If you are looking for things to do in New Orleans with kids, you have come to the right place. New Orleans Mom is the city’s premier website for living in New Orleans with kids, and the holiday season is no exception! Here is a comprehensive list of where to see Christmas lights in New Orleans – Happy Holidays!
Where to See Christmas Lights in New Orleans
This 2024 Christmas season in New Orleans is sure to be in full swing, with tons of family-friendly activities, traditions, and LIGHTS! I think we can all probably agree that we are all in need of some serious Christmas cheer! Whether you get that cheer from Christmas shopping, hosting a
social, or decorating your own home, we invite you to explore our list of cheerful Christmas light displays in and around New Orleans. If you are up for a drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there are loads of holiday lights in Mississippi, too.
Pro-Tip :: Worried about where to park to see some of these featured holiday events? Check out our guide to parking in and around New Orleans.
Hot Spots for New Orleans Christmas lights (Businesses) ::
Celebration in the Oaks – It wouldn’t be a Christmas lights guide without mentioning the long-time traditional experience of Celebration in the Oaks. With over a million gleaming lights to get lost in, this brightly lit event offers so many kid-friendly opportunities to both view and interact with Christmas lights. City Park is still offering their 2.25-mile driving tour option that allows families to take a (warm & comfortable) 30 – 47 minute drive through millions of dazzling and dancing lights. Make sure to tune into 103.7 upon arrival for your Christmas classics. Your tickets must be purchased online in advance for both the walking & driving tours. The walking tour is also back! Enjoy unlimited rides, roasting marshmallows, hot chocolate, the decked-out Botanical Gardens, 
and a festive train ride. There will be lots of photo opportunities, a “snowy” area, and the Dancing Light Show in the Carousel Gardens are all favorites also returning. If you do the driving tour, your walking tour ticket is discounted so take the time and enjoy both experiences if you can! CITO will begin November 29th and last until January 3rd this year. Tickets go on sale on November 1st!
Waldorf Wonderland – A classic New Orleans tradition and one of the most beautifully photographed is the Waldorf Wonderland Lobby in the historic New Orleans Roosevelt Hotel. With bright white lights covering an entire city block’s length of the lobby, this White Winter Wonderland is definitely a sight to see and photograph. In 2021, The Roosevelt added even more magic to their display, featuring double the amount of bows, garlands, and 20,000 additional lights than what we’ve seen in previous years. A definite crowd-favorite, this downtown lobby is a fun walk for children and a gorgeous photo op for you and yours!
New Orleans Hotel Lobbies – Many of the hotels in New Orleans get in the holiday spirit from Christmas Tree Land at the Royal Sonesta to one of the biggest trees in the city at the Windsor Court! Other hotels such as Hotel Monteleone and Le Pavillon have traditional Christmas decor as well.
Greenway Supernova – Enjoy the Greenway Supernova on Lafitte Street in New Orleans. This free light walk is held on the Lafitte Greenway in Mid-City and is home to art installations from local artists. Save the date for December 12th – 14th!
Luna Fete – For the 11th year, The Arts Council of New Orleans will put on this free festival of lights, art, and technology to wow viewers this holiday season. This edition of the unique light show will take place November 14th-17th, starting at 6 pm, with the 15-minute show running until the last one that starts at 10 pm each night. Light-based artworks by artists celebrating costumery and culture will return home to Lafayette Square, stretching from Gallier Hall to Piazza d’Italia, exploring themes of Melody and Mythology. A nightly art market, delicious food, drinks, and other glowing features will be available to enjoy.
Christmas in the Park (Lafreniere Park) – This particular event seems to get bigger and better each year. Lafreniere Park has over 10 million dazzling lights displayed through an array of themes ranging from Disney to Marvel, to Star Wars, and much more! With a driving tour available for purchase or the choice of a walking tour, the 37th annual event will take place December 1st through 30th (closed Christmas Day). Families have plenty of photo opportunities as well as elaborate scenes to view showcasing elves working in Santa’s workshop, artificial snow to play in, and special appearances on weekends by Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, Elf, and even Santa himself! Tickets are $10 per car in advance or $15 at the gate. No cash! Purchase here to save!
Kenner’s Heritage Park Christmas Village – Historic Rivertown is embellished with thousands of twinkling lights stretching from the railroad tracks all the way to the river. Families can stroll through the festive displays, enjoy nightly “snowfall”, and shop the unique Christmas vendors set up nightly. The Planetarium theater puts on a holiday laser light show sure to wow the kiddos right across the street. This event is free and happens daily from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm between December 1st to the 31st but vendors and entertainment are Fridays and Saturdays only.
