The acclaimed holiday festival, AlexWinterFête, is making its grand return to the City of Alexandria from November 30th to December 2nd, 2023. This free, family-centric festival promises many activities that have made it a major attraction in the past, such as ice skating, Santa’s Village, and a mesmerizing fireworks display.
AlexWinterFête has consistently been acknowledged as a hallmark holiday event throughout the state. Exclusive activities such as the expansive outdoor ice skating rink make AlexWinterFête an essential event not just for Central Louisiana residents but also for visitors from across the state and neighboring regions.
Having commenced in 2015, this year marks the ninth iteration of the AlexWinterFête festival. While the 2020 edition was a scaled-down drive-thru experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year promises a return to the full-fledged festivities that attendees have come to love.
AlexWinterFête has always been a crowd favorite, and the City of Alexandria is committed to ensuring this year’s event is as captivating as its predecessors. It’s got it all, from ice skating and fireworks to Jolly Junction, Indie Village, Ugly Sweater Fun Run, hay rides and hot cocoa, live bands, arts and crafts vendors, the beer garden, and a huge selection of incredible food trucks.
The festival has garnered numerous accolades over the years, including being named the Festival of the Year in 2017 by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association and being voted Best Local Event in the Cenla’s Choice Awards in 2019.
This year, AlexWinterFête will officially commence at 4:00 pm on Thursday, November 30th, with the traditional lighting of the city Christmas tree and Santa’s grand arrival at the Rapides Women’s & Children’s Hospital Santa’s Village located at the Alexander Fulton Mini Park downtown on Third Street. The festivities will continue until 9:00 p.m. Activities will resume at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1st, and will extend until 10:00 p.m. The final day, Saturday, December 2nd, will start at 10:00 a.m. and culminate with a grand fireworks display over the Red River at 10:00 p.m.
For more details on AlexWinterFête, visit the official website at www.alexwinterfete.com.
In addition to AlexWinterFête, Central Louisiana is brimming with other holiday experiences this season, including the 12 Nights of Christmas and the Holiday Light Safari at the Alexandria Zoo. The zoo offers a unique chance to experience its vibrant environment adorned with thousands of lights and whimsical lighted animal figures. The Alexandria Zoo is situated at 3016 Masonic Drive. For more details, visit www.thealexandriazoo.com or call (318) 441-6810.
Furthermore, the City of Alexandria is a proud participant in the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, which spans across various cities in north Louisiana. For a comprehensive list of events and towns, visit holidaytrailoflights.com.
This festive season promises to immerse Central Louisiana in the holiday spirit like never before. So, gear up to revel in the magic of AlexWinterFête and engage with the community through a plethora of holiday events across the region!