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 2022 Christmas season in New Orleans is sure to be in full swing, with so many more family-friendly activities, traditions, and LIGHTS! After two Christmas’ in the trenches, life and all the fun that goes with it is getting back to normal. 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.
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. Your tickets must be purchased online in advance. They also have three designated Bike Nights on November 29th, December 6th, and December 13th. And so exciting – the walking tour is finally back this year! 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 24th and last until January 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 to photograph. In 2021 The Roosevelt added even more magic to their display featuring double the amount of bows, garland, 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 opp for you and yours!
Luna Fete – For the 9th 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 December 15th-18th starting at 6pm, with the 15 minute show running until the last one that starts at 10pm each night. Light-based artworks by artists celebrating costumery and culture will be spread across 7.5 acres of the new Convention Center Pedestrian Park and into Mississippi River Heritage Park. A nightly arts market, delicious food, drinks, and other glowing features will be available to enjoy.
Christmas in the Park (Lafrienere Park) – This particular event seems to get bigger and better each year. Lafrienere 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 both a driving and a walking tour available for purchase, the 36th annual event will take place from Friday December 2nd to Friday, December 30th. 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!
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 setup 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 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday running December 2nd – December 18th.
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! Parade is set to sail in St. Tammany on December 17th for this season. You can sign yourself up to participate on their website or check their Facebook page for updates on viewing.
Olde Towne Slidell – So many twinkling lights and festive Christmas displays to see in this historic area. Filled with cheerful lights, life size Christmas cottages, a Nativity scene, and the Parade of Trees, Griffith Park in Olde Towne Slidell will host its 33rd annual Christmas Under the Stars event. The four day celebration happens on December 2nd & 3rd, the continues on December 9th & 20th from 6-9 pm. In addition to this event, Main Street is putting on a Spirit of the Season contest where businesses and locals will compete for a “Best Of” award for lights and Christmas décor. Not only can you drive by and view all of the merriment but drivers can even participate in the new People’s Choice Award of best lights. Finally, Front St. will be donned with LED lights all along its route for a cheerful holiday display for everyone to drive by and enjoy Christmas on Front St.
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 – 10:30 daily.
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 also rent a bubble tent to have a picnic under the lights on certain nights. The month of events kicks off on December 4th at 5:30 pm with the Gretna Christmas Tree lighting and Christmas Parade featuring, of course, Santa! Check Gretna’s government website for more information about their holiday festivities happening under and around these beautiful lights.
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.
Palmisano Street in Chalmette – You thought this street did it big for Halloween, well Christmas light displays are just as customary. Driving up and down this boulevard, you’re sure to see houses with dancing lights synced to the radio, classic Christmas Characters, and moving lawn décor.
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 their traditional magical display of lights and figurines but will incorporate fake snow and 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.
4032 Lake Trail Dr, Kenner – If you’ve ever passed by Vintage and Power, or even flown by as a passenger headed to the airport, then you have seen this corner house on Lake Trail during Christmas time. The flashing lights, Tall LED Christmas tree, and decked out lawn dancing to the synced up radio station are enough to get any car to pull over and just watch. Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Ida, this particular home will most likely not be able to dazzle passersby with this show of lights and the traditional snow couple, Boudreaux and Marie. However, the owners did inform us that they will definitely be back next year and that if they are able to do anything this season, they will make sure to post information online.
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 designated 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.
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
The city of Kenner website has announced that unfortunately due to damage from Hurricane IDA The Kenner Rivertown Christmas Lights will not be displayed this year!