Light Up the Huey – This beautifully lit display consists of trees wrapped in Christmas lights that line Huey P. Long Avenue from 10th St. all the way to the River. This majestic avenue is a sight to see whether driving or walking. You can drive the Huey Lights on November 29th. From December 1 – 22, enjoy Picnic under the Lights where you can also rent a bubble tent to have a picnic under the lights on certain nights starting November 1st. The month of events kicks off with the Gretna Christmas Tree lighting and Christmas Parade on December 1st at 5 pm featuring, of course, Santa! Check Gretna’s government website for more information about their holiday festivities happening under and around these beautiful lights.
4th Annual Pothole Christmas Tree Lighting – Head over to Pete’s Irish Channel Bar in New Orleans on Friday, December 6th at 6 p.m. for the merriment to begin. The tree lighting will take place at around 8 p.m.
Lights on the Lake – This holiday celebration is back for its 11th year! Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and bring your family to enjoy a magical evening filled with festive lights and holiday cheer. This event promises the best view of the annual West End Boat Parade, a stunning display of beautifully decorated boats lighting up the lake. Admission for all is $10 (free for children five and under) and tickets to the event will be sold at the door and online. No pets or chairs are allowed.
Northshore Christmas Events
Eden Isles Christmas Boat Parade – Come see Santa on a Sailboat! This traditional boat parade will showcase boats “decked” out with Christmas lights on the water! The parade is set to sail in St. Tammany on December 21st for this season and starts at Dusk. You can sign yourself up to participate on their website or check their Facebook page for updates on viewing.
Covington’s 12 Days of Christmas – The City of Covington’s 12 Days of Christmas walking tour is up and ready to go! Grab the family or a friend and get your Christmas jogging jingle on or get in the car and make it a Christmas cruise!
Slidell’s Bayou Christmas – Slidell’s Bayou Christmas returns to Heritage Park! Come enjoy the festivities on Thursday, 12/15 through Sunday, 12/18 and on 12/22 and 12/23. This annual holiday event, sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Slidell and the City of Slidell, features live entertainment, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, an ice skating rink, kiddie rides, food and craft vendors, narrated Nativity scene created by artist Lori Anselmo, plus other special holiday surprises. Admission is free, but donations to the Boys and Girls Club are welcomed. The lights will be on each night in Heritage Park from Dec. 15 to Dec 25.
Lollipops Christmas Parade – On Saturday, December 7th at 3 pm in Downtown Covington, experience the Christmas Parade, which will be emceed by Daniel Munn on the corner of Columbia and N. Theard. Bring a food item for the Northshore Food Bank, and Santa’s elves will collect your canned goods on the parade route.
Snow Village & Train Display (677 Lafitte St, Mandeville, 70448) – Trains, trolleys, and twinkling lights! Kids could stare at the large display window all evening long! Lasting from Thanksgiving ’til New Year’s Day, the exhibit welcomes families to walk up and enjoy the quaint Christmas villages, some New Orleans-themed decor, including a running streetcar, and captivating glimmering lights all over. Times are 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm daily.
25th Annual Holiday of Lights – Parish President Mike Cooper and the Tammany Trace Foundation present the 25th annual Holiday of Lights in all its glittering glory, with free fun for children and families. The event features performances by local school children on December 6th -7th and 13th – 14th from 6 pm – 8:30 p.m. Lighted displays continue as a drive-thru experience from dusk ’til dawn through December 31. Sing along with carolers, visit with Santa, ride the kiddie rides, enjoy fare from local food truck vendors, and get a photo with Santa for a small fee. All food trucks will be located directly behind the Holiday of Lights stage on Koop Drive. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays of the first two weekends in December. The daily schedule of events will be announced as the event nears so make sure you check the website.
Northshore Christmas Lights (Residential) ::
Marino’s on Carmel Drive – While this house does it big for Halloween, they also have an amazing Christmas display as well with music!
42620 Sac Au Lait Drive – This house puts on a great Halloween display but an even better Christmas display that actually goes across several yards next to it. It features a full-sized sleigh with a giant Santa Claus that makes for a great photo opportunity. Everything from the roof to the ground is decorated as well as lights that dance to your favorite Christmas tunes! This display is slated to be set up starting November 10th! Peek below for a picture from last year’s display.
