Christmas Day is the perfect day to discover and enjoy the true beauty of New Orleans during the holiday season. Whether it’s your hometown or you’re just visiting, take advantage of the light crowds, laid-back atmosphere, the Christmas spirit, and all the uniqueness the Crescent City has to offer this time of year.
So… Looking to start a new holiday tradition or try something different? Great!!
Here’s your what-to-do, where-to-go, and what-to-see family-friendly event list we’ve put together of things to do on Christmas Day In New Orleans.
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Traditional Christmas In New Orleans Events
NOLA ChristmasFest
Spend the afternoon, looking at Christmas trees, ice skating on real indoor ice, racing down ice slides, and riding carnival rides including the Kringle Carousel with the family at NOLA ChristmasFest at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center! ! The kids will have a blast and they can burn off all the sugar they have eaten today! NOLA ChristmasFest is open from 2-6 pm and ticket prices are $30 per person.
Celebration in the Oaks:
Make Christmas Day magical by visiting Celebration in the Oaks. This yearly New Orleans tradition takes place in New Orleans’ City Park and is one of the most popular attractions New Orleans has to offer. Take the 2.5-mile driving tour under the majestic oaks and see over a million twinkling holiday lights and light displays.
This year’s event also features a walking tour of the Botanical Gardens and unlimited rides in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
Celebration in the Oaks driving tour hours are 6-9 pm and ticket costs are $40 per car with up to 8 passengers. Walking tour hours are 6-10 pm and ticket costs are $25 per person when combined with the driving tour and $35 per person as a stand-alone ticket (no driving tour).
Go Hotel Hopping On Christmas Day In New Orleans
Yes, you heard, right? Many of our architectural landmarks are our stunning hotels!
When it comes to holiday décor, they bring out all the bells and whistles, literally. Take a walk down Canal Street and stay in the holiday spirit when visiting these amazing hotel lobbies on your way to Christmas dinner and after dinner make sure to take a walk down Fulton Street to see the lights there or through the French Quarter for live music and fun!
The Roosevelt Hotel
Known for its Teddy Bear Teas and participation in New Orleans’ traditional Réveillon Dinner, The Roosevelt is also famous for its captivatingly decorated hotel lobby during the Holiday Season with tons of Christmas lights! ! Stop in to admire the beauty or take part in the ever-popular Christmas Brunch. The Roosevelt lights create the perfect opportunity for Christmas photos and probably the closest thing New Orleans will get to a white Christmas!
Hotel Monteleone
Hotel Monteleone goes above and beyond every holiday season with not only its lobby full of magnificent sparkling Christmas trees but its beautifully decorated outside on Royal Street. as well! Named the top destination for holiday decorations by GoNola.com last year, this one is sure to get the whole family in the Christmas spirit. They even offer Christmas breakfast as part of the Reveillon Dinner celebration starting at 6:30 am.
The Ritz Carlton
Located just one block off Bourbon Street on Canal Street, the Ritz will give you and your family a feast for the eyes and mouth! Also, a participant in the Reveillon Dinners with other local restaurants, you and your little ones will be treated like royalty while taking in the beauty and “puttin’ on the Ritz.”
Christmas Lights on Christmas Day In New Orleans
One of our favorite things to do on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is to drive around town and look at the amazing light displays our neighbors have created. Here are some great New Orleans light displays you shouldn’t miss!
St. Charles Avenue
Some of the most prestigious homes and historic homes in the city are located on St. Charles Avenue, along with many local businesses, none of which fail to deliver! Take a ride down the decorated St.Charles streetcar line and admire the beautiful holiday lights and decorations while enjoying a relaxing Christmas day.
Canal Street
Whether you take a stroll, drive, or hop the streetcar, the lights of Canal Street are absolutely breathtaking during the holidays. Canal Street runs from Mid-City all the way to the Riverwalk along the Mississippi River, so if you’re planning to make a day of your excursions, this route will connect you to quite a few other stops on our list for your holiday celebration. The neutral ground never looked so magical!
Audubon Zoo Lights
The Audubon Zoo Lights have been moved to in front of the Children’s Hospital next to the hospital’s parking garage. This magical zoo of lights helps make Christmas a little brighter for the children staying in the hospital!
Folse Drive, Metairie
5129 Folse Drive, this yearly display is a must-see.
Little Farms, River Ridge
Most of the houses in the neighborhood have festive light displays, my favorite is the one with the giant snowman in the yard (address coming soon).
Old Gretna
The historic sites and homes in Old Gretna are covered in lights and holiday decor. Be sure to take a drive down Huey P. Avenue!
More Things To Do On Christmas Day In New Orleans
Take a Ghost Tour
Definitely not your “normal” Christmas outing, but here, expect the unexpected! This kid-friendly, just-scary enough ghost tour of the Historic New Orleans French Quarter is perfect for families! The tour features kid-friendly ghost stories and teachers about New Orleans’ place in history through a storytelling adventure!
Go See a Movie
Did you know Christmas Day is one of the biggest movie days of the year? Take a load off, or take a couple of hours to sneak away from the relatives and go see a movie like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Strange World, Puss in Boots, or Avatar: The Way Water.
We hope you find something here to satisfy your Christmas Day in New Orleans adventure craving, but if all else fails, there’s always Christmas dinner at Waffle House.
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