Dec. 6: Brother Martin Ladies of the Shield School Holiday Home Tour, includes five homes in Lake Vista, brothermartin.com/holiday-home-tour
Dec. 13 & 14: 50th annual Preservation Resource Center Holiday Home Tour, includes five Garden District homes, prcno.org, @prcnola
Dec. 14: Covington Heritage Foundation History
& Holly Home Tour,
covingtonheritagefoundation.com
Dec. 21: Patio Planters Holiday Home Tour, French Quarter, patioplanters.net
Dec. 27 & 28: Friends of the Cabildo Creole Christmas Holiday Home Tour, includes BK House & Gardens, Gallier House, Hermann-Grima House,1850 House, Historic New Orleans Collection and Spring Fiesta, friendsofthecabildo.org, @friendsofthecabildo
Twirling Tradition
“The Nutcracker” has been captivating audiences since 1892, when Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score set the scene for a ballet that has been enjoyed by generations — and became a holiday tradition. This year, fans have a number of options in New Orleans to enjoy watching Clara, Nutcracker, Mouse King, Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier from the Land of Sweets dance the night away.
Dec. 7: New Orleans Ballet Association, Dixon Hall at Tulane University, nobadance.com; @nobadance
Dec. 13, 14; 19-23: New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Orpheum Theater (129 Roosevelt Way), neworleansballettheatre.com, @nola_ballet
Dec. 19-21: Jefferson Ballet Theatre and Jefferson Performing Arts Society (6400 Airline Dr., Metairie), jpas.org, @jpasnola; jeffersonballettheatre.com
Dec. 20 & 21: Delta Festival Ballet, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts (1419 Basin St.), deltafestivalballet.com, @deltafestivalballet
Dec. 26: Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal St.), saengernola.com, @saengernola
Pop Culture
Take a journey into the sparkling heart of France, right here in New Orleans. The Independent Caveau (1226 S. White St.) is hosting two Champagne classes on Dec. 6 or 9 at which you can taste six distinctive AOC Champagnes while exploring the region’s unique terroirs and winemaking traditions.
Reservations are required. Enhance your experience with a cheese and charcuterie pairing at an additional cost, pre-order is necessary.theindependentnola.com; @theindependentnola
Luminous Nights
Supernova is back to add some levity and light into your holidays! Wander through 10 art/light installations, groove at a silent disco, listen to live bands and explore the art market — all at the Lafitte Greenway Station and Plaza (436 N. Norman C. Francis Pkwy), Dec. 11–13, 5 p.m.–9 p.m.
lafittegreenway.org, @lafittegreenway
Santa’s Fiery Helpers
Whether or not you believe the legends of the bonfires along the Mississippi River — to direct Papa Noël (Santa Claus) on Christmas Eve or that French-German settlers used them guide ships along the river — these fiery landmarks have continued to fascinate for more than a century. The bonfire structures, which can be a traditional 20-foot-tall pyramid or made into fantastical creatures or shapes, are a sight to see before, during and after they are lit on fire.
Many of these bonfire fêtes also offer food, drink and music.
Dec. 6: Algiers Bonfire & Concert (200 Morgan St.), algierseconomic.com/algiersbonfire
Dec 6: Los Isleños Christmas and Bonfire (1357 Bayou Rd., St. Bernard), losislenos.org/events
Dec. 12-14: Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher, festivalofthebonfires.org, @festivalofthebonfires
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Bonfires, (River Road/Highway 44, Lutcher, Gramercy), lariverparishes.com. Arrive before 6 p.m. and insider tip: don’t park on the river road (Route 44), traffic is very slow!
