Thanksgiving has always been more than a holiday. It is a pause button placed firmly near the end of the year—a reminder that despite the speed, noise, and pressure of modern life, there are some things too important to neglect. Chief among them is family.
In a world that constantly pushes us toward the next deadline, the next notification, the next obligation, Thanksgiving invites us to slow down long enough to truly see the people in front of us. It reminds us that our connections with one another are not distractions from life—they are life. The table we gather around, the conversations we share, and the traditions we pass from one generation to the next form the foundation of who we are and who we hope to be.
For many families, this year has not been easy. Economic uncertainty, rising costs, health challenges, and the lingering strain of national division have all taken their toll. Yet Thanksgiving teaches us that even in difficult seasons, gratitude can anchor us. It helps us focus not on what is missing, but on what remains: love, loyalty, shared memories, and the people who continue to stand by us even when the world feels unsteady.
Putting family first does not require grand gestures. It can be as simple as setting our phones aside for a few hours, listening without distraction, or offering a sincere thank-you to someone who quietly keeps everything running. It means showing up—with patience, with kindness, and with a willingness to forgive the small imperfections that every family carries. It means recognizing that time is precious, that moments are fleeting, and that the relationships around us deserve our best attention, not just our leftover energy.
This Thanksgiving, let us choose to be fully present. Let us remember that family is not defined solely by blood, but by commitment, compassion, and the people who walk beside us through every season. Let us honor the elders who shaped us, encourage the children who are watching us, and embrace those who may be feeling the weight of the holidays more than they want to admit.
Above all, let us make the conscious choice to put family first—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the year ahead. Because long after the dishes are washed and the leftovers are gone, it is our bonds with one another that will sustain us, steady us, and shape the stories we pass down.
May this Thanksgiving bring warmth to your home, peace to your heart, and a renewed appreciation for the people who make your life meaningful.
The Village of Goldonna has come together to support Lydia and the Sanfillipo Foundation. Several area businesses have joined forces to create a basket raffle.
The much converted prizes include gift certificates, gifts from local businesses, deer processing, fishing baits, discount on a live Christmas tree, an Engel ice chest and much more. Tickets are available at The Stand or The Store for $10 each. The drawing will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Contact Kristen Dupree to purchase through Cash-App.
Fundraisers are still underway to help cover the expenses of the Christmas in the Park Festival. The Village will host a Split the Pot that promises to split the winnings with one lucky winner. Tickets can be purchased at The Store or from Eugean Garner or Reed Franklin. The drawing will be held at the end of the festival.
The Christmas in the Park Parade will happen on Dec. 13 and the Village is looking for participants. Contact Tanya Weaver at 318-413-4116 to register a float. They are accepting marching bands, beauty queens, politicians, churches and children’s marching groups.
There are still vendor spots available at the cost of $20. Contact Barbara Stewart at 318-663-1383 or Sharlene Settle at 318-481-4153 to reserve a spot.
The Village will also host their Annual Gingerbread House contest. The houses will be displayed at Christmas in the Park, and more details will be announced soon.
Goldonna Baptist Church recently held their annual Thanksgiving dinner while they prayed over their one hundred seventy Operation Christmas Child boxes. These boxes will soon make their trek around the globe to bless children worldwide.
Goldonna Assembly of God will be hosting Terry Terrell on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 pm. It will be a fun night of worship and Bible Study. The public is invited to attend.
If you have news to share please contact Reba Phelps at 318-332-4260 or jreba.phelps@gmail.com
Louisiana drivers are finally seeing relief after years of some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the nation. More than 20 insurers have filed rate decreases in 2025, with new reductions taking effect in December.
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced November 21 that the declines are a direct result of Governor Jeff Landry’s 2025 tort and insurance reform package—considered the most sweeping legal reform effort in state history.
Major Carriers Cutting Rates
Several top insurers have already secured approval for significant decreases:
Encompass Insurance (National General program): 15% reduction for 1,516 customers, effective Dec. 8.
