Holidays in New Orleans are unlike any other. The traditional combination of food, family and fun is spiked with southern charm through festivals, parades and festive light shows for the whole family to enjoy.
Thanksgiving Day the NOLA Way
New Orleans has much to be thankful for. Rich culture, fine cuisine and festival fun create the perfect recipe for a Thanksgiving unlike any other. Restaurants throughout the city offer special Turkey Day deals and meals that are sure to feed your fancy.
Consider Houmas House Plantation and Gardens' Thanksgiving Buffet, offering a bisque of curried pumpkin with crawfish and corn, or for an authentic New Orleans turkey fix, try the Court of Two Sisters' Live Jazz Thanksgiving Day Brunch Buffet.
New Orleans is known for parades year-round and this holiday is no different. Beginning at the Superdome and rolling through the French Quarter, the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade is one of many weekend events planned around a Southern college rivalry football game.
Creole and Cajun Style Christmas
December is one of the most wonderful times of the year in New Orleans. Unique Southern traditions shine through the dazzling decorations and seasonal events. Even our streetcars and steamboats deck out in holiday garnish; now that's a way to ride in style.
Experience Candlelight Caroling in Jackson Square as you gather in front of America's oldest Cathedral and sing beloved holiday songs with locals and tourists alike. Take in the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee, built to guide Papa No?l (or Cajun Santa Claus, as we call him).
Family holiday favorites include ice skating in the Convention Center at NOLA ChristmasFest, Sailing with Santa on the Steamboat Natchez and watching the Nutcracker at the iconic Orpheum Theatre.
A true highlight of the holiday season is City Park's Celebration in the Oaks. Hop on the train with your loved ones and experience 25 acres of holiday displays and 600-year-old live oak trees dripping in lights and Spanish Moss.
New Orleans-Style New Year's Eve
What better place to ring in the New Year than New Orleans? In a city known for its celebrations, New Year's Eve New Orleans-style creates memorable moments for years to come.
Head to the French Quarter with other festive partygoers to watch the city's unique countdown to January 1st with the Fleur de Lis drop from Jax's Brewery followed by a magnificent firework show over the Mississippi River.
If the outdoor crowds are not your style, enjoy the evening with a reservation at one of many fine restaurants in the city-don't forget the bubbly to toast. Live music clubs are also a great option with Tipitina's and the House of Blues offering entertainment to ensure your celebration is unforgettable.
For a family-friendly New Year's, the Louisiana Children's Museum hosts an annual Countdown to Noon-a festive celebration featuring games, entertainment and a New Year's countdown. Similarly, the Audubon Zoo hosts a Noon Year's Eve celebration, so your little ones can ring in the New Year in one of the country's top-rated zoos.
New Orleans invites you to celebrate this New Year's NOLA style, with fun, food and memories guaranteed to start your new year off right.
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