Your Ultimate Guide to Weekend Fun in New Orleans

Weekend Picks is your source for the best weekend activities in New Orleans. From concerts to festivals, there’s plenty to do.

This weekend, enjoy a mix of holiday activities including the return of LUNA Fête, the Jingle on the Boulevard parade, NOLA ChristmasFest, and Caroling in Jackson Square. Get ready for some serious holiday cheer and check out our weekend picks below.

1

Luna Fête is a one-of-a-kind lights display held in downtown New Orleans. The event takes over its surroundings with lights, art, and technology. Buildings are  transformed with video projection-mapping, while areas nearby are adorned with illuminated sculptures and light activations. More than 100,000 attendees have enjoyed Luna Fete in the past few years. It is free, open to the public, and fun for all ages! Luna Fête will return from December 16-19, 2021.

2

Broadway in New Orleans is back with Cats, The Musical from December 14-19 at the Saenger Theater. An Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, Cats is a razzle-dazzle sung-through musical giving T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection new life. This musical features exquisite hair, costume, and makeup and is fun for the whole family.

3

In a city that’s almost always in countdown mode to Mardi Gras, it makes sense that we’d have a Christmas parade. The Jingle on the Boulevard parade rolls in New Orleans East on Saturday, Dec. 18 and features all the merriment of Carnival season, with floats, marching bands, and throws.

4

The indoor Christmas festival known as NOLA ChristmasFest returns to the Convention Center with lots of seasonal cheer. An ice slide, ice skating rink, yuletide market, gingerbread village, and photos with Santa are just a few of the highlights. NOLA ChristmasFest is open December 17-22 and 25-30.

5

Caroling in Jackson Square is a beloved holiday tradition with a uniquely New Orleans twist held the Sunday before Christmas Day. Head to New Orleans’ iconic Jackson Square to join in this annual celebration of music and merriment. The gates to Jackson Square typically open at 6:30 p.m. and the caroling begins at 7:00 p.m. If you’d like to make a day in the French Quarter, get tickets to the Patio Planters Holiday Home Tour held from 1-4 p.m. that same day.

Holiday Lagniappe

There’s plenty more holiday fun to be had this weekend. Indulge in a festive cocktail or two, or participate in the dining tradition of Réveillon, which involves sitting down for a multi-course meal. Holiday concerts at St. Louis Cathedral and St. Anna’s Episcopal Church are in full swing as well. For even more holiday fun, visit https://holiday.neworleans.com.