You know children are eager to enjoy the Christmas season, but how can you help them create the best memories? By participating in the best Christmas events for kids, of course!
When children participate in Christmas events, they share time with peers and family, which can encourage teamwork and help them feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging. Not only can they have fun but also develop their creativity and imagination while learning valuable lessons about being kind to others. Clearly, it’s not just about celebrating but learning and growing as human beings!
That’s why we’ve created this list for you. Explore our Kid City Guide and discover the best Christmas events in New Orleans today.
Discover the Best Christmas events for kids in 2024
1
1419 Basin St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
The Nutcracker at Mahalia Jackson Theatre
One of the classic Christmas events for kids in New Orleans is, without a doubt, enjoying The Nutcracker. This Christmas season, your family can delight in this traditional holiday show performed by Delta Festival Ballet at Mahalia Jackson Theatre.2
333 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Selfies With Santa at Canal Place
Can you think of better Christmas events for kids than those that involve Santa himself? At Canal Place, Santa will greet the children and take awesome selfies with them, while the whole family interacts with Sugarplum fairies and elves. Besides, your little ones will enjoy free gourmet cookies!3
1100 North Peters Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
St. Nick Celebration at French Market
If you’re searching for free Christmas events for kids, this is a fantastic choice. At French Market, you and your children will find live music, holiday characters, and fun kids’ activities such as Pixie Dust Biodegradable Glitter, Paper Doll Promotions Balloon Art, Rowdy’s Rascals Petting Zoo, Letters to Santa, and more!4
400 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Jingling Through the Crescent Tour - Steamboat NATCHEZ
This season your family can enjoy a narrated motor coach tour of New Orleans traveling through historic neighborhoods, discovering stories of voodoo and piracy, and visiting City Park. Then, discover the longest bridge over the water in the world, the homes of kings and queens of Mardi Gras, the lobby of the restored Roosevelt Hotel, and more.5
400 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure - Steamboat NATCHEZ
This season, celebrate the tradition of the bonfires on the banks of the Mississippi River! The tour includes round-trip narrated motor coach transportation to Destrehan Plantation along with a traditional holiday dinner that includes delicious dishes such as smoked pork loin, sweet potato soufflé, and yeast roll with butter.6
400 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Christmas Eve Cruise - Steamboat NATCHEZ
Experience an elegant Christmas Eve celebration on the Mighty Mississippi River taking in the beauty of the New Orleans skyline. Your family will enjoy live jazz music and holiday tunes by the DUKES of Dixieland and a fantastic Christmas Eve Dinner Menu or Holiday Cocktail Menu.7
1419 Basin St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Mahalia Jackson Theatre
Looking for the most fun Christmas events for kids in New Orleans? What if your family enjoys a Christmas classic like The Nutcracker combined with a contemporary hip-hop dance, a mouse-ear-wearing gang, a humble nut seller, and a nightclub trapped in 1985?8
129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
New Orleans Ballet Theatre - The Nutcracker at The Orpheum Theater
If you are looking for traditional Christmas events for kids in New Orleans, you can go for a Christmas favorite like The Nutcracker and enjoy a two-act ballet with great dancers and stunning costumes. You and your children can see this Christmas tale performed by the incredible New Orleans ballet company, the perfect way to welcome Christmas!9
2021 S Dupre St, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
Candlelight: Christmas Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More at Broadmoor Community Church
Candlelight concerts are a live, multi-sensory musical experience, perfect for enjoying with the whole family. This special concert will offer “The Nutcracker” music and more at Broadmoor Community Church under the glow of candlelight. Anyone above the age of 8 can attend this beautiful concert performed by Listeso – New Orleans!10
101 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Candlelight: Christmas Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and Moreat at The Sazerac House
Just like the latter event, this Candlelight concert will offer “The Nutcracker” music performed by the Delachaise Ensemble – String Quartet at The Sazerac House under the glow of candlelight. Great for families with kids above the age of 8.11
101 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Candlelight: Christmas Pop Classics and New Favorites at The Sazerac House
This beautiful concert will offer Holiday Pop Classics and Modern Favorites performed by Listeso String Quartet at The Sazerac House under the glow of candlelight. You’ll delight in songs such as Snowman by Sia, All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, and Little Saint Nick by Beach Boys.12
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA, USA
The Victory Belles Ring in the Season at BB’s Stage Door Canteen
At BB’s Stage Door Canteen, your family can celebrate the holidays with a brand-new show from the Victory Belles and the Victory Six Band! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the Belles’s performance of Yuletide favorites in their timeless signature three-part harmony.13
945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Teddy Bear Tea at BB’s Stage Door Canteen
