town situated on the Cane River. Although I enjoyed the lights when I saw them for the first time in 1991, things can change in 23 years. Would the lights be worth this crazy jaunt?
We exited the main highway at Livingston, Texas and meandered on two-lane roads through Woodville, Dolan and Zavalla. The drive proved scenic over the Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toldedo Bend at dusk. It was definitely a part of Texas, none of us had seen before. Sign posts informed us that we were traveling on part of the El Camino Real de los Tejas.
Crossing into Louisiana, things were familiar:
the town of Many which I hadn’t been to since the mid 1970’s,
Highway 171 which leads to Zwolle – the home of the Zwolle Tamale Festival,
and the interchange at I-49, the only north/south interstate in Louisiana.
We knew we were in Natchitoches when we passed the Northwestern State University campus (formerly Lousiana State Normal School)- where both my grandparents graduated. In fact, my grandfather was one of the first graduates of the newly offered four-year program in 1921.
Once we got downtown to Front Street, lights were everywhere – over 300,000 of them! They dotted the downtown street which “fronted” the Cane River.
Parking was easy along the street – probably since it was a Monday night and after Christmas. There was a walkway along the river so we took it. Alas – there were the lights I remembered on my first visit. Over 100 riverfront set pieces graced the Cane River and were fabulous!
Even the bridge across the river was lit with dancing lights.
Along the path, there were festival booths that offered the famous Natchitoches Meat Pies, funnel cakes and hot dogs. However, our eyes were peeled on the lights and how they reflected on the river.
At the end of the walk, we headed back up to the downtown street and window shopped. My spouse jokingly said he wanted the large gumbo pot for next Christmas while one of my daughters asked me to pronounce items on the street sign.
During the festival which runs for about six weeks, there is a parade, fireworks, a tour of homes and many other events. For more information, visit the website at http://www.christmasfestival.com/.