Allstate Insurance: 8.1% reduction for standard policies and 6% for non-standard policies, impacting 10,333 policyholders beginning Dec. 16.
Other major carriers—including GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and Louisiana Farm Bureau—have filed similar decreases throughout the year.
Why This Matters for Louisiana
The 2025 reform package included 27 bills aimed at reducing excessive litigation and improving regulatory oversight. Key changes include:
Comparative Fault Update: Plaintiffs barred from recovery if 51% or more at fault.
“No Pay, No Play” Expansion: Uninsured drivers now face a $100,000 threshold for bodily injury and property damage before they can recover.
Collateral Source Rule Revision: Plaintiffs may recover only actual paid medical costs—not inflated billed amounts.
Commissioner Oversight: New authority to reject excessive rate hikes and increase transparency.
Removal of the Housley Presumption: Requires medical evidence to link injuries directly to accidents.
State officials say these reforms target Louisiana’s historically high litigation rates—nearly triple the national average for bodily injury claims.
Looking Ahead
The rate decreases now appearing across the market indicate that the reforms are gaining traction. More carriers are expected to file downward adjustments through 2026 as Louisiana works to stabilize auto insurance costs for families and businesses across North Louisiana.
Sports has been a huge part of my life, especially when it comes to baseball and football. I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I never used any form of performance-enhancing drugs to play at a high level. In my mind, this would be a form of cheating, and I made a conscious choice to never be a part of that culture of athletes.
I saw first-hand how some athletes abused and became victims of decisions and choices they made. It was a huge eye-opening experience my first spring training with the Montreal Expos organization as I saw how many players were using enhancers to perform at a high level.
I saw the organization basically turn a blind eye to what players were doing to become better. Oh, it was no secret, and most players did not try and hide what they were using as it was on full display in their lockers. It was just another form of cheating!
Cheating has now become rampant in the tournament bass fishing world. It seems that in every tournament, someone breaks a rule, fails a polygraph test and gets disqualified.
In the past three years, it has gotten worse — from professional anglers getting caught to amateur anglers trying to win specialty events like big bass tournaments. What happened to the days of anglers going out and fishing with honesty and following the rules?
Why has there been such a surge in anglers’ cheating? The first answer is probably the amount of money tournaments are putting up. Even the lower levels of MLF (Major League Fishing) and the B.A.S.S. organizations have anglers fishing for hundreds of thousands of dollars and opportunities to advance up the ladder of professional bass fishing.
Even big bass events have anglers fishing for over $100,000 for catching one fish! Like anything else, when there’s a lot of money on the line, it seems to bring out the worst in people. Just like in any form of criminal activity, just follow the money.
Some anglers will say that there are just too many rules. We all know that the more rules you have in any sport, the more that must be enforced. This makes a bass tournament director’s job even more difficult.
So how do we hit the reset button and get anglers to find their moral compass and follow the rules? I’m not sure we can put the genie back into the bottle, as our society in general has so many people with no morals who will do whatever they can in order to win or get ahead in life.
I think the first course of action must be making the punishment fit the crime. Organizations must come down harder on these individuals who think it’s OK to cheat! Guidelines need to be established for the severity of the rule or rules that have been violated.
We aren’t looking for anyone to go before the firing squad, but suspending anglers for the entire season would be a great start. The harder you come down on these anglers, the more they will think twice about cheating.
Maybe we need to go the legal route, as cheating in a bass tournament is considered fraud. By making a few examples with prosecution, it will probably make others think twice about bending the rules.
These are sad times we live in and it’s a shame we have so many anglers that think it’s OK to cheat. This is one of many reasons why tournament participation is down nationwide. But with more severe punishment, maybe we can reset the course of tournament bass fishing.
