Your magical holiday experience should begin with the Holiday Trail of Lights. Be transported to all kinds of memorable experiences such as ice skating, fireworks, parades, and toy workshops all in six cities and two states.
You are sure to love dining, shopping, and sight-seeing in Shreveport-Bossier, Natchitoches, Louisiana and Marshall, Jefferson and Kilgore, Texas to promote holiday festivities along Interstate 20 and 49.
Running until New Year’s Day, the Holiday Trail of Lights will leave you breathless trying to fit everything in. Shreveport-Bossier’s annual Lighting Ceremony will kickoff the season’s 40 nights of wondrous lights on Nov. 16. Other nightly, self-guided tours of lights and other events will follow through Jan. 1, 2011.
Shreveport-Bossier shares the Red River and close proximity in northwest Louisiana. The riverfront offers fun with shopping and programmed activities at the Louisiana Boardwalk. Bigger and better to this year’s event lineup is a laser show at Barnwell Garden and Art Center and toy making workshops at Sci-port: Louisiana’s Science Center to compliment holiday home tours, fireworks festival, and other events.
Head south of the sister cities to Natchitoches. This city has the oldest festival in Louisiana dating back to 1927 when city employees at the utility department decided to give their customers a Christmas present - an eight-foot star made of white lights and placed downtown for everyone to enjoy. The festival has grown quite a bit since 1927 and now includes shopping, entertainment, carolers, fireworks and snow. Carriage tours will be available in the evening through the National Landmark Historic District.
Cross the Louisiana state line to Texas and its all aboard in Jefferson, on the Rail of Lights Christmas Train. The unforgettable ride on an old-fashioned steam train will have passengers in awe as they view the lights along the Cypress Bayou River and are told of the origins of the Christmas tree and how it has evolved over the centuries.
Mosey on over to Marshall for the most spectacular 40-day Wonderland of Lights Festival in its history. In keeping with its name, the 2010 Wonderland of Lights extravaganza will feature more than one million lights and 400 lighted displays in the historic downtown area and throughout the city. Just one of the exciting additions this year will be entitled the Wonderland Experience Light Show, which is a nightly choreographed light performances surrounding Wonderland’s crown jewel- the magnificently restored 1901 Harrison County Courthouse.
Just a few miles west is the Christmas in the Oil Patch in Kilgore. Marvel at the majesty of star-topped oil derricks that dot Kilgore’s skyline. You and your family can experience the thrill of sliding down a real snow hill in downtown Kilgore along with train and carriage rides, clowns, and other activities. Cut the family’s Christmas tree at a local tree farm, visit with Santa at the historic seasonally decorated library Open House, or enjoy the world famous Kilgore College Rangerettes at their showcase museum on the Kilgore College campus.
The Holiday Trail of Lights truly is a unique and magical holiday tour. It’s sure to warm your heart and give you an unforgettable experience in any of the six cities and two states. For more information call 888-45-VISIT or visit www.holidaytrailoflights.com.
Holiday Trail of Lights, Christmas cheer radiates throughout the season. This Trail is the only holiday tour of its kind, spanning six cities across two states. For more than two decades - Natchitoches, Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana and Marshall, Jefferson, and Kilgore, Texas - have been delivering an amazing holiday experience. Food, fun, and holiday splendor await visitors in each city that is an easy one-hour drive along Interstates 20 and 49. Come experience the Holiday Trail of Lights. You're just six cities and two states away from your most memorable holiday.
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