Community Calendar

Calling all writers! Presenting another in the Spectral Sisters workshop series, for aspiring and veteran playwrights!

• Got an idea for a play but don't know where to start?
• Struggling with dialogue?
• Need help with proper format, setting, or staging?

We're here to help!

Our specialty is 10-minute plays, but writers of all forms of fiction or creative nonfiction will find the content useful. The session will include writing and outlining material, so bring your tools of choice—paper & pencil, laptop, etc.

Plus! It's the perfect opportunity to get a jumpstart on your entry for our 2026 10-Minute Play Festival!

The 2026 Festival theme is "Grace & Wrath," considering what happens when two of the most powerful forces in the human experience collide: Grace, the impenetrable mountain, Wrath, the Category 5.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ease into the holiday spirit with a quiet moment of cheer before Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights Christmas Parade! Just a short stroll from the downtown excitement, the Starr Family Home offers a charming outdoor holiday gathering with warm spiced wassail, simple ornament-making for all ages, and a festive photo spot to capture your Christmas memories.

Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of our historic yard before heading to the parade. Downtown parking fills up quickly, so park here early and make the most of your afternoon!

This event is outdoors only; please dress for the weather. Admission to this program is free, but house tour fees still apply for those wishing to view the interior of the historic home. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

Note: This program is scheduled to coincide with Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights Parade. If the parade is postponed due to weather, this program may be rescheduled as well. Please check our website or social media for updates.

Each student will design three-holiday ornaments. Come up with your creative ideas to make your ornaments. You can give them as gifts or keep them for yourself.

This class introduces students to the rewarding process of portrait painting in oils. Working from photographs, (some provided but students are encouraged to bring their own references if they’d like) students will learn to block in the head, mix realistic skin tones, and develop depth and likeness through color, light, and brushwork. Beginners will be guided through foundational concepts, while intermediate students can deepen their practice with individual feedback.

This course provides practical tools and techniques to help individuals effectively manage their finances. Students will learn key budgeting strategies, including setting financial goals, tracking income and expenses, prioritizing spending, and building savings. The course will explore different budgeting methods to help learners find an approach that fits their lifestyle. Participants will also gain insights into financial planning, debt management, and smart spending habits. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to create and maintain a budget that supports financial stability and long-term success.

The most successful music group and the third-highest-selling artist in the history of America’s Got Talent! These classically trained, versatile tenors have performed more than 1,700 concerts around the world, including headline shows in Las Vegas, China, and a 24-city tour of the United Kingdom. Recently, they were honored to be included among the top 50 acts in the world, and the only vocal group from the United States invited to appear on NBC’s America’s Got Talent: The Champions.

Warm up with the smells and stories of a 19th-century holiday kitchen at Fireside Feast! Throughout the day, site staff will demonstrate the preparation of a traditional Victorian-era dish on the kitchen’s 1889 Grand Quaker woodburning stove.

Guests are invited to drop in anytime to observe different stages of historic cooking in action, from fire tending and ingredient prep to simmering and serving. It’s a special chance to experience the rhythms of holiday foodways just as the Starr family might have had over a century ago.

Please note: This is a demonstration-only event. No food will be served or tasted. The experience is included with regular house admission and takes place indoors, with small groups admitted to the kitchen to ensure an up-close and engaging visit.

We’re offering two dates to make it easier to fit this festive experience into your holiday season. Join us on the day that works best for you!

Admission fees apply.

This class introduces students to the rewarding process of portrait painting in oils. Working from photographs, (some provided but students are encouraged to bring their own references if they’d like) students will learn to block in the head, mix realistic skin tones, and develop depth and likeness through color, light, and brushwork. Beginners will be guided through foundational concepts, while intermediate students can deepen their practice with individual feedback.

This course provides practical tools and techniques to help individuals effectively manage their finances. Students will learn key budgeting strategies, including setting financial goals, tracking income and expenses, prioritizing spending, and building savings. The course will explore different budgeting methods to help learners find an approach that fits their lifestyle. Participants will also gain insights into financial planning, debt management, and smart spending habits. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to create and maintain a budget that supports financial stability and long-term success.

North Louisiana's women's a cappella chorus, Southern A'Chord, will present a community performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 11, in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church of Ruston. "Christmas A'Chording to Us" will feature Christmas and gospel songs. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Facebook page Southern A'Chord Chorus or webpage southernachordchorus.org.