All of the Lights
Photo by Brooke Cagle
Driving along to admire lights lovingly hung by homeowners is a delight even in a normal year. Here as 2020 comes to a much-anticipated close, light trails and drive-through displays of cheer can be enjoyed throughout the state. Here are the ones on our sleigh-dar.
Until January 3 from 5 pm or 6 pm, New Orleans: Celebration in the Oaks
Until January 6, various times, Natchitoches: Natchitoches Christmas Festival
December 4–23 at 5:30, Lafayette: Noël Acadien au Village
December 11–20 at 6 pm, Mandeville: Tammany Trace Holiday of Lights
December 11–26 at various times, Breaux Bridge: Breaux Bridge Drive-By Christmas Party
December 12 at 4 pm, Baton Rouge: St. Lucy Festival of Lights
December 12–13 at 6 pm, Baker: Journey to Bethlehem
December 12–20 at 5 pm, Monroe: Open Wagon Rides Through the Lights
Until December 31 at various times, Natchez: Netflix Brings "Here for the Holiday" to Natchez
Family Fa-la-la’s
Photo by Steve Halama
Here are your opportunities to belt your favorite carols into the brisk Louisiana night air, for those looking for the right time and place to musically demand figgy pudding (whatever that is).
December 11 at 7 pm, Covington: Candlelight Caroling at Covington Trailhead
December 20 at 7 pm, New Orleans: Caroling in Jackson Square
Holiday Concerts
Photo by Mika Baumeister
If you’re less about doing your own caroling and more about leaving the holiday favorites to the professional musicians, never fear: plenty of local bands and symphonies will be playing joyfully and triumphantly this Winter.
December 10 at 6 pm, Alexandria: Alexandria Museum of Art Holiday concert
December 10 at 6 pm, Natchez: Home for Christmas Featuring Lynn Beach Smith and Gabrielle Richardson Henning
December 10 & 11 at various times, New Orleans: Twelve Days of Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
December 11 at 6:30 pm, Online: Golden Hour: Panorama Jazz Band "Staying Home for the Holidays"
December 15 at 12 pm, Online: Kids' Orchestra's Global "Ode to Joy"
December 16 at 6:30 pm or 8:30 pm, Baton Rouge or Online: Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Holiday Brass Performances
December 17 at 7 pm, Lafayette: Acadiana Symphony Orchestra's "Believe!" Concert
December 17 at 3 pm or 7 pm, Mandeville: Christmas on the Northshore Concert
December 18 at 6 pm in Natchez: A Soulful Natchez Christmas with Alvin Shelby
December 19 at 6 pm in Natchez: A Celtic Christmas with Anna Dean and Friends
December 22 at various times, online: NOCCA's Home for the Holidays Concert & Auction
Holiday Happenings
Photo by Guille Alvarez
These festive events defy categories: crafts, lights, shopping, food, who knows–you might even be able to catch all of the aforementioned fun in one place. Check the individual listings for more details.
December 1–18, various times, online: NOLA Christmasfest
December 1–19, various times, Covington: Christmas in the Country
December 1–31, various times, Minden: Christmas Market on Main
December 1–31, various times, Natchez: Christmas in Natchez
December 5–23 at various times, Alexandria: Christmas Tea at the Jewel Box
December 11 at 5 pm, Abita Springs: Abita Springs' Fête de Noël: A Celebration of Light
December 12 at 11 am or 2 pm, Natchez: Christmas Tea at Magnolia Cottage
December 12 at 1 pm, New Orleans: Merry Market at Longue Vue
December 12 at 3 pm, Covington: Deck the Park with Pyrotechnics
December 24 at 7 pm, Lutcher: Christmas Eve Bonfires
Santa Sightings
For those with little ones (or maybe even grown-ups looking for someone to demand a PS5 or an end to the pandemic from), the big guy with the red suit himself can be found at the following events, taking gift requests and spreading jolliness.
December 5–23 at various times, Henderson: Atchafalaya Christmas
December 12 at 1 pm, Baton Rouge: Accident Reported at North Pole, Children Needed to Save Santa
December 12 from 9 am–4pm, Lacombe: Cajun Christmas at Big Branch
Seasonal Show-Stoppers
Photo by Mario Mendez
These theatrical performances and film screenings provide the triple-threat of holiday cheer, song, and dance.
December 11–13 at 7 pm, Mandeville: A Very Merry Christmas Spectacular
December 11–20 at 7:30 pm or 2 pm, Baton Rouge: It's a Wonderful Life: A Life Radio Play
December 12–13 at 7 pm or 2 pm, Covington: Ballet Apetrei's Nutcracker: Kingdom of the Sweets
December 13 at 2 pm, Baton Rouge: It's a Wonderful Life (1946) at the Manship
December 13 at 2 pm, Online: Sugar Plum Soirée
December 19–20, various times, online: Lafayette Ballet Theatre Presents the Nutcracker
December 21 at 7 pm, Online: Silverbacks Improv Theatre Presents: The 9th Annual Holiday Show
Tours of Decked Halls
Image courtesy of the Preservation Resource Center
Holly and lights abound on these historic home tours, where fine homes will open wreathed doors for all to admire.
December 1–31, 7 pm, Natchez: Holiday Candlelight Tours of the Towers
December 1–31, various times, New Iberia: Victorian Christmas at Rip Van Winkle Gardens
December 11–13, various times, Online: New Orleans Holiday Home Tours
December 13, various times, Springfield: Carter House Christmas Open House
Holiday Spirit(s)
Photo by Alexander Mils
These cocktail-related events are for the grown-ups, and promise to warm you up in the cold.
December 11 at 7 pm, Online: Vermilionville Virtual Mix, Meet, and Mingle
December 17 at 6:30 pm, Alexandria: Huckleberry Holidays at the Jewel Box
December 21 at 6:30 pm, Alexandria: A Hot Toddy Party at the Jewel Box
Visit our Events Page for our full listing of events, seasonal and otherwise.
