FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:

Diane Lyons | 504.524.1227 | dlyons@accent-dmc.com
Steve Schulkens | 504.401.6990 | steve@schulkens.com

(New Orleans, La.) - The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center today announced that individual and group tickets for one of the largest and fastest growing family holiday events on the Gulf Coast- the 2016 NOLA ChristmasFest - will go on sale at www.nolachristmasfest.com beginning Monday, November 7. The fourth annual NOLA ChristmasFest kicks off Friday, December 16 and continues through Friday, December 30.

After record-breaking crowds last year at the indoor family holiday event, NOLA ChristmasFest 2016 is expanding this year with a larger ice rink, more rides and additional holiday exhibits offering fun holiday entertainment for people of all ages. The popular family holiday extravaganza will feature the only indoor ice skating rink in New Orleans as well as a captivating 120-foot real ice slide. ChristmasFest fans will have the opportunity to schedule 30-minute private ice skating lessons before opening daily.

The two-week festival will also include as an amazing walk-through maze, more than a half dozen themed inflatables and rides such as the Kringle Carousel, Winter Whirl, Snowball Fight and Snowy Summit Climbing Wall. New special features added this year will include the Candy Cane Climb, the Polar Express elephant ride, and a Giant Gum Drop.

NOLA ChristmasFest visitors will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa and several of his North Pole friends. The Christmas festival will take place inside Hall I at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day during the 15-day holiday celebration. Special hours on Christmas Eve are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 per person for admission and will include skating, skate rentals, admission to all rides and attractions. Skating lessons, photos with Santa, face painting and cookie deocorating will be charged separately. Group tickets are available for only $15 each when 10 or more tickets are purchased in advance.

Back by popular demand is the Gingerbread Exhibit which will feature dozens of New Orleans-themed confectionary creations of local landmarks by renowned chefs.

NOLA ChristmasFest will display thousands of dazzling lights and dozens of Christmas trees decorated by New Orleans businesses. Additionally, Convention Center Boulevard will once again be draped in holiday décor and mesmerizing lights synced to traditional and contemporary Christmas music. This year's dazzling display will extend for nearly two miles, lighting the way to NOLA ChristmasFest from Poydras to Henderson Streets connecting with the stretch of holiday lights along Canal Street.

Businesses can host their corporate holiday parties and events at NOLA ChristmasFest by emailing info@nolachristmasfest.com.

About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

With 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, an award winning staff and first class amenities, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCCNO) is the sixth largest convention center in the nation, a consistent Top 10 host of the largest number of conventions and trade shows annually, and one of the city's "Top Workplaces." A leading rainmaker of the city's hospitality industry, MCCNO event activity has produced $50.03 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $3.12 billion in new tax revenues. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the MCCNO has welcomed nearly 15 million visitors through its doors.