Christmas in New Orleans has its own unmistakable style, with oak trees covered in a million lights, holiday markets inside historic spaces, and classic Christmas performances near the French Quarter. If you're looking for things to do in New Orleans for Christmas, you'll find plenty of ways to celebrate throughout the city and surrounding towns, from Christmas lights and holiday festivals to live shows and seasonal attractions.
The Best Christmas Events in New Orleans 2026
We've rounded up the best New Orleans Christmas events for 2026, from dazzling Christmas lights and holiday performances to Christmas festivals, markets, and unique holiday experiences.
1. Audubon Zoo Lights — New Orleans
Audubon Zoo trades its usual daytime hours for an after dark holiday transformation during Zoo Lights, with twinkling lights wrapped through the historic oak canopy, large lighted silk animal displays, and selfie spots scattered throughout the grounds. Kids can visit an Elves' Workshop tent, and guests are encouraged to bring old string lights to recycle at the Lights for Lions donation box, with proceeds benefiting the Ruaha Carnivore Project. It's a relaxed, walkable alternative to the bigger citywide light displays, set inside one of the country's top ranked zoos.
- Dates: November 28th, 2026 – January 4th, 2027 (select nights)
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free, on-site
- Website: https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo
Insider Tip: Bring unwanted holiday string lights to donate at the front gates, or pick up a gift at the Zoo Marketplace to be delivered to patients at Children's Hospital.
2. Celebration in the Oaks — New Orleans
City Park's largest fundraiser, Celebration in the Oaks, has been a New Orleans holiday tradition since the late 1980s, wrapping the Park's historic live oaks in over a million twinkling lights. Guests can take the two mile driving tour or opt for the 90 minute walking tour, which includes all access to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the elegant Botanical Garden. Local favorites include the animated Cajun Night Before Christmas display, the Who Dat tree for Saints fans, and spotting Mr. Bingle, New Orleans' legendary snowman.
- Dates: November 27th, 2026 – January 1st, 2027
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: New Orleans City Park, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free, on-site
- Website: https://celebrationintheoaks.com/
Insider Tip: Friends of City Park members get a free Dasher Pass for skip-the-line driving tour access. This is worth looking into if you plan on visiting more than once this season.
3. NOLA ChristmasFest — New Orleans
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center transforms into an indoor winter wonderland for NOLA ChristmasFest, giving guests a break from any unpredictable Louisiana weather. Highlights include a Gingerbread Village, a giant wreath and tree, an expanded ice slide section, a full ice skating rink, and carnival rides, all wrapped into one all inclusive admission ticket. The festival even stays open with limited hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, making it one of the few Christmas things to do in New Orleans that doesn't take a holiday break.
- Dates: December 23rd, 2026 – January 2nd, 2027
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; $23 flat fee in Lot F
- Website: https://nolachristmasfest.com/
Insider Tip: Each admission session runs 4.5 hours and some time slots sell out, so book your date and time in advance rather than planning to walk up.
4. New Orleans Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker — New Orleans
New Orleans Ballet Theatre's production of The Nutcracker brings the professional company together with more than 120 local children for nine performances at the historic Orpheum Theater downtown. Set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score, the two act ballet follows Clara through a world of sugarplum dreams, with stunning sets and costumes that have made it a beloved holiday tradition for New Orleans families.
- Dates: December 12th-13th, 2026, and December 19th-23rd, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; nearby downtown garages and lots
- Website: https://www.neworleansballettheatre.com/season-glance
Insider Tip: Combine this outing with dinner and a stroll through the nearby Roosevelt Hotel to see its famous Christmas lobby decorations. It's a free, iconic New Orleans holiday tradition in its own right.
5. Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights — Natchitoches
About three and a half hours northwest of New Orleans, Natchitoches celebrates the 100th anniversary of the oldest community based holiday celebration in the country. More than 300,000 lights and over 100 set pieces line the Cane River Lake for six weeks, with the season kicking off with a drone and fireworks show and building to the main Christmas Festival Day on December 5th, featuring the Festival of Lights Parade and a spectacular evening fireworks display. Holiday markets, a lighted boat parade, and a Christmas Tour of Homes round out the season.
