Cane River National Heritage Area

06/11/2026

“It is difficult to explain to someone what Natchitoches Christmas is all about until you come and experience it yourself” - Bill Brent

06/11/2026

We want to hear your Natchitoches Christmas memories! Today from 2-4 at the Louisiana Sports of Fame. Walk-ins welcome!

06/10/2026

Whether your memory is from childhood, last year’s festival, or a tradition your family has carried on for generations, we would love to hear your story tomorrow from 2-4PM at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame!

06/09/2026

As we celebrate 100 years of Natchitoches Christmas, we’re collecting community stories for a documentary honoring the people, traditions, and moments that have made this celebration so special.

We invite community members to stop by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame THIS Thursday for a quick 10-minute interview to share a favorite memory, family tradition, or story from Christmases past.

No appointment is needed, and walk-ins are welcome. Interviews will be casual and brief, and no preparation is required. A short wait time may be expected depending on participation.

📅 THIS Thursday, June 11
⏰ Stop by anytime between 2PM and 4PM
📍Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

Your story is part of Natchitoches Christmas history, and we’d love to hear it!

FLASH - Friends of La Sports and History | Parker Brand Creative

06/09/2026

On This Day • June 6, 1950

Seventy-six years ago today, members of the Catanese family gathered at the Texas & Pacific Railway Depot in Natchitoches during a family visit. Captured on June 6, 1950, this photograph offers a glimpse into a time when rail travel connected families, communities, and stories across Louisiana and beyond.

The image was recovered from the nearby Catanese Store on North Street, a longtime local landmark located just a short distance from the depot.

Photo courtesy of Linda Cockrell, a member of the Catanese family and former Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court.

05/30/2026

We would have spelled at least one correctly!

Shrey Parikh felt the pressure of arriving at the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a favorite, but his confidence showed every time he got a word he knew. And when the bee came down to a lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta, Shrey left no doubt.

Shrey turned a tense, high-quality final into a blowout Thursday night, racing through the 90-second “spell-off” and getting 32 words right to be crowned the best young speller in the English language. Ishaan spelled 25 words correctly in the tiebreaker.

A 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, Shrey finished third in 2024 but lost his school bee last year when he was battling a fever. He has dominated the bee circuit since.

Read more: nbcnews.to/4vg7GQE

05/27/2026

3-D Summer Field School is underway! This two-week high school training experience teaches local students how to document and preserve the history of Natchitoches using tools like drone mapping, 3D modeling, photography, and oral history collection.

Through hands-on fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience while helping preserve the stories and places that make our community unique!

05/27/2026