Christmas New Orleans Directory
Annual Events in City of New Orleans || City of New Orleans
Throughout the city, hundreds of spirited events take place, including tours of decorated 19th century homes, Chanukah and Kwanzaa activities, bonfire and riverboat cruises, and a Christmas Day concert.  Every day, famed New Orleans chefs share culinary secrets in free cooking demonstrations, and each evening, public concerts feature popular musicians and gospel choirs performing sacred tunes in the majestic St. Louis Cathedral.  Restaurants serve the Reveillon, an adaptation of an old Creole dining custom, and hotels offer attractive Papa Noel rates.

More than 100 festivities are planned during the month-long event, showcasing the cultural diversity that adds spice to the gumbo of New Orleans' heritage." So, come to New Orleans during December...and celebrate the holidays New Orleans style!
 

Christmas Dining in New Orleans: the Reveillon
The Reveillon menus from area restaurants offer memories of a sumptuous past. Traditionally, le Réveillon, or 'the awakening,' was the morning
feast following midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Popular with Creole
families in the mid-1800s, it is now much a part of our restaurant
scene. Réveillon was and still is something special to New Orleanians.
In the early days, most Catholics recognized Christmas Eve as a day of
fasting and abstinence. Following midnight Mass, everyone was hungry
and ready to celebrate with a Réveillon feast During December, it’s served as
prix fixe dinners at restaurants throughout the New Orleans area. A
typical Réveillon menu is a complete dinner of four to six courses,
chosen with the season in mind. Typical menu highlights are roasted
duck and other game birds, as well as beef, soups, meat pies, and many
unusual desserts. Local chefs tailor their individual styles to the
traditions of Christmas, and most menus offer choices in some or all
of the courses
WHERE: Throughout the City google frenchquarterFestivals.com for Christmas

 
 

Angel Hair Lobby at the Fairmont
A block-long canopy of angel hair and 100,000 twinkling lights recreate a beloved New Orleans tradition dating to the 1930'3. It takes 18 workers, 10 hours a day for 5 days. Eleven tons of Angel Hair, 10,000 pounds of steel, 100,000 twinkling lights, 800 ornaments, 54 flocked trees decorated with more than 1000 bows and 900 poinsettias are used in the extravagant wonderland.
WHEN: December just past New Year's Day
WHERE: Fairmont Hotel Lobby
www.fairmont.com/neworleans  

Christmas Cathedral Concerts
Nightly holiday concerts at the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral throughout December till Christmas
WHEN: December til Christmas Eve
WHERE: St. Louis Cathedral: 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116
http://StLouisCathedral.Org

Celebrate Chanukah
Festival of the Lights
Chanukah means "dedication," and it refers to the purifying and re-dedication of the Temple. The Chanukah menorah is called a HANUKIYAH. It has nine candle holders. There are eight candles, one for each night of Chanukah. The ninth is called the SHAMASH
WHEN: on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (Nov/Dec) for 8 days
WHERE: Riverwalk (Canal at the Mississippi River) lights the largest Menorah in Louisiana  For more information call (504) 866-5164 or visit: riverwalkmarketplace.com 
 Congregation Temple Sinai lights a traditional Chanukah Menorah at an outdoor ceremony.   at 6227 St. Charles Ave., a 20-minute St. Charles Avenue Streetcar ride from Canal St.  call (504) 861-3693 or visit: www.templesinaino.org
 

Celebration in the Oaks
Two million lights sparkle from centuries old oak trees at City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks ™ Drive the 2 miles or take the walking tour of the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Storyland fairy tale playground, and the Carousel Gardens amusement ride area includes nightly entertainment, refreshments, and shopping.
WHEN: Thanksgiving to New Year's
WHERE: NewOrleansCityPark.com  & googled for Celebration+Oaks

Celtic Christmas
In light-hearted song, its a Celtic Christmas with many special events at   Danny O'Flaherty's French quarter Pub (called by USA Today "1 of the 10 Best Pubs in America")
WHERE: O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub on 514 Toulouse Street at (504) 529-1317 or visit: www.celticnationsworld.com. & cnhf-la.org/

Christmas Bonfires
In days of yore, bonfires along the Mississippi levee lighted the way for Papa Noel. Now the NO Fire Department hosts the biggest ritual fire East of Nevada's Black Rock Desert
WHEN: In 2004 on December 11 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: at Algiers Point Levee on the West Bank and Woldenberg Park on the edge of the historic French Quarter.