- Dates: November 21st, 2026 – January 6th, 2027 (Main Festival Day: December 5th, 2026)
- Admission: Free to view lights; $20 admission after 1 PM on Festival Day
- Street Address: Downtown Riverbank, Natchitoches, LA 71457
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free and paid lots available downtown
- Website: https://www.natchitocheschristmas.com/
Insider Tip: The entire festival is cashless this year, so bring a card rather than planning to pay for food or market goods with cash.
6. Jefferson Performing Arts' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Metairie
Based on the beloved animated television special, this musical adaptation brings Rudolph's story to life on stage at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, complete with holiday favorites like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas." The production features all the familiar faces, including Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, and Yukon Cornelius, alongside Santa and Mrs. Claus. It's a heartwarming holiday show for the whole family, built around a message that what makes you different is exactly what makes you special.
- Dates: December 4th, 2026 - December 13th, 2026 (Select evening and matinee performances)
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Dr., Metairie, LA 70003
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free parking available on-site
- Website: https://www.jpas.org/season49/
Insider Tip: This venue enforces a strict clear bag policy, so leave large or non-transparent bags in your vehicle to move through security faster. With multiple performances across two weekends, matinees tend to offer excellent availability for families traveling with smaller children.
7. Manning Family Children's Holiday Parade — New Orleans
The Manning Family Children's Holiday Parade has quickly become one of New Orleans' signature Christmas traditions since debuting in 2022, earning back-to-back nominations as a Top 10 holiday parade among USA Today readers. Thirty holiday themed floats, high-flying helium balloons, marching bands, and more than a dozen dancing groups wind through the French Quarter and CBD, with the event benefiting Children's Hospital New Orleans. It's one of the most talked about Christmas parades in New Orleans, drawing thousands of spectators and both local and national television coverage.
- Dates: Saturday, December 5th, 2026 (weather-permitting; check for possible date changes)
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Parade route begins at Esplanade Avenue and North Peters Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; downtown and French Quarter garages and lots
- Website: https://nolaholidayparade.com/
Insider Tip: Several downtown hotels, including the Sheraton New Orleans, host viewing parties for the parade route, worth booking if you'd rather watch from indoors with a clear view.
9. LUNA Fête — New Orleans
LUNA Fête returns for its 12th edition after a one year hiatus, transforming Gallier Hall and the Piazza d'Italia into an outdoor playground of light, art, and technology. As the nation's longest running projection mapping festival, it draws more than 100,000 visitors over four nights with illuminated artworks, a Luna Night Market, a Luna Lounge, and food and beverage pop-ups spread across downtown New Orleans. It's a free, family friendly kickoff to the holiday season that has nothing to do with traditional lights or Santa, and everything to do with cutting edge visual art.
- Dates: November 13th, 2026 (four-night run; check website for full schedule)
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Gallier Hall to Piazza d'Italia, Downtown New Orleans, LA 70130
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; downtown garages and lots
- Website: https://www.lunafete.org/
Insider Tip: Each night runs from 6 PM to 10 PM, so arrive right at 6 PM to see Gallier Hall before the crowds build, since it's the festival's signature anchor projection.
10. Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee — St. James Parish
One of Louisiana's oldest and most distinctive Christmas traditions, the bonfires along the Mississippi River levee date back to the earliest Cajun settlers in the region, who believed the fires helped light Santa's way. Dozens of towering log structures, many built in elaborate shapes like teepees or pyramids, line the levee in St. James Parish and are set ablaze on Christmas Eve, drawing visitors from across the region to watch the flames against the night sky. It's less a produced event and more a living folk tradition, and one of the most singularly Louisiana things to do at Christmas.
- Dates: December 24th, 2026 (bonfires lit after dark)
- Admission: Free to view from public levee areas
- Street Address: River Road, St. James Parish, LA (bonfires concentrated between Gramercy and Lutcher)
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free; limited roadside parking along River Road
- Website: https://www.neworleans.com/event/christmas-eve-bonfires-on-the-levee/3232/
Insider Tip: Traffic along River Road gets heavy after dark on Christmas Eve, so arrive well before sunset to find parking and a good viewing spot on the levee.
Explore More Christmas Events Near You
Christmas in New Orleans is just one stop on the season's biggest map. If you're looking for more Christmas events near you or planning a holiday trip elsewhere in the country, check out our Christmas City Guides to find the best festivals, markets, concerts, and parades happening closest to you.
