Christmas in New Orleans with kids.
Christmas in New Orleans has traditions you won't find anywhere else. Celebration in the Oaks fills City Park's old oak trees with lights. Families sing together at the caroling in Jackson Square, and kids dress up for Teddy Bear Teas.
Up the river, the Festival of the Bonfires celebrates the area's Christmas bonfire tradition. Indoors, NOLA ChristmasFest has skating and rides over the holiday break.
Before you go
- Celebration in the Oaks has cheaper Value Nights, and parking in the park is free.
- There are no Santa photos at Celebration in the Oaks this year.
- Book Teddy Bear Teas early. Dates are limited.
- Caroling in Jackson Square is free and lasts about an hour.
- The Festival of the Bonfires is in Lutcher, upriver from the city. For small kids, go when Santa is there.
Family Christmas events in New Orleans
16 events
Some ticket links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which events we list. Learn more.
- Christmas lightsHoliday festivals Good for toddlers
Celebration in the Oaks
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Jan 1 · Mon-Thu 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 5-10pm, Sun 5-9pm. Last entry 30 minutes before close. Closed Dec 7, 14, 24 and 31. Walking and driving tours close on bike nights (Nov 30, Dec 1-3).
- Where
- City Park (walking tour at 7 Victory Ave.; driving tour at 4 Friederichs Ave.), City Park / Mid-City
- Price
- Walking tour $35 per person ($20 on Value Nights). Kids 2 and under free. Cars from $40 ($25 on Value Nights).
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Tickets on sale from Nov 1. Buy online for your date.
New Orleans' big holiday light show fills City Park's oak trees with lights. Walk it or drive a two-mile loop. The walking ticket also covers the Carousel Gardens rides and the Botanical Garden.
Parent tip: Value Nights are Nov 29 and Dec 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Parking in the park is free. There are no Santa photos this year.
- Ice skatingHoliday festivalsSanta visits Good for toddlers
NOLA ChristmasFest
- Dates
- Dec 23 - Jan 2 · Most days two sessions, 11am-3:30pm and 4:30-9pm. Dec 24 and Dec 31 morning only. Dec 25 and Jan 1, 1-5pm.
- Where
- Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Halls G-I, 900 Convention Center Blvd., Warehouse District
- Price
- $25 weekdays, $30 weekends, plus fees. A ticket is needed for ages 2 and up.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy a timed session online. Cards only, no cash.
An indoor winter fair with an ice rink, rides and holiday shows. Skate rental is included, with sizes small enough for 2-year-olds.
Parent tip: Bring socks, since you need them to put on skates. Strollers are allowed. Parking in Lot F is $23 through the ParkMobile app.
- Holiday trainsSanta visits Good for toddlers
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride
- Dates
- Dec 11-31 · Daily Dec 11-31 except Christmas Day. Departures from 10am to 6:40pm.
- Where
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, 1001 Loyola Ave., Central Business District
- Price
- Value: $78 adults, $69.50 ages 2-11. Premium: $99.25 adults, $90.50 ages 2-11. Under 2 free on a lap. Fees included.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online. Pick a free lap ticket for babies under 2.
A train ride based on the book and movie. Chefs serve hot chocolate and a cookie, and Santa comes aboard to greet each family.
Parent tip: Plan on about 2 hours, and arrive 60 minutes early. The Dec 18 10am ride is sensory-friendly. Find your own parking near the station.
- Holiday festivalsFree Good for toddlers
Caroling in Jackson Square
- Dates
- Dec 20 · Sun Dec 20, 7-8pm
- Where
- Jackson Square, French Quarter
- Price
- Free
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
A Christmas sing-along in Jackson Square, a tradition since 1946. It lasts about an hour.
Parent tip: It's short and free, so it's an easy add-on to an evening in the French Quarter.
- Santa visitsShows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt
- Dates
- Nov 29 - Dec 27 · Nov 29; Dec 5, 6, 12, 13, 19-24 and 27. Times are shown when you pick a date.
- Where
- The Roosevelt New Orleans, 130 Roosevelt Way, Central Business District
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Reserve tickets online ahead
A holiday tea that families have come back to for decades at The Roosevelt hotel. Expect singing, dancing and stories, with pastries and hot chocolate. Santa and Mrs. Claus drop by.
Parent tip: Seating times only show up after you pick a date on the booking page.
- Santa visitsShows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
Teddy Bear Tea at BB's Stage Door Canteen
- Dates
- Dec 5-20 · Dec 5, 6, 12, 19 and 20. Two seatings: 10am-noon and 2-4pm.
- Where
- The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St., Warehouse District
- Price
- $85 ($82 museum members). Kids 2 and under $10.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy tickets online ahead
A holiday tea with live music from the Victory Belles, plus food and sweets. Santa visits, and each young guest goes home with a teddy bear.
Parent tip: The morning seating fits better around naps.
- Santa visitsHoliday festivals Good for toddlers
Holidays at Audubon (Zoo and Aquarium)
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Jan 3 · Daily during regular hours. Hours vary, so check the official site.
- Where
- Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium, Uptown (zoo) and French Quarter edge (aquarium)
- Price
- Included with admission or Audubon membership
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy zoo or aquarium tickets online. A combo ticket covers both.
The zoo and aquarium decorate for the season. At the zoo, a Cajun Santa poses for photos in the swamp exhibit. At the aquarium, Scuba Santa swims in the big reef tank.
Parent tip: Santa photos run on select dates only, so check the calendar first. On Dec 31 the zoo holds a morning Zoo Year's Eve party that counts down to noon.
- Parades and tree lightings Good for toddlers
Manning Family Children's Holiday Parade
- Dates
- Dec 5 · Sat Dec 5. Check the official site for the start time.
