Louisiana_Cookin_-_November_-_December_2019

73 louisianacookin.com

6

HOLIDAY TRAIL OF LIGHTS

Along Interstates 20 and 49

Pack your car and get ready for some serious

fun along Interstates 20 and 49. Cities in

central and northern Louisiana have teamed

up to create a trail of authentic and charming

holiday events throughout the season. From

Shreveport’s Christmas in Roseland and the

Garden District Holiday Tour of Homes in

Alexandria to dozens of life-size nutcrackers

in Minden and the Ouachita Kiwanis Club

Christmas Parade in Monroe (pictured

below), there are boundless options for

holiday fun.

holidaytrailofl ights.com

7 8

7

6

LIGHT UP THE LAKE
Lake Charles

This holiday event is a fantastic way to
celebrate the season in Lake Charles.
Taking place on December 7, the evening’s

festivities will begin with a street parade
on Ryan Street followed by a tree lighting
ceremony at the front steps of the Lake

Charles Civic Center. Afterward, catch
the lighted boat parade on the lakefront
and end the evening by watching the

spectacular fi reworks display over the
lake. All events are free, and food will be

available for purchase from food booths
along the lakefront. visitlakecharles.org

CHRISTMAS EVE BONFIRES

St. James Parish

While many of the modern Bayou State

holiday displays involve countless twinkling

lights, the Festival of the Bonfi res hearkens

back to an earlier time. Each Christmas Eve

along the banks of the Mississippi River—

particularly in St. James Parish—families

gather to light large bonfi res to help guide

Papa Noël. If you can’t make it to the

Christmas Eve festivities, plan to attend

Festival of the Bonfi res in Lutcher, where

they will light bonfi res on the evenings of

December 13 and 14.

festivalofthebonfires.org

8