Also at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, your kids will experience the greatest holiday season with delicious food, sweet treats, and live music from the Victory Belles. Besides, they’ll meet Santa and leave with a teddy bear!14
916 Navarre Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
WYES Holiday Marketplace
Your family can have a great time at the WYES Holiday Market, where you’ll find local artists, crafters, and talent from the greater New Orleans area. Shop and enjoy the snacks provided by local food trucks.15
400 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Sailing with Santa - Steamboat NATCHEZ
One of the most special kids Christmas events you’ll find this season is Sailing with Santa on the Steamboat NATCHEZ! Bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots New Orleans and enjoy holiday entertainment with Santa.16
725 Howard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Holiday Cookies with Chef Zak Miller at NOCHI
Celebrate the season by learning how to prepare and decorate holiday cookies! Chef Zak Miller will teach you to bake molasses cookies, pecan snowball cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, and peanut butter blossoms. Also, you will enjoy a signature milk punch cocktail and your kids, some non-alcoholic options!17
801 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Shotgun-Style Gingerbread House Decorating Class at Ayu Bakehouse
Don’t miss this Gingerbread House Decorating Class at Ayu Bakehouse, where your family can learn all the decorating secrets to create showstopper shotgun-style gingerbread houses for this Holiday season! If you’re looking for artistic Christmas events for kids in New Orleans, this is the perfect option.18
337 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, LA, USA
Children's Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade in downtown New Orleans
Supporting the 70-year mission of the Children’s Hospital by joining the Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade! Your family will be fascinated by custom, holiday-themed floats that feature animatronic props, intelligent lighting systems, special effects, and audio systems, along with high-flying helium balloons, and more.19
1111 Canal St, New Orleans, LA, USA
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at Saenger Theatre
Another great opportunity to enjoy with your children the magic of this classic Christmas ballet with an international cast. Re-live your fondest childhood dreams and be fascinated by the larger-than-life puppets, acrobatics, and beautiful costumes.20
1111 Canal St, New Orleans, LA, USA
Creole Christmas at The Cabildo
Enjoy the Christmas season in period-decorated historic homes! You and your family can join for a tour of the French Quarter’s most cherished properties adorned in traditional Creole Christmas finery, such as the Beauregard-Keyes House, Gallier House, Hermann-Grima House, 1850 House, and more.21
300 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA, USA
Santa's Pajama Party within Restaurant R'evolution at The Royal Snownesta
Being one of the most delicious kid-friendly Christmas events in New Orleans, this holiday high tea experience offers a tea menu featuring 11 exquisite varieties, from timeless classics to a luxurious 35-year-old royal pu’erh guangxi. Also, your family can relish tea sandwiches from award-winning Restaurant R’evolution alongside buttery scones served with rich creams and seasonal jams!22
2240 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA
Catmas in Mew Orleans
Watch cats jump through wreaths, roll an ornament, and perform some other tricks. They are real rescued house cats! Also, enjoy The Rock-Cats, the only cat band in the world, playing holiday songs. It's one of the best Christmas events for kids in New Orleans, especially if they’re cat lovers!23
Longue Vue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
Free Family Sunday: Merry Market Edition at Longue Vue House and Gardens
This is one of the best free Christmas events in New Orleans. Your family will enjoy free admission to the gardens and the Merry Market, where you can shop from many local vendors and find unique holiday gifts!24
Longue Vue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
Celebration in the Oaks at New Orleans City Park
Celebration in the Oaks is one of the most popular Christmas events in New Orleans, where you and your kids will enjoy over a million twinkling lights, unlimited amusement park rides, and access to the beautiful Botanical Garden.25
900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
NOLA ChristmasFest at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
This is an awesome indoor holiday celebration and one of the most complete Christmas events for kids in New Orleans. Your family will enjoy many attractions such as the Kringle Carousel and the life-sized Gingerbread House. Plus, there will be live music, visits with Santa and his friends, the ice-skating rink, and much more.26
2900 Veterans Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Cajun Christmas Celebration at St. Joseph Plantation
Towering bonfires are a Christmas festivity unique to the river communities just outside New Orleans, and this guided experience offers families a Cajun dinner and bonfire at St. Joseph Plantation, a working sugar cane farm. Your family will learn about Cajun and Creole holiday traditions, sing carols, and tour the plantation by candlelight.27
2900 Veterans Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Mini Gingerbread Houses at New Orleans Public Library
Among the best free Christmas events for kids in New Orleans, this is a fantastic hands-on STEAM activity for children aged 6 to 12 years, where your little ones will build delicious gingerbread house creations with supplies provided by the Library.Now you have many great Christmas events for kids in New Orleans to choose from!
Also, make sure to have a look at our guide to Kid friendly Hikes in New Orleans, so that you can also enjoy beautiful outdoor activities with your little ones this season.