In the summer of 2021, a new neighbor moved into what had been a peaceful mobile home park in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, a suburb just north of Minneapolis. Until then, the residents of the mobile home park held regular barbecues and other outdoor gatherings when the cold Minnesota weather allowed. Their kids played outside and walked to and from the bus stop without the slightest hint of hesitation. The trailer park residents got along well with each other. That all changed when the new neighbor moved in.
The new neighbor was a bully who victimized the residents of the mobile home park. The bully chased them, taunted them, and sometimes attacked them. The residents were unable to relax even when they were inside their own homes because the bully peaked through their windows and made sounds that they said became terrifying to them. One day, 41-year-old Rachael Gross was carrying her groceries from her car to her home when the bully dropped down from her roof and knocked her to the ground.
During the struggle that followed, the bully ripped her jacket before Rachael was able to escape into her house. Her groceries lay scattered on her front lawn. The bully even followed Rachael to the nearby nursing home where she worked and to her favorite local restaurant. Each time, Rachael rushed inside to safety. The bully always stopped just shy of following her in. During another attack, Rachael slung water from her water bottle onto the bully. The shock from the water gave her just enough time to get inside before the bully ran back toward her. After numerous attacks, Rachael and her neighbors began to carry sticks, brooms, golf clubs, and baseball bats anytime they went outside. Rachael and her neighbors called the authorities on several occasions, but the bully continued to terrorize the neighborhood.
Because Rachael was most often the target of the bully, her neighbors began to suspect that she was somehow helping him despite her emphatic denials.
Rachael felt trapped. She said, “I’m pretty stressed out and pretty anxious all the time. I can’t even have peace. I’m so exhausted. I hope this gets a solution and somebody comes to help so I don’t have to deal with this anymore, and so that we can all have a peaceful summer with our kids and our grandkids and actually have a barbecue and just relax.” Summer turned into fall and there was no relief from the bully.
Parents had to walk their kids to and from the bust stop armed with a variety of weapons. The kids used their backpacks as shields. The neighborhood cancelled all of their usual outside activities including trick-or-treating at Halloween. For two years, the residents of the trailer park lived in fear of the bully. In the fall of 2023, reports of the bullying ended. Rumors persist that someone in the mobile home park murdered the bully. Perhaps they were all involved in the murder conspiracy. Some of the rumors go as far as to say that there is no evidence to be found because the residents ate the bully during a Thanksgiving celebration. The new neighbor which plagued that mobile home park was a wild turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sources:
1. Kirsten Mitchell, “‘This turkey has literally taken over our life’: Wild turkey terrorizing neighbors in Coon Rapids,” CBS News, January 21, 2023, accessed November 16, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/wild-turkey-terrorizing-neighbors-in-coon-rapids/.
2. The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), March 5, 2023, p.5M.
British archaeologist Howard Carter knelt before a newly uncovered doorway deep in the Valley of the Kings on November 26, 1922. With trembling hands, he peered through a small hole, held up a candle, and saw what he would later describe as “wonderful things.”
Moments earlier, Carter and his team had broken the seal to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun — a 3,000-year-old resting place untouched by grave robbers. Inside were chariots, gilded shrines, jewelry, and the solid gold coffin of the boy king.
Carter’s discovery, funded by British nobleman Lord Carnarvon, became an international sensation. Newspapers worldwide splashed photographs of glittering treasures and mysterious hieroglyphs, sparking “Egyptomania” across the West.
Beyond the headlines, the find transformed archaeology. Tutankhamun’s tomb offered an unprecedented glimpse into Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, revealing burial rituals, art, and craftsmanship of extraordinary sophistication.
The work of cataloging and preserving the artifacts took a decade. Even today, much of Carter’s meticulous documentation guides modern Egyptologists.
November 26, 1922, remains a defining date in archaeological history — the day the modern world reconnected with one of antiquity’s most famous rulers, and when “wonderful things” reignited humanity’s fascination with ancient Egypt.
