The holidays are a special time of year centered on family, togetherness, and traditions that bring people closer.  In communities like Bossier, these traditions help shape the way families celebrate and connect during the holiday season.

Hardman Family: Welcoming the Season Through Community Traditions

For the Hardman family, the Christmas season in Bossier is all about making memories together and fully embracing the joy of the season.

“Over the last few years, one of our favorite traditions has become attending the Benton Christmas Parade,” said Laura Hardman.

She explained that it first started as an event her granddaughter was involved in and quickly grew into an annual family tradition.

This tradition now marks the official beginning of their Christmas celebrations. Each year, the parade brings excitement, community spirit, and a sense of togetherness that the family looks forward to as the holidays approach. There is so much to do at the Benton annual Christmas Parade.

 “We love making holiday purchases from many of the local vendors that attend the Christmas parade celebration,” said Hardman. “It’s a great way to complete the Christmas list and then find the perfect stocking stuffers.”

The Hardman family also enjoys attending the Christmas parade at the Louisiana Boardwalk, because in their eyes, you can never have too many Christmas parades when it comes to welcoming the season. 

“Other than parades, some of our most cherished moments are the simpler ones. We love piling into the car, turning on Christmas music, and driving through Bossier City neighborhoods to admire the festive light displays,” Hardman said.

 This is a tradition that began with her own children, and now she has passed this tradition on to enjoy with her grandchildren. With hot chocolate in hand and the children bundled up in the back seat, they point, laugh, and stare in amazement at the large yard decorations and creative displays throughout the city. These cozy drives through glowing neighborhoods have become a meaningful way for the Hardman family to soak in the magic of Christmas together.

Leonard Family: Making Memories in the Magic of Christmas

For the Leonard family, Christmas in Bossier is centered on creating meaningful moments and lasting memories. Shetarri Leonard makes it a tradition to buy matching pajamas for herself and her only son, Tyren, adding extra joy to their yearly Christmas photos.

“It’s something we look forward to every year,” she said. 

On the day they take their pictures, the celebration continues at home with hot chocolate, baking sugar cookies, and cozy evenings on the couch watching Christmas movies. They also love driving through Bossier City neighborhoods to admire festive light displays and visiting Bass Pro Shop each year to see Santa. 

Another favorite tradition of Tyren’s is attending the Bossier City Holiday Markets.

“You wouldn’t think a young boy would enjoy it, but Tyren really does,” Shetarri said. “There’s so much to see and so much to do.”

From balloon-making clowns to the fake snow, food trucks, and vendors selling items with fun characters, the markets easily catch Tyren’s eye. Leonard also loves that local markets help her notice what sparks her son’s interest.

“Since his birthday is so close to Christmas, I can shop for both at once,” she said. “I get to see what lights up his eyes and pick up locally made gifts without waiting on online orders.”

Celebrating Togetherness: The Heart of Holiday Traditions in Bossier City

Holiday traditions look different for every family, but at the heart of each one is connection, love, and time spent together. Whether it’s cheering at Christmas parades, driving through neighborhoods to admire twinkling lights, baking cookies after holiday photo shoots, or exploring local markets, these traditions help create memories that last long after the season ends.