As the days grow darker, the nights shine brighter! Harvest vibes and yuletide cheer are right around the corner, ready to warm your hearts and satisfy your appetites. The holidays are a magical time of year, with family and friends traveling, shopping, and feasting their way through the incredible wealth of experiences New Orleans has to offer. From musical acts to festive cocktails, artistic extravaganzas, and more, fill your stockings (and your calendar) with these hometown holiday happenings.

 

The Royal Sonesta New Orleans

Join us for the return of Royal Snownesta, a seasonal celebration of the holidays at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans. Celebrate the season with culinary feasts featuring chef-inspired menus and festive cocktails at Restaurant R’evolution and Desire Oyster Bar plus holiday-themed live entertainment at The Jazz Playhouse. Create lasting memories for the entire family with Santa’s Pajama Party at Restaurant R’evolution.

Held on select weekends throughout December, this event features decadent delights for children and parents plus a visit from Santa himself! Take advantage of holiday savings and reserve a room with the Papa Noel package. Rates start at $159 per night and include complimentary overnight parking. Celebrate holiday cheer with Royal Snownesta and book your stay today online at sonesta.com/royalneworleans or by calling 504-586-0300.

New Orleans Opera

New Orleans Opera sets the stage for the Gulf South Premiere of Blue at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on November 10 and 12, 2023. Hailed as the “Best New Opera in 2020” by the Music Critics Association of North America, this profound collaboration between composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist Tazewell Thompson weaves a powerful tale of a family shattered by police violence, interwoven with moments of joy, love, pride, anger, confusion, hope, and grace.

Secure your seats now by visiting neworleansopera.org or calling the Box Office at (504) 529-3000, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

In addition, New Orleans Opera presents “NOLA 52: The Big Eat,” a delectable fundraiser offering the chance to win certificates to 52 of the city’s finest restaurants—a year of dining for two. Get your tickets for a chance to indulge in New Orleans’ culinary treasures and mark your calendar for the winner’s announcement on December 15, 2023.

Sazerac House

Sazerac House is your one-stop destination for history, culture, and unforgettable experiences this holiday season.

Sazerac House is proud to present our Prohibition Repeal Day Lecture Series, a brand-new celebration. Led by bourbon archaeologist and Sazerac archivist Nick Laracuente, take a deep dive into history to uncover the secrets and stories of New Orleans during the Prohibition era. Two cocktails and light refreshments are included.

Other Sazerac House holiday festivities will include a Sip and Shop event on December 14. And all month long, guests can enjoy holiday-themed cocktail samples on Sazerac House’s daily complimentary tours.

Event times and information can be found at SazeracHouse.com

Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort

Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort continues to redefine the VIP experience. In addition to over 800 slots and 36 table games, enjoy the Orchid Room, where the property has redefined the high-limit gaming experience. The space features private gaming, personal televisions, top-of-the-line slot machines, and amenities that you cannot find anywhere else on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Scarlet and E.I.P. members of the Pearl Rewards loyalty program have access to the VIP Lounge, which offers three unique upscale experiences. Sip a deliciously curated cocktail at the gravity-defying, full-service bar and tantalize your taste buds with delectable light-fare cuisine and scrumptious desserts in the dining area. E.I.P. guests can take a break from the action in the plush Parlor.

Book the ultimate vacation at the Scarlet Pearl’s 300-room modern hotel. With breathtaking design, superior service, and bathrooms that feel more like a spa, they have taken the definition of luxury into the clouds.

Book your next stay at ScarletPearlCasino.com or call 888-BOOK-SPC.

Dickie Brennan & Co.

A full-service market, kitchen, and bar all rolled into one with the standard of excellence Dickie Brennan restaurants are known for, The Commissary Market & Kitchen is the choice locale for fine casual dining in uptown New Orleans. This holiday season, The Commissary is also offering take-home Thanksgiving and Christmas packages with turkey, sides, dessert, and everything in between so your family can feast in style without the hassle of cooking at home.

During lunch hours throughout the month of December, also be on the lookout for traditional Dickie Brennan bells. A decades-long tradition celebrated throughout the city, this year, every Dickie Brennan restaurant is participating in the yuletide festivities, with Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse open for Friday lunches and Pascal’s Manale officially handing out their own bells for the very first time! Visit all seven restaurants throughout the Greater New Orleans area and ring in the new year with a full set of bells from your friends at Dickie Brennan & Co.

Ace Hotel New Orleans

The holidays are always merry and bright at Ace Hotel New Orleans as we roll out a plethora of cozy yuletide events for the whole family to enjoy. This year, let our chefs at the Josephine Estelle carve the turkey for you or take advantage of our take-and-bake-to-go service to bring Ace Hotel New Orleans experience home to the whole family.