Date: 11-17-25 Name: Joshua W. Searcy Address: Jonesboro, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 38 Charge: Distribution of Schedule 2 (Meth), Warrant
Date: 11-19-25 Name: Joseph Hubbard Address: N/A Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 18 Charge: Aggravated Assault with Firearm, Illegal use of Firearm or Dangerous Instruments
Date: 11-19-25 Name: Joseph Audirsch Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Whie Sex: Male Age: 44
Charge: Criminal Trespass
Date: 11-21-25 Name: Miranda G. Yruegas Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Female Age: 32 Charge: Driving Under Suspension, Prohibited Acts Schedule 2, Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection
Date: 11-22-25 Name: Julie Ann Watts Address: Homeless Race: White Sex: Female Age: 49 Charge: Simple Burglary
Date: 11-23-25 Name: Keondrick D. Sapp Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 24 Charge: Operate ATV on Public Rd, Resisting an Officer
Date: 11-23-25 Name: Donnie Wayne Folden Address: Winnfield, LA Race: White Sex: Male Age: 48 Charge: Failure to Appear
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Date: 11-20-25 Name: Antoneo Moore Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 36 Charge: Illegal Carry of Weapon, Possession of Schedule 1 with Intent to Distribute
Date: 11-20-25 Name: Alexis Hammond Address: Winnfield Race: Black Sex: Female Age: 29 Charge: Dating Partner Abuse, Child Endangerment
Date: 11-20-25 Name: James Goods Address: Winnfield, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 62 Charge: Hit and Run
Date: 11-21-25 Name: Miranda Yruegas Address: Winnfield Race: White Sex: Female Age: 32 Charge: Prohibited Acts Schedule 2, Driving Under Suspension, Expired Inspection
Date: 11-21-25 Name: Cedric Washington Address: Natchez, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 45 Charge: Schedule 2 (Manufacture)
Date: 11-21-25 Name: Dominique Sowell Address: Natchitoches, LA Race: Black Sex: Male Age: 35 Charge: Failure to Appear
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A traffic stop on Nov. 17 led to the arrest of a Goldonna woman on felony drug charges, her third narcotics-related arrest in the past three years, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were patrolling on Hwy. 9 North of the Black Lake Bridge around 10:05 pm when they initiated a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford pickup truck for improper lane usage and equipment violations.
Deputies identified the driver as 40-year-old Katie E. Trouille of Trichell Camp Road in Goldonna. While speaking with Trouille, deputies observed that she appeared extremely nervous. She also stated the vehicle was pulling to the left and admitted her driver’s license was suspended.
Deputies issued citations for the traffic offenses and asked Trouille if someone in the area could take possession of the vehicle. She was provided over 30 minutes to contact someone, but her attempts were unsuccessful.
A local towing service was then contacted to impound the vehicle. During an inventory of the vehicle, deputies located and seized a cellophane bag containing approximately 5 grams of suspected methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia.
Trouille was taken into custody without incident. As a result, Katie E. Trouille was transported to the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center, where she was booked and charged with: • Possession of CDS Schedule II • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia • Driving Under Suspension • Improper Lane Usage • Additional traffic offenses
The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime laboratory for analysis. Deputy T. Hortman was assisted by Deputy H. Layfield in the arrest.
Ethan Zuckerman is a name you are probably unfamiliar with, but there is little doubt that you have interacted with his invention. Almost everyone on the planet has had to deal with Ethan’s invention. Let me explain.
In 1993, Ethan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In 1994, Ethan dropped out of graduate school and focused on what was the newest technological craze, the World Wide Web. These days, we call it the internet. Until mid-1993, there were only about 50 websites in existence, but it snowballed shortly thereafter. Within a year, the number of websites grew into the thousands. (In October 2025, there were over 1.2 billion websites worldwide, and a new website was built about every three seconds.)
