10 Things to Do in New Orleans in December
Here are 10 things to see and do in New Orleans in December for a great experience.
Christmas in New Orleans | jkenning
Planning to spend December in New Orleans, but have no idea what the city has to offer? Don't worry, here's a list with a Christmas twist. You'll find all the tips you need to make your visit a success here. Make sure you have a unique stay in the tourist and cultural heart of the state of Louisiana.
1. Tour the illuminated structures of City Park
During the whole month of December you will have at your disposal a free and entertaining activity to share with the youngest members of the family. It's an exhibition of light sculptures in New Orleans' City Park, which is filled with the distinctive oak and willow trees that are so prevalent in the area's wetlands.
It's an experience that **you'll have to drive, so it's more feasible if you've rented a car to get around the city or if you're willing to pay a taxi driver for the 30 to 45 minutes it takes to drive all the way.
Another alternative if you're looking for an evening activity that's not so focused on children's entertainment is to book a tour of the New Orleans Cemetery.
Details of interest
- Where: New Orleans City Park
- Price: The average price for a vehicle for up to 8 people is US$40.
- Dates: The event takes place every night in December.
2. Plan a Reveillon Dinner
New Orleans is known for the authenticity of its food and December is a great time to sample it with Reveillon Dinners.
These are the typical dinners that used to take place after midnight mass in the city's Catholic communities and, over the years, have become an event you can attend from the first of the month until New Year's Eve.
Typically, they include dishes such as eggs Sardou, turtle soups and baked turkey stuffed with duck and meat, as well as various presentations of the oysters that have become a signature aspect of the local cuisine. Some of these dishes can also be sampled on food tours of New Orleans.
Interesting facts
Note that more than 40 restaurants usually have these special dinners on their menu this month and all offer prices in the $50-$60 per person range.
3. Admire the Christmas decorations on old houses
If you've wondered what the gigantic mansions that characterise the older, wealthier neighbourhoods of America's southern cities look like, you'll love this activity.
In short, it's a tour of the excellently preserved homes of the Garden District, which are also decorated to the nines with Christmas decorations.
This was the area of the city where American tycoons who grew rich from New Orleans' port industry settled after the US annexed it.
4. Spend Christmas Eve on the Mississippi River
With the arrival of Christmas also comes another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to welcome Christmas in a way you couldn't do anywhere else in the world, on a cruise on the Mississippi. The interesting thing about this activity is that the boats are exactly the same as the ones that were used several decades ago. In other words, they are still steam-powered.
The most important shipping companies in the city usually offer special packages for those who are looking to experience the arrival of December 25th in an unconventional way. Here are a few that you can join:
Details of interest
- Prices: depends on the cruise company you choose, but the most common is that children under 2 or 3 years old do not pay and the price ranges from 38 € to 150 €.
- Duration: some last for 3 hours and others last for the whole evening with a disembarkation in the early hours of 25 December.
5. Take part in the Santa Run fun run
Basically, it's a race that stands out because no one actually runs. Instead, thousands of participants dressed as Father Christmas and other personalities of Christmas culture, such as the elves from the gift shop or Mister Scrooge, drink alcoholic beverages.
In other words, it is an activity that is mainly focused on adult entertainment, as everyone is celebrating with live music from the starting point, which is supposed to be the South Pole, to the finishing point, which is supposed to be the North Pole.
Participating in the New Orleans Santa Run is even more interesting considering that it is one of the few places in the United States where it is completely legal to consume alcohol on the street.
Useful information
- Prices: Admission tickets are usually around $20 per person, but can vary yearly.
- Duration: can take up your entire afternoon and evening.
- Location: Traditionally held in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, the start and finish points of the race change every year.
- Date: Almost always 11 December, but due to proximity to the weekend it can be rearranged.
- Time: Visitors start arriving as early as 2pm.
6. Bring the little ones to the Krewe of Jingle
December is a month that has a very special connection to childhood and the innocence that develops at that stage of life. That's why it's a great idea to take your little ones to the Krewe of Jingle parade if you're thinking of things to see and do with kids in New Orleans this month.
Dancers, floats , inflatable sculptures, bands, street performers and more are just some of the attractions that take place throughout the Krewe of Jingle.
The launching of the typical throws, or souvenirs, of the urban parades of New Orleans is also present in this celebration. Only, in this case, you might get your hands on some peppermint candy canes or bags of gingerbread biscuits.
Useful information
- Price: This is a free activity.
- Location: Canal Street, in the city's Downtown, i.e. the financial centre.
7. Visit the Mardi Gras Museum and Mardi Gras World
If you're feeling a little disappointed that December is so close to the Mardi Gras countdown, but you're not yet in the official season, you can quickly sort it out.
The city has two museums that have permanent exhibits on everything related to the most important carnival in the United States:
- Mardi Gras World: this is the largest float-building establishment in the world. These floats will travel in and around Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday each year. The costumes and ornamental clothing for the event are also made in this warehouse and for this reason you can have your picture taken with them if you wish.
- Mardi Gras Museum: TheMardi Gras Museum is notable for its focus on the history and importance of the event to the city's identity. There is the possibility of trying on a typical Mardi Gras costume without having to visit the city during the month of February.
Interesting details
- Prices: Mardi Gras Museum tour tickets are usually around US$15 per person. Mardi Gras World tickets are up to $20 per ticket for adults, but discounts apply for children between the ages of 2 and 11.
- Hours: Mardi Gras World is open every day of the week, but the Mardi Gras Museum is only available from Friday to Monday.
8. Be amazed by the technology at Luna Fête
Another excellent recommendation that couldn't be missing from this list of things to do and see in New Orleans in December is the Luna Fête organised by the city's Arts Council.
This is one of the best things to do in New Orleans at night at this time of year, as it is a completely free light and technology show.
The location usually changes every year to give variety to the design of the stages and the artistic aspect of the event. In addition, an art market with drinks, food and other activities takes place simultaneously at the same location on the weekend days of the month.
9. Take advantage of the activities at the Royal Snownesta
It's one of the city's finest establishments, but just in December it gets even more interesting with a reinvention of its name under the Royal Snownesta label.
Throughout the month they're offering all sorts of activities like little sleepovers with Father Christmas for the kids and burlesque shows with a holiday vibe for the adults.
Interesting details
- Pricing: There is no admission fee for some of the hotel's bars such as the Jazz Playhouse, but be aware that you are 100% on your own.
- Location: 300 Bourbon Street, a couple of blocks from the New Orleans Museum of the Dead.
10. Attend a street party to celebrate New Year's Eve
Bourbon Street is the undisputed epicentre of New Orleans partying and this famous street offers every type of New Year's Eve celebration you can imagine. From elegant dinners inside a hotel restaurant to jazz bars packed with tourists.
Going out on the street with loads of people who are in the same situation as you and your companions is also possible and don't worry, the party will go on until the next morning.
Jackson Square is another alternative way to ring in the New Year, which makes sense knowing that it's an area packed with things to see and do throughout the winter in New Orleans.
What kind of clothes should you pack if you visit New Orleans in December?
New Orleans isn't exactly the warmest place to be in December, with highs hovering around 18 degrees Celsius and lows often reaching 8 degrees Celsius at night.
A couple of coats wouldn't go amiss, but bear in mind that daytime walks will be punctuated by a sun that can be extremely bright as well as cloudy at any given moment.
Long trousers and some smart clothes are also a wise decision if you intend to celebrate the arrival of the 25th and the first of January in this city in an enclosed establishment.