Here's your guide to holiday events coming to Downtown West Monroe and Monroe

Ian Robinson, Monroe News-Star
·4 min read

It may seem early, but the Twin Cities are gearing up for the Christmas season.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ouachita and the Cities of West Monroe and Monroe announced its holiday events Wednesday at a press conference in Alley Park, West Monroe. From walkthrough lighted displays and wagon rides to fireworks and Christmas parade, residents will across both sides of the river will have endless family fun starting mid-November through to the end of the year.

"We're excited to be here this morning to announce all of the plans for the holiday season," West Monroe Mayor Staci Mitchell said. "This is such a great community we live in and it is so much fun to walk down Downtown Monroe or Downtown West Monroe each shop, enjoy the music and just all the going-ons. It's a Hallmark movie and that's just what we love, and we hear that from people. It brings in visitors so it's adding to our economic impact and we're so excited about that."

The 2022 Kiwanis Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, starting at 3:30 p.m. This year's theme is "Christmas Past and Present."

The parade will start on Wood Street in West Monroe, take the Endom Bridge over to Monroe, hang a left up Walnut Street by the Children's Museum over to the Louisville Bridge, then back up Trenton Street in West Monroe to Wood Street.

The line-up for the parade starts at 1:30 p.m. The application form is available at monroekiwanis.org

Here are some of the in-person events happening in Monroe and West Monroe this year.

Holiday Events

  • Sunday, Nov. 6 Holiday Open House. 1-5 p.m. Residents can shop and partake in festivities, refreshments and specials.

  • Thursday, Nov. 17 Champaign Stroll. 5-8 p.m. Residents will be able to sip and stroll in Downtown West Monroe.

  • Saturday, Nov. 26 Shop Small Saturday and Outdoor Movie. Support local shops that will be open on extended hours in Downtown West Monroe. Free movie in Alley Park at 5:30 p.m. presented by Centric Federal Credit Union.

  • Thursday, Dec. 1 Downtown Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Holiday art crawl spanning both Downtown West Monroe and Downtown Monroe.

  • Friday, Dec. 9 Children's Lighted Parade. Gather in Alley Park at 5:15 p.m. for the lighted parade. Starts at 6 p.m. Bikes, wagons and battery-powered cars are welcome!

  • Friday, Dec. 10 Holiday Outdoor Movie. 5:30 p.m. Free movie in Alley Park sponsored by Centric Federal Credit Union.

  • Saturday, Dec. 17 Christmas Market on the Alley at 11 a.m. and Cookie & Cocoa with Santa at Hamilton House Inn at 1 p.m.

Christmas on the River

Don't miss the Christmas on the River Festival Day in downtown West Monroe and Monroe on Saturday, Dec. 3. The day consists of the following events:

  • Christmas on the River 5K at 8:30 a.m.: The annual 5K is a loop course runs downtown and alongside the Ouachita River. Participants are encouraged to dress in their most festive Christmas colors or costumes. The event will not be timed as organizers have called it a fun race, and everyone is set to receive a medal. Visit runsignup.com to register.

  • Downtown Festival at 11 a.m.: Citizens can shop in downtown West Monroe, listen to live music and enjoy food trucks all day in Alley Park, Natchitoches Street.

  • Kiwanis Parade at 3:30 p.m.: The 50th Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade will take place in Downtown West Monroe and Monroe.

  • Fireworks at 6 p.m.: Don't miss the Christmas on the River fireworks show! The fireworks, shot from the Endom Bridge, are best viewed from either downtown Monroe or West Monroe.

  • Wagon rides through the lights from 7 to 9 p.m.: Pick-up on Trenton Street in Alley Park every 30 minutes.

Ongoing activities

Land of Lights & Downtown Displays

Visit Cotton Street for a free walkthrough wonderland of lights on the grassy lot. Shops and streets will be decked out for event stroll or drive!

Extended Hours Shopping Fridays and Saturdays

Several shops offer extended shopping hours Fridays and Saturdays from Thanksgiving until Christmas.

Wagon Tours Through the Lights

Tour Christmas lights in Downtown West Monroe and Monroe. Alley Park Wagon Pick-up every 30 minutes. 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23. $10 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Proceeds benefit downtown riverfront projects.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook athttps://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Here's your guide to holiday events coming to Downtown West Monroe and Monroe