The Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild is set to host the 43rd Les Boutiques de Noël, with a theme of the Great Outdoors, Nov. 17-19 at the Bossier Civic Center. Boutiques is a holiday market with more than 100 vendors.

“Maria [Casten] and I put our heads together and realized it was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service,” said co-chairman of the event Kathy Ross. “We wanted to do something different from Santa Claus, so we came up with Smokey the Bear, which led into the great outdoors.”

The Guild will also host a Brunch at the Lodge from 9-11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The brunch will be catered by Windrush Grill, with Thrifty Liquor and Rhino Coffee also serving their specialties. Tickets are $35 per person.

The Glamping in the Moonlight party set for Friday, Nov. 18, encourages you to “channel your chic flannel.” From 5:30-9 p.m., the event will be catered by Silverstar Smokehouse with Thrifty Liquor offering a whiskey tasting. Merchants will be open for shopping, and an ice sculpture demonstration will round out the evening. Tickets are $75 per person.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, shoppers can meet Smokey the Bear from 1-3 p.m. and learn about the Forestry Service. Smokey will have treats for the children that attend.

Each day Sweetport Ice Cream truck will sell camping treats, and local floral and event designer Brianna Belton will offer a popup floral shop with take away flower bouquets and holiday arrangements.

Holiday shopping hours are: Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 daily or $20 for a three-day pass. Seniors and military with an ID are $5. Children under 12 free.

Daily lunch will be available from Windrush Grill, Cantina Laredo and Walk Ons.

Complimentary valet parking will be provided every day by Tyler, Longview, Shreveport Valet Service.

Ross and Casten thanked the Guild’s many sponsors, including Bass Pro Shop, which provided a venue for a photo shoot to advertise the event.

For more information visit www.Lesboutiquesdenoel.com or call (318) 393-3164.

The Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild was established to promote the love and appreciation of vocal music in all of its forms. Les Boutiques de Noël, or the little shops of Christmas, was the inspiration of Shreveport Opera supporter Delton Harrison in 1974.

All proceeds from Les Boutiques de Noel are dedicated directly to the Shreveport Opera and the Shreveport Opera Express (SOX), a touring group of the Shreveport Opera, which conducts nearly 100 educational performances for more than 50,000 school children in Northwest Louisiana each year.

– Tammy Sharp Photo by Lora Fairchild