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. Read on below for how to spend a holiday weekend in NOLA, and see here for 25 Reasons to Visit in 2025.

Martin Luther King’s Birthday 

Jan 18-21 or Jan 17-20 (4 days of vacation using 1 day PTO on either 1/17 or 1/21) 

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 Artoffers 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

Paul Broussard

Washington’s Birthday/President’s Day  

Feb 14-17 or Feb 15-18 (4 days of vacation using 1 day PTO on either 2/14 or 2/18)  

Falling on the third Monday in February, it’s likely that Washington’s Birthday will fall in the thick of Carnival season, when parades roll every weekend leading up to Mardi Gras Day. Go ahead and taste king cake or attend a parade. If you’re lucky that Mardi Gras Day falls on the day after Washington’s Birthday, extend your trip to stay in town through Fat Tuesday. 

If Mardi Gras season has concluded by this point, there’s still plenty of ways to experience in the city. February is Black History Month, and New Orleans is one of the best places to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Black Americans past and present. Our Black history itinerary takes you to Black-owned restaurants and businesses, historically Black neighborhoods, and museums dedicated to the Black experience. Read more on Black History Month in New Orleans here.  

Easter Weekend 

April 18-21 (4 days of vacation using 1 day PTO on 4/21) 

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 23-26 or May 24-27 (4 days of vacation using 1 day of PTO either 5/23 or 5/27) 

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 held over Memorial Day Weekend every year, 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. 

Juneteenth National Independence Day 

June 19-22 (4 days of vacation using 1 day of PTO on 6/20) 

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. In the days around the holiday, participate in additional Juneteenth commemorative events, such as Afro Freedom Afro Feast, a culinary gathering featuring some of New Orleans' finest chefs cooking over an open flame reminiscent of their African ancestors. Find more ways to commemorate Juneteenth in New Orleans here

Independence Day 

July 3-6 (5 days of vacation using 2 days of PTO on 7/3 and 7/7) 

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  

Aug 29/30-Sept 1/2 (4 days of vacation using 1 day of PTO on Aug 29 or Sept 2) 

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 10-13 or 11-14  (4 days of vacation using 1 day of PTO on 10/10 or 10/14) 

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 7-11 (5 days of vacation using 2 days of PTO on 11/7 and 11/11) 

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.  

Justen Williams

If you can make a weekend out of your visit, perhaps with the help of some PTO days, you may find yourself at a fall festival. Perhaps you’ll be celebrating Caribbean culture at Bayou Bacchanal or stuffing your face with powdered donuts at Beignet Fest. Enjoy the crisp fall air and sunny skies this November in NOLA. See our page on November in New Orleans here

Thanksgiving 

Nov 22-30 (nine days of vacation using 3 days of PTO on 11/24-26*) 

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. Don a fancy hat and head to the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots for their annual Thanksgiving Day race. Or you can 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. Only in New Orleans!  

Cheryl Gerber

Stay for the weekend to experience the rivalry that is Bayou Classic. The annual football matchup between rivals Grambling State and Southern University also features a parade and a Battle of the Bands in the days leading up to the game. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Bayou Classic here

Paul Broussard

Christmas 

Dec 20-28 (nine days of vacation using 3-4 days of PTO on 12/22, 12/23, 12/24*, 12/26*) 

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

*Give or take how many PTO days needed depending on personal office closures