In the first year of the internet boom, Ethan and a couple of his friends in Williamstown began building an internet-based company called Tripod. Their intention was to provide content and services for graduates, what Ethan described as “tools for life.” The website was popular, but it was not making enough money to cover expenses. At its peak in the mid-1990s, about 15 million people visited their website daily. Although the number of visitors was certainly impressive, few people bought anything from the company. Ethan and his partners switched from trying to sell products to trying to get customers to pay for a subscription to gain access to their content. It was not successful. They tried to sell content in an online magazine format, but that failed too. As a last resort, they turned to advertisers, just as many other popular websites had done. Finally, they were making a hefty profit.
Then, a problem arose. A major car company which he refused to name purchased an ad that was placed on numerous websites indiscriminately. Executives at the car company were surprised and angered when their company’s ad appeared at the top of a popular pornographic website. They feared that the public would think that they were promoting pornography which could have destroyed the company’s reputation. Ethan began working to find a way to continue to have advertisements for websites but in a way that they seemed somewhat disconnected from the content on the website. After a period of trial and error, Ethan invented something the world had never seen before. Within a short time, his invention became almost inescapable. It also became one of the most hated inventions in history. In 1999, Ethan and his partners sold their company, and Ethan began to regret his invention. In August 2014, Ethan apologized to the world by saying, “I’m sorry. Our intentions were good.” Once opened, Pandora’s box is not easily closed. Ethan’s invention still pops up on computer screens across the world. You see, Ethan was the inventor of pop-up ads.
Sources:
1. Janhoi McGregor, “The Man Who Invented Pop-Up Ads Says ‘I’m Sorry’,” Forbes.com, August 15, 2014, accessed November 9, 2025, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2014/08/15/the-man-who-invented-pop-up-ads-says-im-sorry/.
2. Katherine Haan, “Top Website Statistics for 2025,” Forbes.com, October 24, 2025, accessed November 9, 2025, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/#:~:text=There%20are%20about%201.2%20billion%20websites%20on%20the%20internet%20in%202025&text=As%20of%20October%202025%2C%20the,of%20those%20websites%20are%20active.
Discover exceptional living in this stunning five-bedroom, five-bathroom home spanning an impressive 5,201 square feet. This remarkable property offers the ultimate luxury with an indoor pool, great for year-round swimming and entertaining regardless of Louisiana’s weather.
Each of the five generously sized bedrooms provides comfort and privacy, while the five full bathrooms ensure convenience for family and guests alike. The spacious floor plan creates endless possibilities for both relaxation and hosting memorable gatherings. Located in Winnfield’s desirable neighborhood, this home places you within easy reach of everyday conveniences. Mac’s Fresh Market sits less than a mile away, making grocery runs a breeze.
When you need outdoor recreation, Earl K Long Memorial Park offers green space and activities just over a mile from your front door. Families will appreciate the proximity to Winnfield Senior High School, ensuring quality education options nearby.
The indoor pool serves as the home’s crown jewel, transforming any ordinary day into a resort-like experience. Imagine morning laps before work or evening pool parties with friends – all within the comfort and privacy of your own home.
This property combines spacious living with thoughtful amenities in a location that balances tranquility with accessibility. Whether you’re seeking a family haven or an entertainer’s dream, this home delivers on multiple fronts. The generous square footage ensures everyone has their own space, while common areas invite connection and shared experiences.
Don’t miss this opportunity to own a truly distinctive property that offers both everyday comfort and extraordinary features in Winnfield’s welcoming community.
Price: $360,000.00 Location/Address: Long Leaf St. Winnfield, Louisiana (Winn Parish)
Size: 2,201 Sq/Ft Rooms: 5 Beds and 5 Baths Type: Single Family Residential
In today’s saturated real estate market, your property listing can easily disappear into the digital noise. Between Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook Marketplace, and countless other platforms, potential buyers are drowning in options—and your listing risks becoming just another scroll-by on someone’s smartphone.
