A beloved New Orleans tradition, Celebration in the Oaks lights up City Park every holiday season, and this year is no different. Hop in your car and wind your way through two and a half miles of the park illuminated with lights displays. Or, walk through the illuminated Botanical Gardens and channel your inner child at Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Book your tickets here and enjoy the holiday magic on select dates between November 23 and December 30.

Browse bookstores, boutiques, museum gift shops, and art markets of New Orleans to find unique gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. Magazine Street is lined with shops, but you can find lots of options here. How about a set of glassware from Sazerac House for the home bar? Or a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork made by a local artist? There’s no shortage of creative gift ideas when it comes to holiday shopping in New Orleans. Be sure to check out Museum Store Sunday at various local museum gift shops. Stay tuned for our 2023 holiday gift guide.

The second annual Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade will roll on December 2 at 11 a.m. You can expect large, pageant-style floats with animatronics, local musicians atop the floats singing carols, helium balloons, and Santa Claus, of course! There will be a post-parade celebration with music, food, and more at Lafayette Square. You won’t want to miss this world-class holiday parade.

The indoor Christmas festival known as NOLA ChristmasFest returns to the Convention Center with lots of seasonal cheer. An ice slide, ice skating rink, yuletide market, gingerbread village, and photos with Santa are just a few of the highlights. NOLA ChristmasFest is open December 21-30.

December is the perfect month to find live theater in full swing here in New Orleans. “WICKED” returns to the Saenger Theatre from November 29-December 17. From December 8-10, Mélange Dance Company reprises their hit contemporary ballet centered on New Orleans ghost stories, “Fantômes: Deux.” New Orleans Ballet Theatre presents a traditional "Nutcracker" at the Orpheum Theater, while Marigny Opera Ballet brings back their "Jazz Nutcracker" at the Opera House. Check out our fall theater guide here and plan to see a show or two this December.

Réveillon is a holiday dining tradition that historically began at midnight on Christmas Day. Dating back to the 1800s, Creole New Orleanians would feast on lavish meals following midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Restaurants across the city have adopted this tradition, offering decadent multi-course Réveillon feasts throughout the entire month of December.

Every year during the holidays, New Orleanians decorate their homes in the most festive seasonal décor, and some even open their doors for public viewing. The Preservation Resource Center Home Tour  features a selection of private Garden District homes, live musical performances, a festive boutique, and more on December 9 and 10. Then on December 17, the Patio Planters community organization offers their self-guided French Quarter Holiday Home Tour, featuring several elegant and historic residences throughout the Vieux Carré. This home tour raises funds for Caroling in Jackson Square, which takes place later that day in the French Quarter.

Get into the spirit of the season with holiday concerts at St. Louis Cathedral and Ashé Powerhouse Theater. Holiday film buffs also won’t want to miss The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Elf ™ in Concert" at the Saenger with live orchestration on December 22. Lastly, you can also enjoy the aforementioned Caroling in Jackson Square, which will take place on December 17 at 7 p.m.

New Orleans is a festive city year-round, and the holidays are no different. Visit the city’s most popular sights for a look at how we decorate for the season. St. Louis Cathedral is a great starting point, followed by Canal Street, and the lobbies of various hotels. Two lights festivals will return this December: LUNA Fête, from December 7-10, and Greenway Supernova, from December 7-9. Both are free to the public and filled with holiday magic.

Fall sports are in full swing come December, and our two professional leagues are very busy playing at home. The Saints will host the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and the New York Giants at Caesars Superdome this December. Over at the Smoothie King Center, the Pels have seven home games scheduled for December including one on New Year’s Eve versus the L.A. Lakers. College football fans can also enjoy the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 16 and the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1.

Celebrate the tradition of Hanukkah from December 7-15 in New Orleans with lots of latkes and seasonal cheer. Our favorite festivities will return, like Chanukah @ Riverwalk and The Mobile Menorah Parade. Look to the Ashé Cultural Arts Center for Kwanzaa celebrations held in the last week of December.

New Orleans is a great place to ring in the New Year, with celebrations galore featuring live music, delicious food, and fireworks, of course. This year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl will be held on New Year’s Day, but the parade is scheduled for New Year’s Eve at 3 p.m. Audubon Zoo and the Children’s Museum also hosts celebrations during the day before the adult celebrations kick off that night. Check here for the latest on New Year’s celebrations, and may the party begin!