10 Holiday Things To Do in New Orleans

The holidays of my first years in New Orleans, spent attending Newcomb, were focused on travel plans for getting home to Dallas.

For the past seven years though, my husband and I have spent Christmas Eve both at his parents’ Christmas Eve party and throwing a Reveillon for our friends and family, followed by the traditional trip to Dallas.

In a previous column I spoke about tradition and beginning new ones; we’re doing that ourselves this year with a trip out of town coming up soon.

Thanks to that, I’m having trouble getting into the holiday mood. I don’t have time for my annual Christmas Tea at the Windsor Court with my best friend. We don’t have time to visit Celebration in the Oaks. And even though it feels more like a winter wonderland in New Orleans this year than usual, I’m not seeing as many lights decorating houses.

Maybe this is due to the late Thanksgiving, which coincided with Hanukkah, or that our winter has been so sporadic, but to me it feels like I’m missing out. We even bought a smaller tree this year, since we’ll only be seeing it for four days or so.

Because of that, I’m gathering a list of holiday-oriented events happening around town so I can begin to schedule my 2014 holiday in advance – and imbibe as much holiday cheer as I can handle.

 

Here is a list of 10 things to do (and this is just an early 10; I know I’m missing a bunch):

 

1. Enjoy a Reveillon dinner around town (or out at Andrea’s).

2. Attend the St. Louis Cathedral Christmas Concert Series.

3. Tour in a decorated horse-drawn carriage.

4. Grab a hot toddy and look at Christmas in the District.

5. Visit one of the events on Canal Street.

6. Take pictures under the decorations at The Roosevelt New Orleans.

7. Play in the snow at Miracle on Fulton Street.

8. Carol in Jackson Square.

9. See historic houses decorated in all their glory.

10. Watch the levee bonfires.

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