City of Natchitoches, Community and Economic Development Department

09/04/2026

Can’t wait to try out Spoonie Sweets this weekend at the Natchitoches Louisiana Bigfoot Festival🫈

We’re headed to the Natchitoches Bigfoot Festival this Saturday! 👣🌲

We’ve been working on some special Bigfoot-themed treats for the festival, including our Bigfoot crystal candy boxes and chocolate footprint treats. 🍫🍬

Come find Spoonie Sweets at the 3rd Annual Natchitoches Louisiana Bigfoot Festival and grab yours before they’re gone!

📍 Natchitoches Events Center
📅 Saturday, September 5
⏰ 9am–6pm

09/03/2026

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

We’re counting down to the 3rd Annual Natchitoches Louisiana Bigfoot Festival! 👣

Get ready for a day packed with family fun, great food, Bigfoot-themed activities, vendors, entertainment, and plenty of Sasquatch-sized fun!

Bring the whole family, grab your friends, and come see what all the Bigfoot buzz is about!

09/02/2026

Clearance and Demolition Grant work underway!

09/01/2026

Weekend festivities . . . . Something for everyone! Details below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2026

City of Natchitoches Encourages Community to Enjoy Labor Day Weekend Events

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The City of Natchitoches and Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. invite residents and visitors to enjoy a full weekend of entertainment, culture, family activities and community events taking place throughout Natchitoches during Labor Day Weekend, September 4–5, 2026.

From live Zydeco music along the downtown riverbank to a family-friendly Bigfoot festival, there will be plenty of opportunities to experience all that Natchitoches has to offer.
The 27th Annual Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run will return to the Downtown Natchitoches Riverbank on Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5. Friday’s activities will feature free admission, poker run registration, DJ Royal, line dancing and a Zydeco dance contest. Saturday’s festivities will include the poker run, live entertainment from Marcus Ardoin & Da Zydeco Legendz, and a performance by Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush. Saturday admission is $20.

Also taking place Saturday, September 5, is the 3rd Annual Natchitoches, Louisiana Bigfoot Festival at the Natchitoches Events Center, located at 750 Second Street. The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature Bigfoot researchers and speakers, including main speaker Jason Kenzie, Robert Swain, “Super Dave” Rogers and Jim Lansdale. Country music artist and radio personality Trini Triggs will serve as the event MC.

The Bigfoot Festival will also offer vendors, a Kids Zone, games and activities, a Bigfoot calling contest and additional family-friendly attractions. Admission is $15 for ages 12 and older and $10 for children under 12. A Bigfoot Festival meet-and-greet will also be held Friday, September 4 from 6–8 p.m. at Timber Ridge Adventure Park.
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. encourages the community to support the organizations, vendors, performers and local businesses that help make these events possible.
The City of Natchitoches reminds attendees to plan accordingly for increased activity downtown and around event venues throughout the weekend.

For additional information regarding individual events, residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the respective event organizers’ social media pages and promotional materials.

Media Contact:
City of Natchitoches
Christopher Lewis
Marketing Manager
Natchitoches, Louisiana

08/31/2026

City of Natchitoches Clearance and Demolition Grant work begins (details below).

For Immediate Release

August 31, 2026

City of Natchitoches Puts Clearance and Demolition Grant Funds to Work to Address Blight and Improve Neighborhoods

NATCHITOCHES, La. —The City of Natchitoches is putting recently awarded Clearance and Demolition Grant funding to work. The grant provides critical resources to remove structures that have deteriorated beyond repair and may pose safety, health, environmental, or neighborhood concerns.
As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to eliminate blighted and unsafe structures, strengthen neighborhoods, and improve the overall quality of life for residents, 14 properties are being demolished and cleared across the City.

“This funding is about more than tearing down abandoned buildings. It is about investing in our neighborhoods and creating opportunities for what comes next,” said Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. “Every unsafe structure we remove helps us create a cleaner, safer and more attractive Natchitoches while opening the door for reinvestment and revitalization.”

Through the initiative, the City is targeting qualifying properties that have been identified as vacant, abandoned, severely deteriorated, or otherwise unsafe. Lathan Construction, which was recently awarded the work to clear the properties, began demolition activities Aug. 10. The work includes demolition of approved structures, removal and disposal of debris, and clearance of the properties in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal requirements.

The project supports the City’s broader efforts to:
• Reduce blight and public safety hazards in residential neighborhoods.
• Improve neighborhood appearance and property conditions.
• Remove structures that can attract illegal dumping, vandalism and other nuisance activity.
• Create opportunities for redevelopment, infill housing and productive reuse of vacant property.
• Protect surrounding property values and encourage additional private investment.
• Strengthen neighborhoods as part of the City’s long-term community revitalization strategy.

The City recognizes clearance and demolition are important first steps, but the long-term goal is to move properties from blight to opportunity by supporting redevelopment and encouraging uses that contribute to stronger, more sustainable neighborhoods.
Residents may see demolition crews and equipment operating at approved sites as the current phase of work continues. The City asks residents to exercise caution around active demolition areas and comply with posted safety restrictions.

The City of Natchitoches will continue identifying opportunities to leverage grant funding and other resources to address deteriorated properties, improve neighborhood conditions, and support strategic reinvestment throughout the community. For more information about the project, contact the City of Natchitoches Office of Planning and Zoning at (318) 357-3840.

08/26/2026

Today, we share a heartfelt letter from Mayor  Ronnie Williams Junior, honoring the life and legacy of Dolly Parton.💝

Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr’s. statement regarding the passing of icon Dolly Parton.

08/26/2026

Thank you, Professor Chasteen, for allowing the Natchitoches Event Center to support your ENT-1000 class. We’re proud to partner with our local educators and provide opportunities for students to learn, engage, and grow right here in our community!💜🤍🧡

Natchitoches Events Center wants to give a huge shout out to Northwestern State University Prof. Tiffany Chasteen and her EVNT-1000 Event Management Class for stopping by Natchitoches Events Center yesterday to learn more about the ins-and-outs of event planning.

Students from the class were able to take a tour of the facility, engage in a Q&A session with our staff, and learn hands-on, in an interactive activity, how to plan an event from start to finish.

Amazing job to all of the students. Fork 'Em Demons🤘💜

08/26/2026

There are some people who simply become part of a place’s story—and Dolly Parton will forever be part of Natchitoches.

Today, we say goodbye to a legend who left a little sparkle everywhere she went. And here in Natchitoches, we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for Dolly.

Rest easy, Dolly. Thank you for the memories. You’ll always be one of our Steel Magnolias. 🌸

08/25/2026

🎄 Arts council 100th Christmas Posters – Important Reminder! 🎄

To anyone with an assigned Christmas poster number, please make arrangements to purchase your poster or forfeit your number.

We have tried our best to hold assigned numbers, but we also want to be fair to customers who are ready to purchase. Moving forward, unclaimed numbers may be made available to others.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! ❤️🎄