Hello!

Just as those chilly cold fronts hit most of the country, it’s absolutely the perfect time to visit us here in New Orleans. It’s idyllic weather on the Gulf Coast, warm and sunny enough to enjoy the outdoors with enough fall weather to make those bowls of gumbo extra satisfying. Food comes to the fore at this time of year as November has a few high-profile festivals, celebrating po-boys, beignets and of course those famous gumbo recipes! This monthly will also see the Michelin organization announce which local restaurants have been honored with their famous stars, handed out only to the world’s best spots. We should know more early this month, so watch the news headlines and be quick with your bookings to be first in line at those newly-anointed hotspots. After that, the dazzling lights of Celebration in the Oaks herald the holiday season. Expect family events, a city transformed from Halloween to Christmas decorations and a wealth of seasonal meals, stage shows, and everything that you love about this time of year! Come and spend your holidays with us, you’ll make memories that last a lifetime.

The Bed and Breakfast Inns of New Orleans

www.bbnola.com

NOVEMBER

8th

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival

If you love brass bands and gumbo – or, better yet, enjoying some delicious gumbo while listening to brass bands playing live in beautiful Louis Armstrong Park – this is the event for you! Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival returns with lots of live music, and arts market, and of course, gumbo!

15th

Beignet Fest

Hailed as one of the best food festivals in the south!  Celebrate the city’s most iconic treat – you can try beignets topped or stuffed with a variety of sweet or savory delicacies.

16th

Oak Street Po’ Boy Festival

The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival highlights not only the importance of the po-boy itself, but also the rebirth of a once-thriving shopping district with roots as deep as the neighborhood itself. It’s a block party with multiple stages of live music, and an arts market. Expect po-boys with everything from oysters Rockefeller to smoked beef cheek to deep fried buffalo shrimp banh mi and vegan oyster mushroom.

27th

Thanksgiving at the Track – horse racing classic with head-turning hats at the Fairgounds OR  Human Horse Races  –  fun and laughs for charity at Easton Park.

28th (and through December)

Celebration in the Oaks

An annual festivity consistently ranked as one of the best things to do in New Orleans during the holidays. From Thanksgiving through the New Year, enjoy one of the most spectacular, family-friendly holiday light displays in New Orleans and the country. Watch as the grounds of New Orleans City Park are transformed into 25 acres of dazzling lights and breathtaking, festive displays.

DECEMBER

All month

Réveillon Dinners

Réveillon is a holiday dining tradition. Dating back to the 1800s, Creole New Orleanians would feast on lavish meals following midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Restaurants across the city have adopted this tradition, offering decadent multi-course Réveillon feasts throughout the entire month of December.

6th

Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade

Expect large, pageant-style floats with animatronics, local musicians atop the floats singing carols, helium balloons, and Santa Claus, of course!

6th

Algiers Bonfire + Concert

Hop on the ferry over to Algiers Point. This community hosts their own event celebrating the time-honored Louisiana tradition with performances from local groups, food, drink, and art vendors, and the lighting of the bonfire!

13th and 14th

Holiday Home Tours

Every year during the holidays, New Orleanians decorate their homes in festive seasonal décor, and some open their doors for public viewing. The Preservation Resource Center’s Garden District Holiday Home Tour features a selection of private homes, live musical performances, a festive boutique, and more!

20th-29th

NOLA ChristmasFest

An ice slide, ice skating rink, yuletide market, gingerbread village, and photos with Santa are just a few of the highlights.

Various dates

Christmas Concerts

Get into the spirit of the season with holiday concerts at St. Louis Cathedral. If you love classic holiday tunes, you won’t want to miss the Louisiana Philharmonic’s Classical Christmas or Holiday Spectacular. Lastly, you can also enjoy caroling in Jackson Square on December 22.