Louisiana Christmas Celebrations

Get ready for Christmas with the help of holiday festivals and displays.

Lighted Christmas tree displayPhoto byMario MendezonUnsplash

Many Louisiana towns decorate for the Christmas holidays and hold fairs, festivals, bake sales, art sales, shopping events, and more centered around the season. Here are some Christmas light displays and celebrations happening around Louisiana in 2023.

Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights

• 781 Front Street
• November 18 through January 6

Over 300,000 lights and 100 Christmas-themed set pieces unique to the Natchitoches community are displayed along the East side of Cane River Lake. Festival cuisine, fireworks, a parade, shopping, a Christmas house, and much more highlight this annual event.

New Orleans City Park Celebration in the Oaks

• 4 Friederichs Avenue (driving tour)
• 7 Victory Avenue (walking tour)
• November 23 through December 30

Over one million twinkling lights decorate the oaks along this 2.25-mile driving tour and reimagined walking tour through City Park. Guests can also enjoy amusement park rides and access to the elegant Botanical Garden.

Christmas in Roseland

• 877 Jefferson Paige Road - The American Rose Center
• November 24 through December 23

Christmas is Roseland is a walking event and part of the Holiday Trail of Lights tour. The America Rose Center is the setting for twinkling lights, lighted displays, Christmas cards to the community, entertainment, photos with Santa, Christmas shopping, and more.

Baton Rouge Festival of Lights

• 200 North Boulevard - Town Square
• December 1, 4 PM to 8 PM

With North Boulevard Town Square decorated for Christmas, there will be free ice skating, a snow village, an art village, pictures with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, fireworks, and the lighting of the Christmas tree.

Noel Acadien au Village - Lafayette

• 200 Greenleaf Drive - LARC's Acadian Village
• December 2 through December 23, 5:30 PM to 9 PM, weather permitting

A 23-night Christmas festival fundraiser featuring half a million lights including a fully lit chapel and lighted holiday displays, animations, live entertainment, local cuisine, carnival rides, photos with Santa, holiday shopping in the Christmas Store, and more.

Annual Festival of the Bonfires - Lutcher

• 2545 Louisiana Avenue - Lutcher Recreational Park
• December 8, 9 & 10

Great food, carnival rides, crafts, and Santa's Very Merry Forest will be highlighted each night with a single bonfire lighting. This weekend is a prelude to the famous Christmas Eve Bonfires in St. James Parish.