Natchitoches Louisiana Entertainment & Events
Special Events
Celebrity Chef Culinary Gala
Jefferson Street • Natchitoches, LA 71457
Held at the Prudhomme-Rouquier House
318-352-6268
The Celebrity Chef Culinary Gala is an annual event to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Natchitoches' programs and services. Enjoy great regional food prepared by Chef Orlando Chapman and his staff of Brother's Seafood in Shreveport, a live auction, an open bar, and live music. more...Festival of Lights
Located at the Landmark Historic District
318-352-8072
See a fairyland of multi-colored lights, created by more than 300,000 Christmas, throughout the Historic District, as well as over 70 set pieces on the scenic Cane River Lake during this holiday event that lasts for over a month. more...Celebration on the Cane
Held on the Downtown Riverbank
Bring your lawnchairs and picnic baskets and enjoy an old fashioned Fourth of July celebration that features a variety of vendors, live entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks show at dark. Held in July.
Cinema
Parkway Cinema
1011 Keyser Avenue • Natchitoches, LA 71457
318-352-5109
The box office opens Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 12:30 more...
Concerts & Performances
Louisiana State Fiddlers Championship
Rebel State Commemorative Area
800-259-1714
Competition featuring statewide musicians. Held in April.Jazz/R&B Festival
Located in Downtown Historic Natchitoches
318-356-5500
The fastest growing festival in Central Louisiana, this daylong event celebrates Louisiana music and features three stages with continuous jazz, rhythm, and blues from artists across the state.
Plays & Productions
NSU Summer Theatre
Located at Frederick's Auditorium on NSU Campus
318-357-5814
A variety of dramatic productions are performed by this university theater group with two new main productions featured during the year.
Festivals & Fairs
Creole Heritage Day Celebration
Located at the NSU Creole Heritage Center
318-357-6685
A three-day October festival that celebrates Creole culture and heritage through panel discussions, audience participation, and more.Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival
Highway 6 • Marthaville, LA 71452
Located 15 Miles West of Downtown
318-472-6707
A two-day September festival that celebrates the past with activities for the whole family, including games, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a parade, and delicious food.Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival & Triathlon
Located Along the Cane River Lake
318-352-8072
Famous Natchitoches meat pies are celebrated during this three-day September festival that includes a cook-off, eating contests, demonstrations, live entertainment, a pageant, and a triathlon that includes running, swimming, and biking. more...Bloomin' On The Bricks
Downtown Riverbank
800-259-1714
Experience the charm of the original French colony in Louisiana (1714) during the annual celebration of spring. This event includes arts, music, entertainment, home tours and gardening seminars. Held on the banks of the scenic Cane River Lake. more...Krewe of Dionysos Mardi Gras Parade
From Cane River Shopping Center to City Hall.
800-259-1714
Celebrate Mardi Gras in an original French colony of Louisiana founded in 1714. This night parade features floats, marching bands, a second line dance, and hundreds of thousands of colorful beads, doubloons and cups. more...Melrose Plantation Arts and Crafts Festival
Melrose Plantation
318-379-0055
Held on the grounds of the historic Melrose Plantation, est. 1796, the festival features quality handcrafted items from more than 150 juried exhibitors. Paintings, pottery, sculpture, baskets, jewelry and more. Food, including the famous meat pies, and soft drinks will be available. Guided tours of the historic 1796 Creole plantation and the Africian House are also available. So mark your calendars, as this event happens annually, the second full weekend in June. more...Sacred Places Tour
City Cemetery
800-259-1714
Guided stroll through the oldest cemetery in the Louisiana Purchase territory. more...Meat Pie Festival
Downtown Riverbank
800-264-8991
Three day event celebrating our famous meat pie. Cook-off, eating contests, vendors, entertainment and triathlon. more...Historic Pilgrimage & Garden Tour
Cane River Plantations
800-259-1714
Started in 1954 and a fundraiser for preservation, the tradition continues today. Features sites in Landmark Historic District and Cane River Plantations. Candlelight tours. Admission, group rates available. Held in October. more...Festival of Lights
Downtown Riverbank
800-259-1714
This premiere Christmas event started in 1926. This forty day event attracts over 500,000 people anually. Fireworks, tours, food, entertainment and over 300,000 lights illuminate downtown. Check local site for specific events. more...Bloomin' On The Bricks
Downtown Riverbank
800-259-1714
Experience the charm of the original French colong in Louisiana (1714) during the annual celebration of spring. This event includes arts, music, entertainment, home tours and gardening seminars. Held on the banks of the scenic Cane River Lake. Held in March. more...Christmas by Candlelight Tour of Homes
National Historic Landmark District
800-259-1714
Visit the City of Lights for a candlelight tour of homes decorated for the holiday season. After the tour enjoy a driving excursion through the Landmark Historic district decorated with more than 300,000 lights and 70-plus massive lighted displays overlooking the Cane River Lake. Held in December. more...Melrose Plantation Arts and Crafts Festival
Melrose Plantation
800-259-1714
Held on the grounds of the historic Melrose Plantation, est. 1796, the festival features quality handcrafted items from more than 150 juried exhibitors. Food, including the famous meat pies, and soft drinks will be available. Guided tours of the historic 1796 Creole plantation and the Africian House are also available. So mark your calendars, as this event happens annually in April. more...Celebration on the Cane
Cane River Lake riverfront located in the National
800-259-1714
Celebrate this patriotic event in the oldest European settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Join us at our annual Independence Day festivities on the banks of the scenic Cane River in the Landmark Historic District for music, Cane River Green Market, fireworks, food and beverage vendors. Entertainment begin at 5 pm and concludes with FIREWORKS at 9:00PM. Held in August.St. Augustine Catholic Church Fair
Held on the grounds across from Melrose Plantation
For over 100 years the members of this historic church have been hosting a church fair. Fair features Creole cuisine, entertainment, folk art, country store and more. Held in October.Natchitoches - NSU Folk Festival
Located at Prather Coliseum on the NSU Campus
This annual, two-day festival began in 1979 and features over 60 master folk artists, craftsmen, and exhibitors, as well as over 75 different Louisiana foods and a wide variety of music, including Cajun, zydeco, folk, and country. Held in July.Cane River Zydeco Festival and Poker Run
Held on the Banks of Cane River Lake
318-352-8072
The Cane River Zydeco Festival and Poker Run is an annual Labor Day weekend event that features Zydeco music, Louisiana cuisine, games, and a poker run. Held in August.