- Where
- Starts at the French Market and rolls through the French Quarter and downtown, French Quarter / downtown
- Price
- No ticket price listed. See the official site.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · No tickets listed. Check the route before you go.
A holiday parade for kids, run with Children's Hospital New Orleans. It starts at the French Market and heads downtown.
Parent tip: Check the route on the official site before you go. A spot near the French Market start means a shorter wait.
- Shows and Nutcracker
New Orleans Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker
- Dates
- Dec 12-23 · Dec 12 and 19 at 2pm and 7pm; Dec 13, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 2pm
- Where
- The Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, Central Business District
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- Kids who can sit through a full ballet · Buy ahead online
A full-length Nutcracker, danced by a professional company with more than 120 local kids. It runs about 2 hours with one break.
Parent tip: The weekday 2pm shows Dec 21-23 work well once school is out.
- Shows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
NOBA's The Nutcracker Suite
- Dates
- Dec 6 · Sun Dec 6 at 3pm and 6pm
- Where
- Dixon Hall, Tulane University, Uptown
- Price
- $20, reserved seats. Everyone needs a ticket, babies included.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Tickets go on sale Nov 2
A one-hour Nutcracker danced by students of the New Orleans Ballet Association's dance center. The cast runs from age 6 to over 70.
Parent tip: At an hour long, it's a good first ballet for small kids. Dixon Hall has no elevator, so plan for stairs with a stroller.
- Shows and Nutcracker
The Nutcracker with Jefferson Ballet Theatre (JPAS)
- Dates
- Dec 19-20 · Dec 19-20. Check the official site for show times.
- Where
- Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Dr., Metairie
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- Kids who can sit through a full ballet · Buy ahead online
A suburban Nutcracker from the Jefferson Performing Arts Society and Jefferson Ballet Theatre. It's a handy pick if you're staying near the airport or in Metairie.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Dates
- Dec 15-20 · Dec 15-20. Check the schedule for show times.
- Where
- Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St., French Quarter edge / Canal Street
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
The touring stage musical of the Dr. Seuss story. It runs 85 minutes with no intermission.
Parent tip: With no break, take kids to the restroom right before the show starts.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (JPAS)
- Dates
- Dec 4-13 · Fri Dec 4 and 11 at 7:30pm; Sat-Sun Dec 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 2pm
- Where
- Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Dr., Metairie
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
A stage musical of the classic TV special. Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and the Bumble all appear, along with the familiar songs.
Parent tip: Pick a weekend 2pm show for younger kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Holiday Spectacular
- Dates
- Dec 17 · Thu Dec 17, 7:30pm. Doors open at 6pm.
- Where
- The Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, Central Business District
- Price
- Ticketed. See the official site for prices.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online
The city orchestra plays carols and holiday favorites, and the night ends with an audience sing-along. It runs about 90 minutes with a break.
Parent tip: It starts at 7:30pm, so it suits school-age kids more than toddlers.
- Holiday festivalsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Festival of the Bonfires
- Dates
- Dec 11-13 · Fri Dec 11, 2-11pm; Sat Dec 12, 9am-11pm; Sun Dec 13, 10am-6pm. Bonfires lit Fri at 7pm and Sat at 8pm, with fireworks after Saturday's.
- Where
- Lutcher Recreational Park, 2545 Louisiana Ave., Lutcher (St. James Parish, upriver from New Orleans)
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · See the official site for admission details
A small-town river parish festival built around the area's Christmas bonfire tradition. Expect live music, rides, a gumbo cook-off and a bonfire lighting on Friday and Saturday nights.
Parent tip: For small kids, go Saturday 10am-noon or Sunday 11am-1pm, when Santa is there. The site also has tips for the Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee.
- Holiday festivals Good for toddlers
Noon Year's Eve at the Louisiana Children's Museum
- Dates
- Dec 31 · Thu Dec 31. Check the official site for times.
- Where
- Louisiana Children's Museum, City Park
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- Young kids and families · See the official site
The children's museum rings in the new year at noon, so little kids can celebrate before nap time.
Dates and prices were checked on each event's official site. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
On a budget? See every free Christmas event in New Orleans, including parades and tree lightings.
Planning a Santa visit? See where to find Santa in New Orleans, plus free Santa photos, breakfasts with Santa and tips for skipping the line.
Going to the ballet? Compare every Nutcracker in New Orleans, with run times, age tips and sensory-friendly shows.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in New Orleans for Christmas with kids?
See Celebration in the Oaks at City Park, sing at the caroling in Jackson Square, and book a Teddy Bear Tea. Skate at NOLA ChristmasFest or ride the Polar Express.
Families also love the Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher.
When is Celebration in the Oaks in 2026?
Celebration in the Oaks runs from November 27, 2026, to January 1, 2027. You can walk it or drive a two-mile loop. The walking ticket also covers the Carousel Gardens rides.
Is caroling in Jackson Square free?
Yes. Caroling in Jackson Square is free. In 2026 it's on Sunday, December 20, from 7 to 8pm.
Christmas in other cities
- Christmas in New York
- Christmas in Chicago
- Christmas in Boston
- Christmas in Washington, DC
- Christmas in Nashville
- Christmas in Seattle
- Christmas in Denver
- Christmas in San Diego
- Christmas in San Francisco
- Christmas in Los Angeles
- Christmas in Atlanta
- Christmas in Houston
- Christmas in San Antonio
- Christmas in Gatlinburg
- Christmas in Philadelphia
- Christmas in Pittsburgh
- Christmas in Las Vegas
- Christmas in Orlando
- Christmas in Miami
- Christmas in Charlotte
- Christmas in Kansas City
- Christmas in Dallas
- Christmas in Austin
- Christmas in Phoenix
- Christmas in St. Louis
- Christmas in Tampa
- Christmas in Cincinnati