The Holiday Trail of Lights will turn on in Minden Saturday with the Fasching Festival and carnival downtown.
The City of Minden and Minden Main Street board have worked diligently to plan and prepare for the annual celebration.
“It’s going to be a fun time for everyone,” Terry Gardner, Minden Main Street Board president said. “I want to encourage everyone to attend and invite someone from out of town to experience Minden.”
In addition to Santa joining the celebration, Downtown Minden will be lined with life-size nutcrackers and filled with German food, beer garden, arts and craft vendors, costumes, a carnival, stilt walkers, face painters and live music throughout the day. The carnival and festivities begin at Friday night at 5 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. and begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.
A disc jockey will play music downtown beginning at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Dorcheat Bottom Band will play live music until 5 p.m.
Buses will be available to take visitors to the Germantown Colony Museum and to the Dorcheat Historic Museum. Admission and transportation are free.
“This event is for everyone- adults and families and children,” Gardner said. “The weather is going to be great and everyone should come enjoy the wonderful festivities.”
Gardner said the event would not be possible without the support and dedication of the Main Street Board and volunteers.
“It’s because of involved community members that we can have events like this,” he said.
The Krewe des Ambassadeurs will host a beer garden, which will begin serving at 10 a.m., at Easley’s Courtyard on Pearl Street.
“The King and Queen will be on hand for pictures as well as Duke’s and Duchess’s,” Catherine Hunt, publicity chairwoman for the Krewe, said. “Come out to Easley’s Courtyard, visit with the Krewe des Ambassadeurs and enjoy German and domestic beer.”
Tips received at the beer garden will be donated to Court Appointed Special Advocates to help purchase Christmas gifts to foster children, Hunt said.
Currently sitting on the Main Street board are Gardner, Thomas and Alicia Adams, Larry Gipson, Deborah Cooksey, Kathy Copeland and special committee volunteer Scott Herrington.
The Fasching festival is the kick off for Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, which last through Jan. 6.
“Thousands of Christmas lights sparkle throughout downtown and make it seem magical,” Lynn Dorsey, executive director for the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau said. “Do not miss celebrating Minden’s German heritage- it’s such a wonderful time.”
Holiday festivities continue in Minden on Saturday, December 3.
Many downtown businesses will be open at 10 a.m. offering Christmas and ‘Weihnachtsmann’ or Santa Claus, will be available to greet shoppers and take photos. The Annual Christmas Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Christmas Tour of Homes from 6 p.m. to 9. The tour includes historic private homes never available to the public before and buildings with varied architecture including Spanish Colonial and Victorian. Admission is $10 for the entire tour and can be purchased at any of the locations.