Friday, December 29
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall G, 900 Convention Center Blvd., 11 am-9 pm
This year’s NOLA ChristmasFest features: New Orleans’ ONLY Real Ice Skating Rink – 120′ Long Ice Slide – Kringle Carousel & Carnival Rides – Life-size Amazing Maze & Snowball Fight Area – Children’s Crafts & Inflatables – Santa Claus & Holiday Characters – Dozens of decorated Christmas Trees – New Orleans-themed Gingerbread House Exhibit – More than one million animated lights & music outside. Come downtown to join us for some holiday magic! Cost: $20.00 – includes all rides, inflatables, skating, and skates. Open New Year’s Day from 11 am-5 pm.
Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie, 5-11:45 pm
The park sparkles for the holidays with thousands of twinkling lights and displays. $5/person (walking), $5/vehicle, $1 to ride on the carousel. Continues through Dec. 31.
City Park Ave, New Orleans, 6-11 pm
Visit a stunning Christmas Wonderland and enjoy the sight of magnificent light displays strung across the oaks. Enjoy Storyland, the Botanical Gardens, amusement rides and a miniature train that’ll take you around the park. $9/person. Free for Friends of City Park members and children younger than 3. Continues through Jan. 1.
Saturday, December 30
East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd., 10 am-5 pm
Chill out in the teen room with movies and crafts all day long. Come and go as you please, but don’t miss the free food.
Barnes & Noble, 3721 Veterans Boulevard, Metairie, 11 am
All the other bulls love to run and jump and butt their heads together, but not Ferdinand. He would rather sit and smell the flowers. Then one day he is picked for the bullfights in Madrid. Join to find out how Ferdinand fares in this classic story, in theaters now. Activities to follow.
Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive, New Orleans, 2:30 pm
Storytelling for kids (who are accompanied by their guardian). Children 13 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. Sign up for this event at the front desk or call 504-596-2641.
Sunday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve
New Years Eve Countdown to Noon
Louisiana Children’s Museum, 420 Julia St., 9:30 am–2:30 pm
Ring in the New Year with the whole family at LCM’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration! Don’t miss the famous Countdown to NOON that culminates in a colorful confetti toss and balloon release. Get into the holiday spirit by making your own noisemaker and a festive paper bag hat!
Special event ticketing applies. Admission is $5/person for LCM Members and $10/person for Non-Members. Preregistration is strongly recommended. Please note: the Museum will close at 3 pm on New Year’s Eve.
Cinderella’s New Year’s Masquerade Ball
English Turn Golf & Country Club, 1 Clubhouse Dr., 10 am-12:30 pm
Join Cinderella, Prince Charming and their Royal Court as they ring in the new year with dancing, food, drinks and fun! Come dressed in your best Royal Formal attire and enjoy a royal welcome by Cinderella & Prince Charming as well as food, drinks, special musical stage productions, dancing and a New Years countdown. Purchase your tickets by clicking here.
Noon Year’s Eve Bash
Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, 21404 Koop Drive, Mandeville, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Ring in the New Year at the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany Noon Year’s Eve Bash. Bring the family to get an exclusive sneak peek of the museum! We will have New Year’s themed activities, fabulous food and beverages featuring Sticks-n-Bone BBQ and Abita Root Beer. When the clock strikes noon, make sure you’re ready for the Balloon Drop which will include fun-filled surprises and one grand prize of a Celebration Birthday Party! Get your tickets by clicking here.
Zoo Years Eve
Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 10:30 am-12:30 pm
The Zoo Year’s Eve celebration will feature a full schedule of activities from on the Capital One Performance Pavilion and field, including live music, a dance party hosted by Super Star Events, games, prizes, and more. “The Pop Princesses” will take the stage at 11:30 am. and will lead guests in the traditional rendition of Auld Lange Syne at noon. For line-up and schedule click here.
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration
Lakeside Shopping Center, Veterans Skylight near Williams-Sonoma and Express, 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Join Lakeside Shopping Center as they celebrate the New Year! Kids ages 2-12 will enjoy activities, entertainment, and a balloon Drop at Noon. Free and open to the public.
Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade
Jackson Square, 700 Decatur St., 2:30-4:30 pm
The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade, a Mardi Gras-style parade with floats, bands and other participants, will entertain fans young and old prior to the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The parade will begin at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street at approximately 2:30 pm. The parade will travel through the French Quarter up Decatur Street along the Mississippi River, passing iconic landmarks such as The Old US Mint, the French Market, Cafe du Monde and Jackson Square. At approximately 3 pm, the Parade will pass the WDSU stage at the Allstate Fan Fest on Decatur Street inside the Jax Brewery parking lot, where WDSU has set up for live coverage of the parade between 3-5 pm – all performers will do a two-minute show at this location. The parade wraps up at Canal Street. Click here for more information.
Countdown en Français
The French Library, 3811 Magazine St., 4-6 pm
Join their New Year’s Eve Countdown Party. 🎉 Bring in the New Year with France. 🇫🇷 Countdown will be at 5 pm (midnight in France). Please rsvp at thegrownups@thefrenchlibrary.com.
New Year’s Eve at Crescent Park
Crescent Park, French Market. 7 pm-midnight.
Join them for New Year’s Eve in Crescent Park featuring a performance by Category 6 followed by fireworks at midnight. This concert is free and open appropriate for all ages.