Christmas Lights Display in Natchitoches, Louisiana

If you can't make it to Dubai in the Middle East for the holiday season, where there are light show extravaganzas planned, come to Natchitoches, Louisiana, the town of the Steel Magnolias, the Horse Soldiers and the ancestors of Uncle Tom's cabin, as well as the Creoles from Cane River in the most magnificent display of lights anywhere. Natchitoches is known for its holiday lights, and many towns in Louisiana try to replicate the Natchitoches Christmas, but beware to all those who try. You can't ever top Natchitoches Christmas and the holiday lights.

The town of Natchitoches has an array of lights along the river, all the way down Front Street, the Main Street of town, then facing Front Street across the river as far as the eye can see in both directions. Tree-topping, eye-popping strings of lights and magnificent displays intercept and far exceed anything else the night sky can produce. Even heaven's stars have tough competition from Natchitoches during December.

The light displays recreate the nativity scene, Santa Claus and reindeer, American patriotic scenes, and a host of other interesting arrangements. These intricate displays weave around the lights that span the two bridges that cross the Cane River Lake that are about one to two miles apart. Music flows along the river bank, and the lights on the bridges flash in time to the melodies. This array of wonderful lights with music captivates adults and children during the holiday season, and visitors exclaim that the Natchitoches lights at Christmas are worth traveling to see.

The Natchitoches Christmas lights and displays are so famous that the Christmas Festival that kicks off much of the major events brings visitors from all over the United States and the world to join in the fun of the season. The highlight of a Natchitoches Christmas Festival visit is the Christmas lights. Every season Natchitoches residents comment and criticize the displays but remain very proud that the town has been made famous for its Christmas lights.

Those who remember the film "It's a Wonderful Life" or see it on television will recall the town in the film and the strings of lights at Christmas. Natchitoches reminds the visitor and the resident of "It's a Wonderful Life" because the lights make the area so full of wonder that memories of them never fade. Those who have seen the film "Steel Magnolias" would also remember the stars of the film, Shirley McClain, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts strolling along the riverbanks during the time of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival season. The lights of Christmas along the river are the centerpiece of several scenes.

The Christmas lights of Natchitoches bring the wonder of Christmas to the heart of everyone who sees them. Indeed they remind everyone of a favorite childhood Christmas story and a feeling of home sweet home at Christmas that we all feel at the holiday season. I would choose Natchitoches over Dubai any day for the warmth, the simplicity and the joy these lights have brought over the years and continue to bring to all of us and those of you who come to see them.