Natchitoches, our neighbor to the south, has experienced torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Harvey.  Over the past couple of days they've received as much as 12 inches of rain in some areas.  Schools are closed for the rest of the week, and a flash flood watch remains in effect until 7:00 tonight.

But there is some good news for the area today.  The Natchitoches Parish Journal is reporting that Natchitoches Parish has been chosen as the featured destination for Destination Louisiana for the month of December.  Destination Louisiana is a new program designed by the Louisiana Office of Tourism to promote in-state travel.

Natchitoches was chosen as the destination for December because of it's well-known annual Christmas Festival.  From November 18th through January 5th the festival features over 300,000 Christmas lights and more than 100 riverbank set pieces that light up every every night in the downtown area and along Cane River Lake.

Natchitoches was made world-famous in the 1989 movie "Steel Magnolias" which was filmed there.  The house where most of the scenes took place is now a popular bed and breakfast, and other settings for the movie can be found all around town. Christmastime figured prominently in the film and one of the most famous lines in the movie came when Olympia Dukakis said to Sally Field, "What’s the matter with you these days, M’Lynn? You got a reindeer up your butt?"

As part of being named the state's December destination, Natchitoches Parish will be featured on digital billboards in the state's larger cities including Shreveport/Bossier. They'll also be featured in full-page ads in Louisiana magazines and across the state's digital and social media platforms.

 

So, keep our neighbors in Natchitoches Parish in your prayers today, and plan to visit them this Christmas, if not sooner.

 

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