How to Use Your PTO in New Orleans

New Orleans is the ideal place to spend your paid time off, especially when you maximize it with holiday weekends. That’s because for every federal holiday, we have parades, festivals, and other events unique to the city. While we focused on using the least amount of PTO Days possible, just know that you're always welcome to take more to extend your trip to New Orleans. Read on below for how to spend a holiday weekend in NOLA, and see here for 26 Reasons to Visit in 2026.

Jump To:

MLK Weekend | Presidents' Day | Easter | Memorial Day | Juneteenth | July 4th | Labor Day | Indigenous People's Day | Veterans Day | Thanksgiving | Christmas/Holiday Season 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

Jan 16-19 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. New Orleans has plenty of community gatherings and volunteer opportunities to commemorate the day. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art offers free admission plus art, crafts, and music in celebration of MLK Day. New Orleans City Park hosts an annual day of service on MLK Day. 

MLK Weekend always falls during Carnival season. This means king cake season is in full swing and, depending on the year, parades may be rolling. Make it a long weekend and take that Friday before off, combining for a four-day trip to New Orleans. See our page on January in New Orleans here. 

President’s Day featuring Mardi Gras

Feb 14-17 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off)

If you're not spending President's Day Weekend in NOLA, then you're seriously missing out. This year, Mardi Gras Day falls on the day after President's Day, giving you all the more reason to come on down and experience the magic of Carnival season. Go ahead and taste king cake, attend a parade, or celebrate Lundi Gras at the Zulu Lundi Gras Festival. Read our 10 Reasons to Extend Your Presidents' Day Weekend for Mardi Gras in 2026 here. You're not going to want to miss this!

Easter Weekend 

April 3-6 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

Though not technically a federal holiday, Easter Weekend is an awesome time to visit New Orleans. On the Saturday of Easter Weekend, run the Crescent City Classic 10K. Then on Easter Day, head to the French Quarter for Easter parades, including the Gay Easter Parade. Dine on brunch and enjoy the beautiful springtime weather. Also, it’s crawfish season, baby! See our page on things to do in March here and things to do in April here. 

Memorial Day  

May 22-25 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

Memorial Day Weekend in New Orleans is spent by visiting the National WWII Museum, picnicking with friends, and enjoying the unofficial start of summer. Greek Fest is always held over Memorial Day Weekend, with Greek food, music, art, dancing, and a 5K. The festival takes place on Bayou St. John, where many people go kayaking in the summer months. 

If you're interested in spending more time in New Orleans, plan to stay in town after Memorial Day to experience the national kickoff of Sail250. From May 28 - June 1, celebrate America's 250th birthday with the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world creating a majestic nautical spectacle along the historic Mississippi River. Events include a parade of sail, public ship tours, fireworks, and a seafood cook-off. Find more information about Sail250 here.

Juneteenth National Independence Day 

June 19-22 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

New Orleans is rich in Black history, and special celebrations emerge for this federal holiday every year. Always on June 19, the New Orleans Juneteenth Festival commemorates the holiday in Congo Square with food, music, dancing and a drumming circle. Find more ways to commemorate Juneteenth in New Orleans here. 

Independence Day 

July 1-5 (2 PTO Days = 5 Days Off)  

Celebrate the Fourth of July in New Orleans with fireworks on the Mississippi River, plus food and music. Go Fourth on the River takes over the Riverwalk and Crescent Park with those festivities. Also falling on Fourth of July Weekend, ESSENCE Festival of Culture is an annual celebration of Black culture with panel discussions and vendors in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center by day and concerts in Caesars Superdome by night. Past headliners include Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Usher, and Mary J. Blige. Check out our Ultimate Guide to ESSENCE Fest here. 

Labor Day  

Sept 4-7 (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

Labor Day Weekend in New Orleans is full of revelry as the summer comes to a close. Southern Decadence, a mash-up of New Orleans Pride and Gay Mardi Gras, has been a Labor Day weekend tradition in the French Quarter since 1972. Special events take place over six days, including the Southern Decadence Parade. Make sure to go to a drag or burlesque show while you’re in town. 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day 

Oct 9-12  (1 PTO Day = 4 Days Off) 

Just as it begins to really feel like fall, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In 2022, Our Voice Nuestra Voz, the United Houma Nation, and community members gathered at the New Orleans City Council to celebrate the city’s recognition of Indigenous People’s Day a holiday. Dive into the city’s history with a walking tour. Browse our tours page here.  

October means a chill in the air with lots of festivals. Enjoy a piping hot bowl of gumbo and make sure to mark your calendar for one of our many October festivals. Also enjoy Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus here and Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations here. Read more on fall travel here and October in New Orleans here. 

Veterans Day 

Nov 11-15 (2 PTO Days = 5 Days Off)

On Veterans Day, the National WWII Museum offers free admission for all veterans, plus a Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony with a salute to all servicemembers, the presenting of awards, and the unveiling of special exhibits.  

If you can make a weekend out of your visit, you'll be in town for Fit Fete! Held from November 13-14, you can enjoy participating in the New Orleans  Marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K, and community games like 3X3 basketball, kickball, and tennis. Find more information on Fit Fete here. 

Thanksgiving 

Nov 25-29 (1 PTO Day = 5 Days Off) 

Thanksgiving Day in New Orleans means food, food, and more food. Skip the cooking at home and dine at a local restaurant. Feast on gumbo, seafood, and the traditional turkey and stuffing, plus bread pudding and more New Orleans classics.  

If you're interested in getting active or just having a good time, check out the 5-mile Turkey Day Race in City Park. Head out to Easton Park in Mid-City for the Human Horse Races, a family-friendly fundraiser where people dress as horses and race each other, all while raising money for a horse sanctuary. And we can't forget about Bayou Classic, an annual Thanksgiving Weekend tradition in NOLA with a football game, parade, Battle of the Bands, and more! Read our Ultimate Guide to the Bayou Classic here for more.

Christmas 

Dec 20-27 (3 PTO Days = 8 Days Off) 

While many offices are closed the week of Christmas, you can make a trip out of using just a few PTO Days if not. Around Christmas Day, enjoy lots of festivities with Holidays New Orleans Style. Enjoy lights in the park at Celebration in the Oaks, dining at a restaurant featuring a decadent Réveillon menu, ice skating and family fun at NOLA ChristmasFest, and more! Read about celebrating the Holidays New Orleans Style here.