Hot Spots for New Orleans Christmas lights (Residential) ::
Grandlake Estates in Kenner – This neighborhood typically has some great houses decorated for the holidays. Make sure to drive through with the kids on your Christmas lights tour.
Corrine Street in Chalmette – Another crowd favorite to drive by and see some festive sights, Corrinne Street is one of New Orleans Moms’ favorite streets in the Parish for holiday lights.
4 Keplar Court, Kenner – Beginning on Black Friday, this particular home will not only put on its traditional magical display of lights and figurines but will incorporate classic Christmas movie displays projected on the large roof for all to pass by and enjoy. The owner will have a 15-minute Christmas “projection” display! It will include two separate movie scenes, one from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and another from Nightmare Before Christmas of Jack Skeleton singing “What’s This?” This idea was a big hit for his Halloween displays; you’re in for a treat this Christmas.
3257 E Lafourche Ct, Kenner – Another fun show of dancing lights, this home will have you pulling over and rolling the windows down to hear movie scenes and enjoy music.
3805 Palmisano St, Chalmette – Multiple tall LED lit trees, flashing lights scattered about the lawn, and Christmas displays projected onto the front of the house, this family goes all out to put on a show for anyone driving by. They even encourage you to park in front of the house, tune into 103.5 FM, and enjoy the synced light show for a lively display of Christmas fun.
2505 Riverland Street – This residence, just two streets from Chalmette High School’s main campus, took Christmas décor to a whole new level. Not only are there life-sized Disney and Classic Christmas figurines as well as a nativity scene, but the entire lot is “fenced” in with endless strands of colorful lights designating the property lines but also adding to the rainbow of lights and incredibly bright display.
4521 Alexander Street – This house north of W Esplanade has a synchronized light show featuring 9 different songs. Be sure to tune your radios to 90.3 FM.
Holiday House of Destrehan, Devereaux Drive – Up for a little drive? Head over to the Holiday House of Destrehan. They had an amazing Halloween display and plan to make their Christmas display just as great!
Other residential blocks with homes traditionally decorated worth adding to your lights list – This list started in 2020, so please check back with the Jefferson Holiday Display Facebook Group Page for updates and more fabulous homes to checkout this season!
- 900 block of Carnation Ave, Metairie 70001
- 4400 block of Chalfant Dr, Metairie 70001
- 1600 block of Transcontinental Dr, Metairie, 70003
- 2500 block of Selles St, Metairie 70003
- 3700 block and 4000 block of Neyrey Dr, Metairie 70002
- 4600 block of Chateau Dr, Metairie 70002
- 4600 block of Beau Lac Ln, Metairie, 70002
- 4700 block of Lorino St, Metairie, 70006
- 3900 block of Green Acres Rd, Metairie, 70003
- 4900 block of James, Metairie, 70003
- 4600 block of Wade Dr, Metairie, 70003
- 3400 block of Maine Ave, Kenner, 70065
- 4300 block of David Dr, Metairie, 70003
- 3000 block of Texas Ave, Kenner, 70065
- 3200 block of Grandlake Blvd, Kenner, 70065
- First block of Dauterive Ct, Kenner, 70065
- 20 block of Grandbay Ct, Kenner, 70065
- 3000 block of E Louisiana State Dr, Kenner, 70065
- 3300 block of Continental Dr, Kenner, 70065
- 30 block of Clevner St, Kenner, 70065
- 3900 block of Lake Trail Dr, Kenner, 70065
- 60 block of Monterrey Ave, Kenner, 70065
- 1900 block of Indiana Ave, Kenner, 70062
- 2000 block of Maryland Ave, Kenner, 70062
- 1700 block of Mason Smith Ave, Metairie, 70003
- 800 block of Airline Park Blvd, Metairie, 70003
- 500 block of Little Farms Ave, New Orleans, 70123
- 100 block of Normandy Ave, New Orleans, 70123
Up for a drive?! We encourage you to visit our neighbors out West to see all of the amazing light displays in the Baton Rouge area and Lafayette area and even take part in some fun holiday activities as well.
The Merriest Mile – This is Livingston Parish’s premier drive-through Christmas light spectacular! Located at the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds, they offer a magical, memorable holiday experience for the whole family running from November 29th – December 31st. Enjoy the magic from your car and see if you can spot the hidden red crawfish and green alligators! More information about this event. including times and ticket prices, can be found here.
