Joyeux Noël, y'all
Oak trees full of lights, candlelit carols in Jackson Square, Réveillon feasts and bonfires for Papa Noël. Here's how to do the holidays the New Orleans way.
Our picks for the season, with links to official dates and tickets.
Late Nov – early Jan, nightly
City Park
One of the country's best-loved holiday light shows winds through City Park's ancient live oaks, with a lighted walking trail, rides and holiday treats.
Details & dates on NewOrleans.com →Mid-Dec – late Dec
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The city's indoor winter wonderland: an ice skating rink, ice slides, rides, holiday characters and a giant gingerbread village — no snow required.
Details & dates on NOLAChristmasFest.com →Sunday before Christmas
French Quarter
Thousands gather with candles and song sheets in front of St. Louis Cathedral for a candlelit sing-along that has been a local tradition for generations.
Details & dates on FrenchQuarter.com →All December
Restaurants citywide
A revived Creole tradition: multi-course prix-fixe holiday menus at classic and new New Orleans restaurants, from turtle soup to bread pudding.
Details & dates on FrenchQuarter.com →Made in New Orleans
Ornaments, tea towels and stocking stuffers from the Magazine Street shop that's been wrapping New Orleans presents for twenty years.
Beignets For Santa Greeting Card
Skip the milk and cookies.
Crawfish Boil Ornament
The ornament that starts the story every year.
Cajun Night Before Christmas: 50th Anniversary
Santa on the bayou. Read it out loud.
Coffee & Beignet Candle
Smells like a morning in the Quarter.
Garlic Bulb Ornament
For the cook who runs the kitchen.
Deck The Swamps Greeting Card
Season's greetings, gator style.
Let's Eat Lunch and Talk About Dinner Tea Towel
Stained with roux by New Year's.
Fixin' Wrapping Paper
We're fixin' to wrap presents.