Holiday Spotlight on Shreveport-Bossier and Minden

Strand Theatre is the official State Theatre of Louisiana; photo courtesy The Strand Theatre

Starting this month, Shreveport-Bossier and its neighboring town of Minden take part in the annual Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, spotlighting holiday events from Alexandria through the northern half of the state. The fun begins with “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at The Strand Theatre in downtown Shreveport. This version of the classic tale by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky blends traditional ballet with puppets and acrobatics, and it’s always the perfect family outing.

Even if you’ve seen “The Nutcracker” before, here’s a chance to get in the holiday spirit early and view the majestic Strand Theatre, the official State Theatre of Louisiana. The Strand opened on July 3, 1925, as an opera house with a full orchestra and a 939-pipe Robert Morton  organ. The Strand was the flagship of what would later become the Saenger chain of 320 theaters throughout the South, including the Saenger Theatre on Canal Street in New Orleans.

Shreveport’s Strand has been renovated over the years and is home to the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, traveling Broadway shows, plays and live music performancers. Check out its exquisite architecture, dramatic chandeliers and the six murals of “The Muses of The Strand” by local artist Donna Moore.

The shopping extravaganza Les Boutiques de Noel, featuring vendors from around the Deep South, celebrates 50 years Nov. 22-24 at the Shreveport Convention Center. All proceeds benefit the Shreveport Opera and its resident artist program, the Shreveport Opera Xpress.

Roseland, the 118-acre garden of the headquarters of the American Rose Society, which we are fortunate to have in Shreveport, celebrates the holidays every year with Christmas in Roseland. Visitors will be treated to nightly entertainment by a variety of performers, fun foods and hot chocolate, marshmallows at the roasting station and oversized Christmas Cards to the Community, a 32-year tradition where area school children create oversized cards for prizes.

This year’s event, its 41st, begins the night after Thanksgiving and continues through Dec. 23. The gardens will be open with lights, a festival train, visits with Santa and more on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 15, then nightly through Dec. 23. Special events include fireworks at 8:30 p.m. every Saturday night in December and on Monday, Dec. 23, Santa in the Garden and the candlelight sing-a-long on the final night, among others. And if you need that special gift, vendors will be on hand for Roseland’s Christmas Market Dec. 13-15.

One of Shreveport’s most popular — and beloved — attractions for children of all ages is the Sci-Port Discovery Center, a museum dedicated to teaching science and technology. For the holidays, the Center will host “Believe! Lights the Night” on select nights Nov. 30 through Dec. 23. There will be visits from Santa and the Snow Mermaid, treats and visitors may take home a magical wand. The “SnoPort” with its snow-themed, science-based activities with creations by local artists begins Nov. 29 and ends Feb. 23.

The Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City will roll its Annual Christmas Parade this month and the Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival with live music, arts and crafts and visits from Santa will also take place in November.

Over in neighboring Minden, the first weekend of November means Main to Main Trade Days along a 50-plus-mile stretch of U.S. Hwy. 371 from Minden to Springhill and the Arkansas state line. In addition to what’s selling on the route, downtown Minden shops will offer special deals along with food and craft vendors.

Minden owns a unique German history and it is reflected in its annual Christmas in Minden Festival. The annual event happens Dec. 13-14, also part of the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, and includes a tree lighting ceremony, hayride tours, Santa visits and caroling.

For more information on the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, and what’s happening in Shreveport-Bossier City, visit holidaytrailoflights.com.