That’s exactly why savvy landowners, homeowners, and real estate agents across Louisiana are turning to The Parish Journals of Louisiana to cut through the clutter and connect with serious, local buyers.
Local Reach That Actually Matters
Here’s what the big national platforms won’t tell you: the most qualified buyers for your Louisiana property are not browsing listings in New York or California. They are your neighbors. They are families already living in your parish who want to stay close to work, schools, and community. They are out-of-parish Louisianans looking to relocate within the state. They are local investors who understand the market and can close quickly.
The Parish Journals of Louisiana reaches these buyers where they already are—engaged with their local news, community updates, and regional happenings. When readers open their Parish Journal, they are not mindlessly scrolling; they are actively seeking information about their community. Your property listing becomes part of that trusted local conversation.
Precision Targeting That Saves You Money
Why pay to market a Natchitoches property to someone in Seattle who has no interest in Louisiana? With The Parish Journals of Louisiana, you control exactly where your marketing dollars go.
But here’s something most people don’t realize when someone in Seattle is seriously considering a move to Natchitoches Parish, they don’t start by booking a flight. They start by reading the local news outlets. Long before they ever make a market visit, they are online learning about the community—reading about local government, schools, business developments, and yes, scanning property listings. They are trying to understand what life would be like in their potential new home.
That’s when your listing needs to be visible. The Parish Journals of Louisiana captures these serious prospective buyers during their research phase, when they are most engaged and receptive. By the time they schedule that market visit, they have already seen your property and marked it as a must-see.
Need hyper-local focus? Target a single Parish Journal to reach buyers specifically interested in that community. Perfect for residential properties, agricultural land, or commercial spaces with strong local appeal.
Want regional coverage? Create a zone campaign across multiple Parish Journals to capture buyers considering several adjacent markets. Ideal for larger acreage, hunting land, or properties that might appeal to buyers from neighboring parishes.
Ready for statewide exposure? Leverage our entire footprint across 17 parishes in Northwest and Central Louisiana. This approach works beautifully for unique properties, investment opportunities, or high-value listings that deserve maximum visibility across our coverage area.
No other Louisiana media platform gives you this level of geographic precision combined with proven local readership—and the ability to reach both current residents and serious relocators who are actively researching your community.
The Trust Factor You Can’t Buy
The Parish Journals of Louisiana have spent years building credibility as the authoritative source for local news, government affairs, and business developments across our coverage area. When your property appears in our pages, whether in print or digitality carries that same credibility.
Readers trust The Parish Journals of Louisiana to deliver accurate, relevant local information. That trust transfers to your listing, giving you an immediate advantage over anonymous internet postings.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Real estate is about connecting the right property with the right buyer at the right time. The Parish Journals of Louisiana accelerates that connection by putting your listing in front of engaged local audiences who have the means, motivation, and genuine interest in acting.
While others are chasing viral social media posts and hoping the algorithm works in their favor, The Parish Journals of Louisiana provides consistent, reliable exposure to the audiences that matter most for Louisiana properties.
Make Your Property Stand Out
In a market where everyone is shouting for attention, the winners are those who know exactly who they are talking to and how to reach them effectively. The Parish Journals of Louisiana give you that strategic advantage.
Whether you are selling a family home, marketing recreational land, or listing commercial property, The Parish Journals of Louisiana offers the local reach, custom targeting, and trusted platform that turns “For Sale” into “Sold.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 2024
In 2024, The Parish Journals of Louisiana saw over fourteen million articles read by over three million unique readers!
That’s the kind of engaged audience your property listing deserves.
The Parish Journals of Louisiana serves 17 parishes across Northwest and Central Louisiana with comprehensive coverage of local news, government, business, and community affairs. Our readers are your neighbors—and your next buyers.
Contact The Parish Journals of Louisiana today to learn how we can customize a marketing strategy for your property. Because in today’s crowded market, you do not need to shout louder, you need to speak directly to the people who are ready to listen.
