Natchitoches, Louisiana - The Adai Caddo Indian Pow Wow that was scheduled for Saturday, October 17 has been cancelled. Large amounts of rain in the past two weeks has caused flooding in the Adai Cultural Center’s grounds and parking area. To contact the Center call (877) 472-1007.

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA… Experience the charm of Louisiana’s original French colony during the 55th Annual Fall Pilgrimage on October 9-11, 2009 in Natchitoches Parish.

The tour, presented by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, showcases national historic homes and plantations; some of these sites are not normally open to the public.

The Candlelight Tour is Friday, October 9 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. featuring the Jefferson Street Townhouse, Steel Magnolia House and Scott Corner House. Guests may visit the homes in any sequence, but make the Steel Magnolia House your last stop for wine, cheese and music. The Town Tour is Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features the Chaplin House, Cunningham Cottage, Secret Garden and Soldini House.

The Cane River Country Tour is Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This tour includes Melrose Plantation, Oakland Plantation, Cherokee Plantation and the Lambre’s Gin Plantation Home.

While in the Cane River National Heritage Area, visitors are invited to join the celebration at the St. Augustine Annual Catholic Church Fair held across from Melrose Plantation. Known for their unique Creole culture and cuisine, the festivities feature great food, games, music and a jaunt through historic Cane River. The St. Augustine Catholic Church was also the site of the wedding scene in Steel Magnolias.

Photographs and descriptions of the homes can be found on the official Tour of Homes brochure available at the Visitors Center, 781 Front Street.

Advance tickets are $15.00 per person for an individual tour, $28.00 per person for a two-tour package and $38.00 per person for a three-tour package. Advance ticket sales end on October 8 at 4:30 p.m. After October 8, tickets are $15.00 per person for an individual tour, $30.00 per person for a two-tour package and $40 per person for a three-tour package. For children ages 6-12, tickets are an additional $5.00 per tour. Ages 6 and under are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets may be purchased at the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 781 Front Street. The Visitors Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (800) 259-1714. Visit www.natchitoches.net for more information on accommodations or upcoming events.

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA … The Creole Heritage Center will host their 16th annual Creole Heritage Celebration on October 9, 2009 in historic downtown Natchitoches.

The Celebration’s theme is Celebrate Creole and will offer for the first time this year a Creole Language forum. The forum, titled “we know what we speak” will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 911 5th Street, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The forum is open to everyone and lunch will be available for purchase. Enjoy a live Zydeco performance during lunch.

Reception will take place at the Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street at 8 p.m. and which includes the Awards program, Mardi Gras Show and dance. The French General Consul Olivier Brochenin of New Orleans will be the recipient of one of the Creole People’s Awards as well as a special recognition by the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center.

A community’s wish more than 25 years ago not to let the tradition of Mardi Gras die has resulted in a spectacular presentation. The Grand Marais Mardi Gras Association of Iberia Parish will show off their majestic costumes during the Mardi Gras Show. This will be only the second time that these must see costumes have been seen outside of the Grand Marais area.

A “Remember When” dance will be hosted by DJ Tony Groove, featuring music from the 50s and 60s plus lots of Zydeco.

Tickets for the Celebration are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. They may be purchased at the Creole Heritage Center, located in room 116 in Kyser Hall on the campus of NSU. For additional information call the Center at (318) 357-6685 or visit www.nsula.edu/creole.

Natchitoches, LA – The Historic District Business Association is hosting the 3rd Annual “Return to the 50s” Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature vintage cars up to 1982 displayed along the historic Front Street overlooking scenic Cane River Lake.

Other events throughout the day include 50’s music, concessions and an evening outdoor concert featuring “Shake, Rattle and Roll” on Front Street in the Downtown Historic District. The concert will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 8:30 p.m.

Free admission to both events.

For more information about the event call the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 259-1714 or visit www.natchitocheshdba.com.

Nachitoches, La – Robeline, La., will host its annual Heritage Festival on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, 2009, in downtown Robeline.

The 18th Annual Robeline Heritage Festival will showcase musical entertainment, performances, food, competitions, demonstrations, games, fun, and a parade!

Friday night is dedicated to young people from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Activities include a wiener roast, games, hayrides, and a musical program, featuring Hannah Austin, Laurel Freeman, and Justin Cruse. There will be free food and drinks for kids!

Saturday’s activities begin at 10 a.m. with live entertainment that is sure to satisfy any musical interest. Entertainment includes local favorites Becky Birdwell and Roadhouse, Katie Floyd, Westside Baptist Church Praise Team and Trini Triggs. Other activities include tours of local historic homes, Clowns, Magicians, Rock Climbing Wall, Mechanical Bull, Miniature Horse & Buggy Rides, Jumps, and more! The annual parade will stroll through town at 2 p.m.

For more information about the Festival and a complete schedule of events, visit the Festival website at www.robelineheritage.org or call the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-259-1714.

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA… Experience the charm of Louisiana’s original French colony during the 54th Annual Fall Pilgrimage on October 9-11, 2009 in Natchitoches Parish.

The tour, presented by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, showcases national historic homes and plantations; some of these sites are not normally open to the public.

