It’s that time of year again for gift-giving, family gatherings, yuletide carols and other holiday traditions. Shreveport-Bossier has your ticket all of that and more with the Holiday Trail of Lights. The area has teamed up with Minden, Monroe, West Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria and Pineville gives residents and visitors a guide to everything you need to get into the holiday spirit, from shopping and gaming to festivals and parades in north central Louisiana.
Bossier City has plenty in store to keep you entertained through the New Year with a variety of events and activities.
Santa’s Wonderland is back again at Bass Pro Shops at Louisiana Boardwalk with the North Pole’s newest representative Santa Bob.
Also known as Bass Pro Shops’ “Rod Man” Bob Collins, Santa Bob rotates his duties with Santa Tom of Tyler, Texas, who’s returned to the store’s holiday event for his second year. Collins is also joined by his wife Beth, aka Mrs. Beth Claus.
Bring the kids and get a free 4x6 studio quality photo with Santa. Children can also enjoy a variety of free crafts, games and activities, including laser arcade, moving trains, slot car racing, video games, remote control trucks, and more every day through Dec. 24. Call Bass Pro Shops at (318) 549-880 to learn more about Santa’s Wonderland.
Find the perfect gifts for friends and family all under one roof or start a new tradition and bring the family with you to Mistletoe & More, held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 25 at the Bossier Civic Center, 620 Benton Road. This year’s event includes 147 booths of unique holiday décor, jewelry, treats and other gift ideas. Admission is $4; free for children ages 10 and under. Call (318) 564-9489 for more information.
Festival season is year-round in Shreveport-Bossier and during the holiday season, Bossier Parish is where the festivities are in full swing starting with the Christmas in Plain Dealing Festival, held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at Downtown Plain Plain Dealing Park, 109 South Cottonbelt. The free festival will include a day full of entertainment, live music, a treasure hunt, a chili cook off, pony rides and more. Call (318) 326-4234 for more information. Next up is the annual Benton Christmas on the Square, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, featuring the Dash Around the Square 5K Run, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, children’s activities and special guest Yertle the Turtle in the Sci-Port Discovery Contest tent. The Christmas Parade will start at 3 p.m. The festival is free. Call (318) 746-7557 to learn more about the festival or visit online at www.bentonchristmasonthesquare.com. Call (318) 230-6956 for parade information.
Nothing sets the mood of the season like the sound of holiday music. The City of Bossier and Bossier Parish Community College have teamed up again to bring it on stage with the 21st Annual Christmas Show, held 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 29 at the Bossier Civic Center.
This year’s theme is “The Runaway Christmas Toys” and will feature performances by The Cavalier Players, the Cavalier Choir, the BPCC Jazz Ensemble, BPCC concert and gospel choirs, Jennifer McMullen, Isaac Saxton and Jordan Miller, the Cavalier Cheerleaders and the Ladies in Gold. Bradley Silman will be the emcee with the traditional reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Ray Scott Crawford. This event is free. Call (318) 678-6021 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.
Take a trip back in time to the very first Christmas with “Journey to Bethlehem” a free, live drive-thru nativity held 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9 at Benton United Methodist Church, 4615 Palmetto Dr. in Benton. Call (318) 965-2273 for more information.
Stay up to date with events in Shreveport-Bossier and its Holiday Trail of Lights partners by visiting online at www.HolidayTrailofLights.com or on Facebook at www.facebookcom/HolidayTrailofLights. Also visit www.ShreveportBossierFunGuide.com for all event happenings in Shreveport-Bossier.