Sponsored By: Magnolia State Peace Officer's AssociationDrake Salt Works Festival
Held at the Salt Works near Downtown Goldonna
318-727-8770 or 318-727-8860
The Drake Salt Works Festival is a family-oriented event that celebrates the history of the Drake Salt Works. Enjoy live entertainment, demonstrations, food, and arts & crafts in Natchitoches each Labor Day weekend.Robeline Heritage Festival
Highway 6 West • Natchitoches, LA 71452
20 Minutes from Natchitoches in Downtown Robeline
318-472-9914
Celebrate the founding of Robeline during this two-day family festival that features a wide variety of activities and events, including hayrides, street dances, crafts, food booths, music, exhibits, rides, wiener roasts, and parades. Held in October. more...Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Held in the Landmark Historic District
318-352-8072
Activities at this annual holiday event, "one of the nation's oldest community-based holiday celebrations," include a barge parade, entertainment on the downtown riverbank, a parade, food and craft vendors, fireworks, over 300,000 colored lights, tours of homes, and holiday decorations along the scenic Cane River Lake. Bring your family for a fun way to celebrate the holidays together. Held at the end of November. more...Annual Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival
3533 Highway 119 • Natchitoches, LA 71452
Located at the Historic Melrose Plantation
318-352-5640
"Considered the oldest arts and crafts show in Louisiana," the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival features more than 100 artists and craftsmen who peddle their wares which include handcrafted jewelry, paintings, pottery, wooden sculptures, yard art, handmade candles, and ironwork. Other activities include guided tours of Melrose’s Main House and the African House. Held in June.Natchitoches Jazz And R&B Festival
781 Front Street
800-259-1714
The Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival has been named by the readers of "Ride Texas" Magazine as the tenth-best music festival in the southwest, in the recent "Reader's Choice Awards" poll conducted by the magazine. Held in April. more...Celebration on the Cane
Cane River Lake riverfront located in the National
800-259-1714
Celebrate this patriotic event in the oldest European settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Join us at our annual Independence Day festivities on the banks of the scenic Cane River in the Landmark Historic District for music, Cane River Green Market, fireworks, food and beverage vendors. Entertainment begin at 5 pm and concludes with FIREWORKS at 9:00PM. more...Natchitoches - Northwestern State University Folk
Prather Coliseum
318-357-4332
Celebrate Louisiana music, folk art and food during this salute to our culture. All events are held in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. Held in July. more...Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run
Cane River Lake riverfront located in the National
800-259-1714
A celebration of Louisiana's Zydeco Music & Heritage. Sponsored by the Magnolia State Peace Officer's Association. Food vendors serving Southern bar-b-que, Creole dishes and more. Everyone's invited to participate in the motorcycle ride & fun-raising event through this historic community. Held in September. more...Christmas by Candlelight Tour of Homes
National Historic Landmark District
800-259-1714
Visit the City of Lights for a candlelight tour of homes decorated for the holiday season. After the tour enjoy a driving excursion through the Landmark Historic district decorated with more than 300,000 lights and 70-plus massive lighted displays overlooking the Cane River Lake. more...
Sporting Events
Bayou Outdoors Day Festival & Bass Tournament
800-762-8397
Held on Memorial Day weekend on the bank of the Cane River Lake in downtown Natchitoches, the annual Bayou Outdoors Day Festival & Bass Tournament features live music, food, a casting contest, boat show, cooking demonstrations, fresh vegetables, homemade jams and jellies, breads, arts and crafts, and several V & M Pro Staff and B.A.S.S. Professionals on hand to sign autographs and give fishing tips.
Parades
Krewe of Dionysos Mardi Gras Parade
Downtown Historic District
This parade takes place the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Nighttime parade through downtown historic district. Experience the thrill of Mardi Gras in this historic community. Held in February.
Tours
Historic Tour of Homes and Plantations
Various Locations in Natchitoches
318-352-6398
Step back in time during this two-day fall pilgrimage tour that features guided tours of historic town homes, Cane River plantations, and garden tours. Unique candlelight tours are available. more...
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