The Candlelight Tour is Friday, October 9 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. featuring the Jefferson Street Townhouse, Steel Magnolia House, and Scott House. Guests may visit the homes in any sequence, but make the Steel Magnolia House your last stop for wine, cheese and music. The Town Tour is Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features the Chaplin House, Soldini House, Cunningham Cottage and Secret Garden. A special presentation featuring the Flags of Natchitoches will be displayed at the Soldini House.

The Cane River Country Tour is Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This tour includes Melrose Plantation, Oakland Plantation, Cherokee Plantation and Lambre’s Gin Plantation Home.

While in the Cane River National Heritage Area, visitors are invited to join the celebration at the St. Augustine Annual Catholic Church Fair held across from Melrose Plantation. Known for their unique Creole culture and cuisine, the festivities feature great food, games, music and a jaunt through historic Cane River. The St. Augustine Catholic Church was also the site of the wedding scene in Steel Magnolias.

Photographs and descriptions of the homes can be found at the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 781 Front Street.

Advance tickets are $15.00 per person for an individual tour, $28.00 per person for a two-tour package and $38.00 per person for a three-tour package. Advance ticket sales end on October 8. For children ages 6-12, tickets are an additional $5.00 per tour. Ages 6 and under are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets may be purchased at the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 781 Front Street. The Visitors Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (800) 259-1714. Visit www.natchitoches.net for more information on accommodations or upcoming events.

Natchitoches - Natchitoches has released the new 2009 Christmas Festival brochure with calendar of events for the Festival of Lights.

The brochure includes times, dates, entertainment lineups, admission information and Holiday Tour of Homes information.

This year marks the 83rd Anniversary of the Festival of Lights. The city and parish are waiting in anticipation for the biggest and best Christmas Festival yet. The brochure is made possible by the City of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Events Center, Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, Natchitoches Historic Foundation and the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Begin planning your trip to the 83rd Annual Christmas Festival now by calling 800-259-1714 or visiting www.natchitoches.net and filling out a contact form to be mailed the brochure.

Also visit the official Christmas Festival website at www.christmasfestival.com for more information about the festival and up-to-date information.

Beginning the week of July 27, we will begin updating HistoricNatchitoches.com and ChristmasFestival.com to a new expanded format. Thank you for your support while renovate!

- Natchitoches.net Staff

NATCHITOCHES – The Natchitoches Main Street Program will continue Alive After 5 on Saturday, August 8 with a downtown Latin night.

The Latin night will be held on Saturday, August 8 in downtown Natchitoches on north Front Street from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees can expect Latin dancing, music, food and loads of fun.

A variety of Latin dance styles will be taught at Latin night including the cha cha, salsa, rumba and more. No prior dance experience is required and attendees should be prepared to just have a good time! Randy Sims with Vicki’s Dance Centers of Alexandria and Pineville will be the evening’s dance instructor.

A Latin food and beverage tasting will be available at Cane River Kitchenware located at 732 Front Street.

Don’t let the heat keep you away from such an amazing event. Large barrel fans will be located on Front Street for the event to keep dancers cool while dancing the night away.

Alive After 5 is a six month series of evening events taking place from April to September. The series includes art events, concerts, musical theatre and other cultural events which will all take place in the Natchitoches Historic District.

All events are free to the public and tourists and residents alike are encouraged to become more engaged in downtown arts and culture. The final Alive After 5 event for this year will take place on September 26.

For more information about Alive After 5, call the Main Street Office at (318) 352-2746 or toll free at (866) 941-MAIN.

The 30th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held July 17-18 in Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

This year’s festival is themed “New Populations in Louisiana.” The 2009 theme will celebrate the importance of those cultures either new to the state or those which have sometimes been overlooked because of their cultural “invisibility” to many people.

The two day event is filled with activities, food, discussions, and music for the entire family. Tickets are $8 for an all-day pass, $5 for an evening pass, and $11 for a weekend pass which is available in advance only. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult.

The Festival begins on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with music, dancing, and door prizes. A mixture of Cajun and Zydeco music will set the tune for the night with performances by Kyle Huval & the Dixie Club Ramblers and Don Fontenot & Les Amis de Louisiane. Champ Crossno will also be giving Cajun dance lessons both Friday night and Saturday morning.

Traditional meat pies, boudin, gumbo, jambalaya, and ethnic foods will also be available to eat during the Festival.

Saturday’s festivities kick off at 8:00 a.m. with the beginning of the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship and the opening of the Kid Fest area. The Fiddle Championship will take place throughout the day with the champion performing at 6:00 p.m. Saturday night.

Kid Fest is an area set aside for activities that will teach children about folk traditions through hands on projects and crafts. The Kid Fest area will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Activities will include folktales, folk games, scavenger hunts, learning how to use chopsticks and experimenting with Japanese calligraphy.

Musical entertainment will be available throughout the day Saturday with performances by the Silayan Choir of New Orleans, Hadley Castille, Back Porch Band, Blake Brothers Bluegrass Band, Knight Train, Jesse Brown, Gail Holiday, Knight Train, Goldman Thibodeaux and more.

Other areas of interest will be narrative sessions exploring the lifestyles and customs of Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, Cajun, Italian, Korean, Czech, Hispanic and Thai cultures. Vendors will be on site offering baskets, toys, filè, bonnets, walking canes, jewelry, knives and much more.

For a complete schedule of events or more information on the Folk Festival, please call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332 or the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 259-1714 or visit the Festival website at www.nsula.edu/folklife.