Natchitoches Christmas Festival Announcement
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Natchitoches Christmas is thrilled to announce that Kim Mulkey, Head Coach of LSU Women’s Basketball, will serve as the Celebrity Captain for the 2026 Natchitoches Christmas “Festival of Lights” Parade on Saturday, December 5, in downtown Natchitoches.
Mulkey will help lead the parade, which begins at 1 p.m., as Natchitoches celebrates its 100th Christmas Festival, a cherished holiday tradition in Louisiana.
Her appearance coincides with an exciting weekend for women’s basketball in Natchitoches, where the LSU Tigers will face the Northwestern State Lady Demons on Sunday, December 6, at Prather Coliseum.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball team to Natchitoches during such a historic year for our Christmas Festival,” said Sandra Dickens, Chair of the Natchitoches Christmas Board. “Having Coach Mulkey, a recognizable Louisiana sports figure, lead our parade for this centennial celebration makes the weekend even more memorable.”
Mulkey has a special connection to Natchitoches through her induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, following her remarkable playing career at Louisiana Tech. The Hall of Fame is located at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in downtown Natchitoches.
A native of Tickfaw, Louisiana, Mulkey has one of the most distinguished careers in college basketball. She is the only individual in college basketball history—men’s or women’s—to win national championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Mulkey played a pivotal role in Louisiana Tech’s national championships in 1981 and 1982 and later won another title as an assistant coach in 1988. As head coach at Baylor, she secured three NCAA national championships before bringing LSU its first NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship in 2023.
“I am thrilled to lead the historic Natchitoches Christmas ‘Festival of Lights’ parade as Louisiana celebrates this great tradition for the 100th time,” Mulkey shared. “I’m always eager to give back to my beloved state, and this opportunity was one I couldn’t pass up. I look forward to seeing everyone on December 5 and again at Prather Coliseum on December 6.”
The December 6 matchup will bring LSU Women’s Basketball to Prather Coliseum, making this centennial Christmas weekend even more special for Natchitoches. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival thanks Northwestern State Head Coach Alan Frey for facilitating Coach Mulkey’s participation in the parade.
“Having an elite program and Coach Mulkey as our Celebrity Captain makes this an unforgettable weekend for Natchitoches basketball fans,” Frey said. “I appreciate Kim’s willingness to participate and help create a memorable experience along the parade route ahead of our historic matchup.”
The 2026 Natchitoches Christmas “Festival of Lights” Parade will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, traveling from the Northwestern State University campus through the Natchitoches Historic District.
This parade is part of the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, which will feature an entire day of activities, including entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and a fireworks celebration over Cane River Lake.
For more information about the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, visit NatchitochesChristmas.com.