Throughout the season, join us for fire pits and s’mores at Alto, our cozy rooftop bar, along with live music and glittering views of downtown New Orleans. On November 25, during the Bayou Classic weekend, enjoy a commemoration of HBCUs with DJs in the Lobby complementing the citywide festivities. Finally, ring in the new year with us at Three Keys, a music venue unlike any other, with a stylish dance party.

Make Ace Hotel New Orleans your hub for all things holiday. We hope to see you there!

Helis Foundation

Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation (PCSE), is the South’s leading outdoor, rotating public sculpture exhibition located in the heart of downtown New Orleans. On November 29th, at and in partnership with the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, PCSE and The Helis Foundation will proudly host internationally acclaimed visual artist Allison Janae Hamilton and bestselling author Lauren Groff for Florida Stories, a conversation in celebration of Hamilton’s sculpture, Love is like the sea…, currently on display at PCSE. Moderated by podcast and public radio powerhouse Virginia Prescott, this night of topical discussion about artistic inspirations, our relationship to our environment, and the culture of the American South, is sure to be an insightful and evocative exchange from two highly celebrated artists. Admission to the event is free, but registration is required and open now, so visit [ogdenmuseum.org/event/florida-stories-a-conversation-with-author-lauren-groff-and-visual-artist-allison-janae-hamilton/] and secure your spot today!

Luzianne Café – New Orleans

Savor the holiday season and stock up on iconic New Orleans gifts at Luzianne Café, a casual Southern diner with a tiny general store nestled in the dining room. This bustling establishment in the heart of New Orleans’ Warehouse District attracts loyal locals and visitors alike. All-day breakfast and lunch menus spotlight New Orleans favorites – think powdered breakfast beignets, shrimp poboys, and Creole grits – as well as classic Southern diner fare like chicken salad made with Blue Plate Mayo (a cherished local brand), pancake stacks, a biscuit breakfast sandwich that feels like a gift with every bite, and a fried chicken sandwich that’s surely the star atop this eatery’s culinary tree. The coffee bar serves brunch cocktails, specialty coffees, and teas for dine-in or take-out. Luzianne Café isn’t just a neighborhood diner – it’s a celebration of good times and the culinary joys of New Orleans and the South. 

Briquette

A gem tucked cozily among the historic warehouse district, Briquette offers the finest in modern tastes and design. Featuring a signature open kitchen and an 18-foot seafood display, enjoy watching fresh fish being prepared before your eyes on red-hot briquettes while sampling an extensive wine list and beautifully crafted cocktails. This holiday season, Briquette is excited to feature world-class contemporary southern seafood dishes along with some twists on the traditional yuletide fair. This Thanksgiving Day, Briquette is offering a full three-course Thanksgiving meal in addition to their regular menu and is also open on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day to welcome neighbors, friends, and family to toast the new year in style. There is truly no place better to celebrate the holidays than at Briquette. You’ll feel right at home.

Briquette is located at 701 S. Peters Street in the Warehouse District. Book your table today by calling the restaurant at 504-302-7496 or via OpenTable.

New Orleans Creole Cookery

New Orleans Creole Cookery prides itself on offering the finest in Cajun and Creole cuisine in a stylish and innovative fashion that excites audiences and ignites appetites. With the holiday season rapidly approaching, NOCC is your hub for families and friends to sit down for the finest in comfort dining. On Thanksgiving Day, NOCC is offering a full three-course meal in addition to their regular menu, so your family can feast without even having to clear the table. As December rolls around, NOCC is offering an open Oyster Bar for all Saints Games featuring the highest quality char-grilled oysters cooked to perfection. And finally, on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, NOCC is opening its doors, ready to serve its community and ring in 2024 deliciously.

Located at 508 Toulouse Street. For more information, reservations, or to book a private event, call the restaurant at 504-524-9632 or visit neworleanscreolecookery.com.

Louisiana Children’s Museum

The Louisiana Children’s Museum believes that when you make a child’s potential visible, wonderful things happen. Spread across 8.5 acres of indoor and outdoor space, LCM was created as a place where kids use play, shared exploration, and conversation to connect with the people around them in a space overflowing with innovative and exciting ways to discover something new about the world and themselves. Children and their families can enjoy exhibits like ‘Follow That Food’, the epic journey of breakfast from faraway farmland to your belly, ‘Move With The River,’ a hands-on exploration of the Mississippi River, and even an outdoor adventure space to interact directly with the wetland ecosystem within which we call home. There’s always something new and exciting to discover at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, a place where kids can be the amazing humans they are, and wonderful things happen every day.