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Downtown Living: Holiday Magic

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Embrace the spirit of the season with a sleighful of holiday events in Downtown New Orleans all December long!

 

Krewe of Jingle Parade
The Downtown Development District and Roosevelt New Orleans know it can’t possibly be a holiday in the Crescent City without a parade! Join the fun Dec. 2 for the city’s official holiday parade as the Krewe of Jingle rolls with authentic floats, stilt-walkers, school marching bands, a huge cast of Christmas characters and more! The route begins in Lee Circle, travels up St. Charles Avenue to Canal Street and then comes back down Baronne Street to end on Howard Avenue. The frolicking and festive fun begins at 1 p.m., so don’t be late! downtownnola.com/holidays

Miracle on Fulton Street
Once again, you’re invited to enjoy the sights and sounds at Miracle on Fulton Street, presented by Harrah’s New Orleans Dec. 1-24. This once-a-year event features a daily snowfall, thousands of twinkling lights, seasonal songs performed by the Canterbury Carolers, a magical gingerbread display inside the Harrah’s Hotel lobby, and visits with the one-and-only Santa on Friday and Saturday nights. The annual Miracle on Fulton Street also highlights local music with performances by artists like the Storyville Stompers Brass Band, James Andrews, Sunpie & the Sunspots, Vince Vance & the Valiants, the Tin Men and more! caesars.com/harrahs-new-orleans/shows/miracle-on-fulton-street

Movies on the Mississippi
The Downtown Development District and The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk invite you and your whole family to enjoy free outdoor holiday movies in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Plaza! For two weekends in December, revel in free holiday film fun: Dec. 8 Polar Express is showing, starring Tom Hanks, and Dec. 15 Elf will be playing, starring Will Ferrell! downtownnola.com/holidays

Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt New Orleans
Elves are already hard at work preparing the 2017 Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Take a magic-filled journey with Santa to the rooftops of New Orleans where both Santa and Mrs. Claus will welcome your whole family to a feast with delicious, seasonal savories, specialty teas, sweet pastries and sparkling wine mimosas for Mom and Dad. Make your reservation for the Teddy Bear Tea celebration today. therooseveltneworleans.com/specials-and-packages/teddy-bear-tea.html

LUNA Fête
Presented by Pan-American Life insurance, LUNA Fête was created by the Arts Council New Orleans to use the iconic landscape of New Orleans as the canvas for outdoor public artworks created with light and technology. Held Dec. 6-9 in Lafayette Square and along Lafayette Street towards Fulton, this multi-day celebration features digital sculptures, video-mapping projections, animated art and illuminated installations intended to engage and inspire visitors of all ages. artsneworleans.org/event/luna-fete

Reindeer Run & Romp
Fried turkey, oyster stuffing, pumpkin pie … there’s plenty of reasons we all need to stay in shape this holiday season. The Downtown Development District and Entergy are calling kids of all ages to register for the Reindeer Run & Romp Dec. 9, which begins with Rudolph, Santa and friends jingling their bells on Canal Street and ends in the Spanish Plaza at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk. All participants will receive bells for their sneakers, antlers, race t-shirts and a holiday goodie bag, and, after the race, you can romp around the Spanish Plaza enjoying healthy activities, games and crafts. downtownnola.com/holidays

NOLA ChristmasFest
You won’t want to miss one of the largest and fastest growing holiday events on the Gulf Coast — NOLA ChristmasFest! From Dec. 21-31, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will play host to a huge holiday extravaganza with tons of locally decorated trees, creative candy-filled gingerbread houses, an indoor ice-skating rink, ice slides, a carousel and carnival rides, pictures with Santa and more! nolachristmasfest.com

Home for the Holidays with the Victory Belles
All December long, The National World War II Museum presents Home for the Holidays with the Victory Belles at BB’s Stage Door Canteen. The talented trio will be harmonizing throughout the holiday season singing both secular and sacred favorites, Rockettes-style choreography and stunning costumes. nationalww2museum.org

BB’s Stagedoor Canteen’s Teddy Bear Tea
Kids of all ages are invited to jump in on the festivities at BB’s Stagedoor Canteen’s 2nd annual Teddy Bear Tea presented by the National World War II Museum. Guests will enjoy delicious holiday cuisine, sweet treats, festive performances by the Victory Belles and a surprise visit from Ol’ Saint Nick — and all lucky children in attendance will go home with a very special teddy bear. nationalww2museum.org

Jingle Bugs
Frolic among beautiful bugs at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, which is hosting a swarm of festive, holiday activities Dec. 9. Test your knowledge of winter bugs at the Gumdrop Hunt; enjoy face painting or holiday design in Arthropod Alley; and listen to Santa Claus spin a buggy version of the classic poem The Night Before Christmas in the Hall of Fame. Bring the whole family to sample holiday treats like Bug Nog, Peppermint Cricket Bark and Fruit Fly Cake, and to meet Pupa Noel, who will be hanging around all day in the Metamorphosis Lab with his sleigh and eight tiny beetle-deer! audubonnatureinstitute.org/jingle-bugs

Orpheum Holiday Spectacular
It’ll be hard to keep your seat when the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra teams up with the 610 Stompers at The Orpheum Theater Dec. 9-10 for a Holiday Spectacular! The “ordinary men with extraordinary moves” join the LPO plus local artists for the holiday event of the year! orpheumnola.com

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas – The Musical”
Based on the beloved 1954 film with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, Broadway Across America presents Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” Dec. 19-24 at the Saenger Theatre. The Hollywood classic is a story about a song-and-dance team planning a show in a wondrous Vermont inn. Sing along to some of the most memorable songs, like “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,” “Snow” and of course “White Christmas.” saengernola.com/shows/white-christmas

Creole Queen’s Cajun Holiday Tea with Papa Noel
Enjoy a holiday celebration cruise for the whole family aboard the paddle wheeler Creole Queen with Papa Noel, Mrs. Noel, Gaston the Gator and other Cajun characters! Enjoy savories and sweets during a classic holiday tea along with children’s activities like storytelling, magic tricks and face painting — all while cruising along the Mighty Mississippi. Gusts will also be invited to hold a real, live alligator and all children will go home with a special present from Papa Noel. creolequeen.com/cajun-holiday-tea-with-papa-noel