By Jeanni Ritchie
Cenla comes alive for the holidays — from lights and concerts to festive craft nights, there’s something for everyone this December!
Dec. 2: Chick-fil-A Jackson & MacArthur — Bingo Night, 5:30–7 PM.
Dec. 2: Texas Roadhouse Give Back Night for Junior League of Alexandria, 3-10 PM.
Dec. 2: Louisiana Christian University — Christmas Movie Night (UB), LCU Gameroom, 1140 College Dr., Pineville, 8 PM.
Dec. 2: Sunflower Van Geaux, Watercolor Christmas Tree, 6 PM.
Dec. 3: Cenla Songwriters Circle — Fighting Hand Brewing Co., 6–9 PM. Celebrate Cenla’s creative voices through live local music.
Dec. 4: Pop’s Crawfish Live Music, 6 PM.
Dec. 4: Chick-fil-A Jackson & MacArthur — Community Care Event fundraiser for Bolton Academy, 4–7 PM.
Dec. 4–5: Adventure Cenla — Toddler Time at Adventure Fun Park, 1978 Monroe Hwy, Pineville (Thurs 6–8 PM, Fri 10 AM–12 PM).
Dec. 5: Chick-fil-A Jackson & MacArthur — Mary Goff Choir Christmas Carols, 5:30 PM.
Dec. 5: Elliot Acres Artisan Fair, 801 Versailles Blvd, 10 AM- 5 PM.
Dec. 5: A Night Worth Toasting! Hurricane Road at Cayefuego, 6-9 PM.
Dec. 5–7: ASH Theatre presents 10 Ways to Survive the Holidays.
Dec. 6: Chick-fil-A Jackson & MacArthur — Breakfast with Santa Cow, 8:30–10 AM.
Dec. 6: FOTAZ Members Only Breakfast with Santa, Alexandria Zoo, 8 AM.
Dec. 6: Christmas Extravaganza — Pineville Park Baptist Church, 9 AM–2 PM.
Dec. 6: Spectral Sisters, Playwriting for Everyone, 1-5 PM, Rapides Foundation Building
Dec. 6: Annual Porch Sale — River Oaks Square Arts Center, 1330 Second St., Alexandria, 9 AM–3 PM.
Dec. 6: Natchitoches Festival of Lights — 99th Annual Christmas Festival Parade, 1 PM.
Dec. 6: Christmas Ornament Paint & Sip — Happily Feather After Crafts, 1–3:30 PM.
Dec. 6: Founders Preview Night — Hemingway House of Stories & Spirits, 704 Main St., Pineville, 6–10 PM.
Dec. 6: Alex Fete Fireworks Show, Downtown Alexandria, 9 PM.
Dec. 6: The DM’s Last Nerve – Saturday Sessions — Fighting Hand Brewing Co., 1 PM. (Also on Dec. 20)
Dec. 7: Rapides Symphony Orchestra — A Worldwide Yuletide Christmas Concert, 2:30 PM.
Dec. 7: Sunflower Van Geaux Art Studio — Acrylic Mary and Jesus painting, 6 PM.
Dec. 9: Chick-fil-A Jackson & MacArthur — Make a card for nursing home residents, 5:30–7 PM.
Dec. 9: Creative Roundtable, AMOA, 5:30 PM.
Dec. 10: Mr. or Mrs. Nutcracker Paint & Sip — Happily Feather After Crafts, 11:30 AM–2 PM.
Dec. 11: Pop’s Crawfish Bingo Night, 6 PM.
Dec. 11: Ladies Night Out—Cozy Cocoa Christmas—Let Love Be My Motive Studio, Glenmora, 5-8 PM.
Dec. 11–13: Pineville High Theatre presents The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Dec. 11: LSUA Continuing Education — Southern Strolls: Acadian Cajun Culture bus trip, 6:30 AM–6:30 PM.
Dec. 12: Pineville Christmas Parade, 7 PM.
Dec. 12: Sunflower Van Geaux Art Studio — Young Picasso’s kids art session (Reserve Only), 5:30 PM.
Dec. 12: Arts Council of Central Louisiana — A-Town Jazz ft. Tiffany Pollack, Coughlin-Saunders PAC, 6 PM.
Dec. 13: Alexandria Museum of Art — Second Saturday, free admission. (Stitching Circle @1 PM.)
Dec. 13: Library Game Day, Westside Library, Noon.
Dec. 13: Louisiana Equine Council — Christmas in Kisatchie Trail Ride, AhTus Melder Horse Camp, Forest Hill, 9 AM.
Dec. 13: Wreaths Across America Ceremony — Alexandria National Cemetery, 11 AM–12 PM.
Dec. 13: Christmas in the Country Youth Rodeo — Meylian-Harris Productions, 1893 Hwy 121, Hineston, 6 PM.
Dec. 13: Garden District Holiday Tour of Homes — Alexandria Garden District, 3–6 PM.
Dec. 13–14: Vendor Market at Alexandria Mall, 3437 Masonic Dr., 11 AM–6 PM.
Dec. 14: Alexandria Christmas Parade, Jackson Street, 2 PM.
Dec. 16: Gnome Who Stole Christmas Paint & Sip — Happily Feather After Crafts, 6–8:30 PM.
Dec. 18: Declaration — Red River Chorale concert at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 7:30 PM.
Dec. 19: Treehouse Children’s Museum — Parents Night Out: STEMing Through the Snow, 5:30–7:30 PM.
Dec. 19: Huckleberry Brewing Co. — Dueling Pianos! ft. Rob Davis & Derek Ashcraft, 7 PM.
Dec. 19: New Movie Release – David
Dec. 19: New Movie Release – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Dec. 19: New Movie Release – The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Dec. 19: New Movie Release – The Housemaid
Dec. 19: Christmas Cinema Night in Cenla, Purple Skye Festival, Fts. Randolph and Buhlow, Movie: Elf, 5 PM.
Dec. 19: Watercolor Ballerina, Sunflower Van Geaux Art Studio, 6 PM.
Dec. 19: Frosty the Snowman Ballet, Get to the Pointe Ballet, Coughlin-Saunders, 7 PM.
Dec. 20: Ol’ Mel’s Farm — Christmas on the Farm final weekend (details vary).
Dec. 22: Alexandria Zoological Park — Winter Safari (Grades 1–3), 8:30 AM.
Dec. 22–31: Sunflower Van Geaux Art Studio — Winter Break Kids’ Art Camps (Reserve Only), 8 AM–12 PM daily.
Dec. 26: While We’re Waiting grief support group — Starfish Book Nook, 6 PM.
Dec. 27: Sunflower Van Geaux Art Studio — Acrylic Celebrate painting, 6 PM.
Dec. 31: Board Games & Brews — Fighting Hand Brewing Co., 4 PM.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