There’s no place quite like Ruston, LA for the holidays. With beautifully decorated downtown shops, streets lined with twinkling lights, and holiday cheer in the air, Ruston produces all those cozy feelings of being home for the holidays.
Ruston and Lincoln Parish offer a holiday season full of festive fun, making it the perfect time to make the drive and celebrate the holidays with your friends and family. From parades and performances to light displays and shopping events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.
Thursday, November 20, kick start the holiday season in the heart of Ruston. Holiday Open House & Kickoff to Christmas invites you to shop and stroll downtown’s special promotions, get your pictures with Santa, and see the downtown tree lighting.
While you’re around for Kickoff to Christmas, stroll Ruston’s quarterly Art Ramble happening 5:30pm-8:30pm. Local artists will be displaying and selling artwork and curated creations, perfect for finding your loved ones that one-of-a kind gift.
Thursday, December 4, Ruston’s Annual Christmas Parade will hit the streets. This parade fills Ruston with festive floats and plenty of Christmas cheer. Bring your blanket, grab a warm drink from a local coffee shop, and enjoy one of the merriest events of the season.
December 4-7, experience the timeless story of A Christmas Carol brought to life at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Ruston Community Theatre brings you Ebnezer Scrooge, the three Spirits of Christmas, and musical adaptations by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynee Ahres.
Lincoln Lights Up the Pines is a Ruston holiday staple and a can’t miss event. Pack up the whole family and come experience Ruston’s only drive-thru Christmas light display at the beautiful Lincoln Parish Park happening December 4-6 and 11-13. Enjoy twinkling lights, holiday scenes, and festive decor all from the warmth of your vehicle as you take in the glow of the season.
December 5-7 is a big weekend in Ruston, LA and full of holiday adventures. You can shop Big Creek Trade Days on December 5-7, where you’ll find handmade jewelry, accessories, furniture, antiques, outdoor items, and more to help you knock out your holiday shopping list. December 6, visit the OWL Center for their Christmas on the Farm. This holiday event brings you pony rides, a petting zoo, a bouncy house, crafts, pictures with Santa, rock wall, zip line, games, and so much more. Also on December 6, you can visit downtown Choudrant for Christmas in the Village featuring a parade, bounce houses, cookies with Santa, a movie in the park, and more.
On December 12, the Dixie Center for the Arts presents A Christmas Blues. This benefit concert is full of holiday spirit and down-home blues bringing together some of the area’s most gifted musicians for an unforgettable night of music.
Downtown Ruston hosts the Christmas Cookie Crawl on December 14. Satisfy your sweet tooth this holiday season and sign up to get a delicious holiday cookie at each participating local business all while you shop the local, holiday deals and specials. While you’re in town, step into the holiday spirit with Holiday Tour of Homes, sponsored by Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center happening December 14. Tour beautifully decorated homes and gather festive inspiration for your own holiday decor.
Ruston has it all – late night shopping, downtown deals, cookie crawls, parades, live music, light displays, and of course, the annual holiday5K race. On December 18 the Ruston Rudolph 5k Race will take place at the Ruston Sports Complex. Grab your holiday running gear, strap on your Santa Claus hat, and get ready for the most festive race of the year.
End the holiday season on a high note. The Ruston Sports Complex brings you Christmas at the Complex on December 20. Spend a festive day with friends and family and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, take your picture with Santa, watch a Christmas movie, and go ice skating.
This is just a quick look at the holiday adventures you can go on this year in Ruston, LA. Recurring events throughout December include artificial ice skating at the Ruston Sports Complex and the Ruston Farmers Market happening every Saturday – perfect for finding your holiday gifts and festive flavors all while enjoying some live music.
Come experience the holidays in Ruston, LA, where small town charm and big holiday spirit bring you back to those nostalgic feelings of Christmas when you were a kid.
