NATCHITOCHES - The City of Natchitoches will “Turn on the Holidays” on Saturday, November 22.

Thanks to the City of Natchitoches for sending us this news release:

Turn on the Holidays is a Louisiana Main to Main and Natchitoches Tri-Centennial event that officially marks the beginning of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival season. The event will feature live musical performances, amusements, food, lights and fireworks. Admission is free and open to the public.

Turn on the Holidays, the official start to 45 nights of Christmas lights, is an entire day of family entertainment in downtown Natchitoches. The event kicks off the Natchitoches Christmas season as the city prepares for the 88th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival taking place on Saturday, December 6, 2014.

Amusement and food vendors for Turn on the Holidays will open at 10:00 a.m. All vendors will require tickets. Tickets may be purchased at automated ticket dispensers located along the downtown riverbank.

The entertainment schedule for Turn on the Holidays begins at 11:00 a.m. with a performance by the Hallelujah Chorus and Ukulele Band from Glenview Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The group consists primarily of senior adults and is led by Glenview’s Senior Pastor, Dennis Baw. The band includes ukulele instrumentalists and singers that perform a variety of hymns, praise choruses and folk tunes.

At 12:00 p.m. children of all ages are invited to attend the Tri-Centennial Birthday Bash, a kid-friendly event to wrap up the Natchitoches Tri-Centennial Celebration. The bash will feature a magic show, stilt walkers, balloon twisters, hula hoopers, and more! Live musical performances continue at 3:30 p.m. with The Matthew Davidson Band, a high-energy, upbeat rock and blues band from Shreveport. Led by award-winning guitarist/vocalist Matthew Davidson, the band has performed at countless shows in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi including New Orleans JazzFest, Dallas House of Blues, Louisiana Seafood Festival, and Natchitoches’ own Celebration on the Cane.

At 4:00 p.m., the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association will host a Holiday Open House. Visitors will have an opportunity to preview the latest holiday merchandise and trends at shops along Front Street as select shops extend hours to 8:00 p.m.

Headline performer, Amanda Shaw, will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. Amanda Shaw is an American Cajun fiddler, singer and actress from Covington, Louisiana. She has been touring nationally and internationally since the age of eight, and was named the Emerging Cultural Leader by the State of Louisiana in 2009. Amanda has also appeared in several Disney films.

The highlight of the evening will be the official turning on of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that will illuminate the Natchitoches Historic District throughout the Christmas season. A lighting ceremony will be held at 6:45 p.m. followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Cane River Lake at 7:00 p.m.

An encore performance by Amanda Shaw will be held immediately follow the fireworks display.

Admission to Turn on the Holidays is free and open to the public.

Turn on the Holidays is sponsored by grants from the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the Natchitoches Tri-Centennial Celebration, and the Office of the Lt. Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

For more information on Turn on the Holidays, please call the Natchitoches Main Street office at (318) 352-2746 or visit www.downtownnatchitoches.com.

 

More From News Radio 710 KEEL