Natchitoches, LA, August 28, 2026 – A pair of free, “sold-out” events lit up the Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) recently as disco lighting and dark lights illuminated the Main Branch’s first floor and invisible laser beams streaked across the second.
The NPL raised the roof in the children’s area on Aug. 20 with its inaugural Baby Rave. Kids danced to their favorite songs remixed with techno and other dance beats, waving glowsticks and streamer wands as choreographed videos and dynamic lighting played overhead. The NPL hopes to bring the Baby Rave back again, giving children and their parents another chance to enjoy a fun, safe dance floor together.
“Something as simple as dancing offers an astounding range of benefits for young children,” said NPL Deputy Director Rosalind Parker. “Along with helping their coordination, dancing is a fun way for children to improve their fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and cardiovascular health. Plus, dancing with a larger group of children helps them develop better social skills too. Temporarily converting the Children’s Area into a miniature disco is a unique opportunity that we’re happy to offer to the children of Natchitoches Parish.”
Local teens and adults were not left out of the fun, battling it out at Laser Tag in the Stacks on Aug. 27. With its looped layout of bookcases and partitions, the library offered natural cover, concealment and exposure for teams competing in elimination matches and capture the flag.
LSU AgCenter brought nutrition-based lessons to the NPL for all ages, with separate programs tailored to children, teens and adults. Back-to-back sessions on Aug. 20 taught teens kitchen and knife safety and showed adults how to safely preserve fresh produce through canning. The AgCenter returned to the NPL on Aug. 25 for Harvest of the Month, a hands-on session where children blended Greek yogurt with cocoa powder and vanilla extract to create a nutritious dipping sauce celebrating the season’s apple harvest.
“From laser tag to a neon dance party, we want patrons to see the library as a place of possibility and excitement,” said NPL Deputy Director Alan Niette. “Offering a wide array of events gives residents of every age and interest a reason to walk through our doors, and a lively library makes for a stronger, more connected community.”
That same engaging energy carries into September, when the NPL’s Main Branch begins hosting weekly Belly Dancing classes for teens and adults, taught by the Lagniappe Fusion belly dancing troupe. The first class begins Sept. 3 at 6:15 p.m. and meets every Thursday through October. After building basic
technique, participants will rehearse choreography for a live performance at Natchitoches’ Witch Way to Main Street.
Some of the activities coming up early in September at the library include:
For adults:
· Needle Felting class (Main Branch), Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
· Weekly Spanish (Main Branch), Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
· Pokeno (Northeast Branch, Campti), Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m.
For teens:
· Game Night (Main Branch), Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6-7:30 p.m.
For children:
· Painting [ages 9-12] (Main Branch), Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
· Weekly Story Times (Main Branch), Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Most NPL activities require attendees to sign up in advance and may only accommodate a limited number of participants, so call 318-357-3280 or visit the NPL in person to reserve a spot at any of these free library programs. To see a full listing of library programs, visit thismonth.natlib.org.
About the Natchitoches Parish Library
Knowledge. Connection. Community. The Natchitoches Parish Library serves the public and community through its competent, friendly staff by providing services and programs that meet the informational, recreational, and educational needs of our patrons. We aim to provide a useful collection of information and activities that connect Natchitoches Parish residents to the world.