Caroling in Jackson Square
Join thousands of faithful as they sing the songs of the season. Each caroler is given a song sheet and a lighted candle. Admission to the event is free. 
WHEN: on a mid-December Sunday WHERE: in historic Jackson Square in front of St. Louis Cathedral.
More info: call Patio Planters at (504) 524-8432 or visit: www.patioplanters.org . Get update by googling site for Caroling
 

Some of the best Creole and Cajun chefs in New Orleans share their secrets at free holiday afternoon cooking demonstrations.
WHERE: French Quarter
neworleansonline.com

Christmas Day Concert
Greats of New Orleans music at this joyous holiday concert on Christmas Day Concert
WHERE: Orpheum Theater on 129 University Place located on the outskirts of the French Quarter in the Central Business District
 

Christmas Family Fun

Ride the decorated streetcars through the beautifully ornamented neighborhoods. The Canal Streetcar goes all the way from the Mighty Mississippi to City Park where you can enjoy Celebration in the Oak

  • click for Louisiana Children's Museumlcm.org Throughout the month of December there are many activities to delight your family during Christmas New Orleans Style. Louisiana Children's Museum, The museum has been voted New Orleans “#1 Attraction for Child Appeal” and the “Top Rated Children’s Museum” by the 2004 Zagat Survey, U.S. Family Travel Guide.
    WHERE: 420 Julia Street in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District, a 15- minute walk from the French Quarter
    Telephone: (504) 523-1357

  • Entergy IMAX Theatre, next to the Aquarium of the Americas.

  • Merry Fishmas at the Aquarium"Teddy Bear Tea and Storytelling at the Fairmont Hotel  Santa will be on hand for photos in his sled. For information, call the holiday desk at (504) 529-4848 or visit: www.fairmont.com/neworleans

  • A Christmas Carol at Ritz Calton Hotel special Christmas Tea
    WHEN: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving until Christmas. Tea times are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  For reservations, call (504) 524-1331 ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_orleans

Historic Homes Celebrate Christmas
From ceiling high trees to lacy mantelpieces, the magnificent historic homes of New Orleans deck the halls!

  • hgghh.org The Hermann-Grima House, located at 820 Saint Louis Street, and Gallier House, located at 1132 Royal Street, carries on Creole Christmas including allowing children bake 19th century holiday sweets in an authentically restored 1830s  more information, please call (504) 525-5661 or (504) 544-7692

  • longuevue.com/ Longue-Vue House and Gardens, located at 7 Bamboo Road near Metairie Road, offers a Holiday Tea and Tour every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon in December from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. call (504) 488-5488

  • pitothouse.org  Pitot House, located at 1440 Moss Street, on Bayou St. John is a former town plantation Guided holiday tours are offered each Saturday in December Map Pitot House, 1440 Moss Street,

NewOrleansArtMarket.com/ 
one Day Art Fest with Music & 25+ artists
WHERE: Bayou St. John Holiday Art Market at the historic on the banks of the bayou (foot of the streetcar line)

Holiday Pops Concert
the Louisiana Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops Concert, From show tunes,  spirituals, carols, Kwanzaa (heard any good ones?), holiday favorites to Hanukah, the holiday spirit abounds.
WHERE: at the Morris F.X. Jeff Municipal Auditorium
More information, call the Louisiana Philharmonic at (504) 523-6530 or visit: www.lpomusic.com .

New Orleans Bowl
Kick off the college bowl series early with the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl in mid December. Wyndham New Orleans Bowl event, call (504) 525-5678 or visit: Sun Belt Champions play a selected Conference USA Team. Game time is 7 p.m. (CST) in the Louisiana Superdome.
Sun Belt teams include: Arkansas State, Idaho, Univ. of Louisiana-Lafayette, Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, North Texas State and Utah State.
Conference USA teams include: Army, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane, University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of South Florida
 www.NewOrleansBowl.org .click for Louisiana Children's Museum

New Year's Eve for Kids at Louisiana Chilcren's Museum 
It's the New Year's celebration kids look forward to all year long!

New Year's Resolutions
Forget losing weight or kicking bad habits – here’s a list of New Year’s Resolutions that will be “Big Easy” to keep all year long!


nokiasugarbowl.com
One of the great college footballvisit nokiasugarbowl.com traditions takes place in New Orleans during the Nokia Sugar Bowl. The Southeast Conference Champs faced off against a top ranked opponent. Since 1995, Finland-based Nokia has been the title sponsor of the game.
While the game is the high-point of the New Year’s Eve festivities, Sugar Bowl events also include a prep football classic, a swimming invitational, a sailing regatta, a basketball classic, a pep rally and more