The best ways to celebrate Christmas in New Orleans

The year-round party vibe of New Orleans takes on an extra sparkle during the holiday season. Christmas lights and decorations adorn homes and businesses, and the streets are filled with holiday music – with that distinctly Big Easy flair, of course.

From decked-out hotel lobbies and cathedral concerts to bonfires on the levee and réveillon dinners introduced by French colonists that stretch into the wee hours, here are the best things to do during the holiday season in New Orleans.

A long, wide hotel corridor with a tiled floor. Christmas decorations and lights fill the hallway. — Christmas decorations in the Roosevelt New Orleans. Kit Leong/Shutterstock

Go hotel lobby hopping

Many of New Orleans’ higher-end hotels are famous for their over-the-top holiday decorations and seasonal events. In the Central Business District, the Windsor Court Hotel has a towering Christmas tree, several smaller trees, wreaths, garlands and a classic toy train. Kids can write their wishes on a complimentary ornament and hang it on the wish tree.

Over at the Roosevelt New Orleans, the lobby is decorated with thousands of lights and a multitude of trees and wreaths. Catch Santa, Mrs Claus and their Christmas pals at the beloved holiday Teddy Bear Tea, where lunch is accompanied by festive dancing, singing, stories and celebrating.

In the French Quarter, the Ritz-Carlton’s artfully decorated lobby is a favorite of Instagrammers. The hotel’s jam-packed December calendar includes gingerbread building, cookie decorating at the Papa Noël teas and holiday dinners. Other hotels known for their displays include the Hotel Monteleone and the Windsor Court. While you don’t have to be a guest to check out these decorations, many hotels offer special holiday rates at this time.

An empty city street. Buildings are lit up with Christmas decorations with one spelling out "peace y'all". — Christmas decorations lighting up the French Quarter. Colin D. Young/Shutterstock

Embrace musical merriment

It’s no surprise that the birthplace of jazz takes a musical approach to its holiday celebrations. From concerts to caroling, the December calendar is full of merry musical events throughout New Orleans. On the Sunday before Christmas (December 21, 2025), Caroling in Jackson Square is a free event that invites everyone to sing Christmas carols by the glow of candlelight – show up early to get a good spot.

Rather just listen? The St Louis Cathedral hosts a free concert series featuring choirs, gospel singers, jazz musicians and more. Check New Orleans’ local events calendars for plenty more holiday concerts.

A water feature in a park lit up at night. — Celebration in the Oaks, a popular holiday light display in New Orleans' City Park. Paul Broussard

Be dazzled by the Celebration in the Oaks

Veer off the well-trodden tourist track and head to City Park for a beloved New Orleans Christmas family tradition. Celebration in the Oaks is one of the most spectacular holiday light displays in the country, featuring more than a million lights twinkling all around City Park. Visitors to this year’s event can choose between a 2-mile driving tour through the grounds, which takes 30–45 minutes, or an all-access pass to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, which features 17 rides.

Indulge in a réveillon dinner

New Orleans’ réveillon (REV-ee-on) dinners date back to the 19th-century Creoles, who gathered for family feasts after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Today’s celebrations take place at dozens of restaurants throughout the city, with many traditional dishes still featured on the decadent menus, from turtle soup and crawfish cakes to cornish game hen.

The fixed-price menus typically feature three or more courses, often offering tremendous value for diners. Be sure to book ahead to enjoy réveillon revelry at classic Garden District and French Quarter pillars, such as Arnaud’s.

Go ice skating at NOLA Christmasfest

It’s not uncommon to see 70°F (21°C) days in New Orleans in December, but you can still go ice skating – you’ll just have to head inside to do so. NOLA Christmasfest is a family-friendly event at the New Orleans Convention Center that features ice skating, rides, ice slides and a giant gingerbread house.

Christmas ornaments hang from a tree outside the front of a grand house. — Christmas decorations outside a house in New Orleans. Zack Smith Photography

Take a Holiday Home Tour

The Christmas season presents a rare opportunity to peek inside some of the city’s grandest homes during New Orleans’ annual Holiday Home Tours. If you’re interested in homes of the Garden District, the Preservation Resource Center is hosting in-person home and garden tours on December 13 and 14. In the French Quarter, the self-guided Patio Planters Holiday Home Tour takes place on December 21.

Warm up by a bonfire on the levee

Another holiday tradition dating back to Louisiana’s early Creole settlers, holiday bonfires light up the levees along the Mississippi River throughout the Christmas season. Some say the bonfires originated as a way to light the path to midnight mass; others claim they help Papa Noël find his way on Christmas Eve.

You’ll find most of the bonfires in surrounding parishes (counties), usually accompanied by music, warm bowls of gumbo and fireworks. The city’s only official holiday bonfire, the Algiers Bonfire and Concert, takes place on December 6 at Algiers Batture. Accessible by the Algiers ferry, the event features music, food from local vendors and a holiday craft market, plus a 30ft sculptural bonfire created by the NOLA Burners. About an hour from the city, the Festival of the Bonfires in St James Parish features carnival rides, food, entertainment, crafts, and nightly bonfires from December 12, 13 and 14.