If your family loves Christmas lights, an afternoon trip to New Orleans might be in order. Your destination? An evening at City Park, easily accessible from I-10, and its millions of Christmas lights, holiday decorations, children’s rides, musical performances, Mr. Bingle and even Santa himself. If you’ve never seen this event, be prepared to be dazzled. This annual magical holiday festival is in its 24th season and organizers have ensured that each year it gets better and better. New this year are the Very Merry Maze, a dancing light show, and a snow machine that will keep Mr. Bingle chilled with hourly snow showers. Of course, the fabled Carousel will be operational, complete with new lighting and music, and the train will take patrons on an enchanted journey highlighted by an electrifying light display along City Park Avenue.
Meet Mr. Bingle
Two-story tall Mr. Bingle who reigned over generations of Christmas seasons on Canal Street now watches over Celebration in the Oaks. If you don’t know Mr. Bingle, you can learn all about this magical snowman at www.mrbinglefans.com. (Mr. Bingle is a registered trademark of Dillard's, Inc.) Hourly snow showers are predicted, so bring your warmest mittens.
Lights, Lights and More Lights
In 2007, a new state-of-the-art twenty-minute Laser Light Show set to holiday music performed by some of New Orleans' favorite artists was added to the event. Look for this nightly in the Azalea and Camellia Garden of the Botanical Garden.
The New Orleans Botanical Garden will be generously decorated for the season with millions of lights and special exhibits. Don’t miss The Cajun Night Before Christmas exhibit. This 10 minute animated display based upon the much loved book by the same name features several life-size characters from the book around a Cajun cottage.
A twenty-foot tall Poinsettia Christmas Tree is the focal point of the Botanical Garden's Conservatory of the Two Sisters. The conservatory also features the Tropical Rain Forest and Living Fossils exhibits. Nearby you will find nightly performances featuring school choirs and orchestras, Irish dancers, cloggers, bell choirs, ballet troupes, dance groups, and gospel groups. A complete calendar can be found online.
Santa Claus will be available for short consultations nightly 6:00-10:00pm from November 23rd through December 30th. City Park's renovated fairy tale theme park featuring twenty-six larger than life storybook exhibits for kids will allow children to climb on, slide down or pretend to be their favorite character. Mother Goose, Pinocchio's whale, and Captain Hook's ship as well as many other whimsical figures will delight the young and young at heart nightly on the walking tour.
Amusement Rides
For an additional fee you can visit the Park's Carousel Gardens and sample rides including the century-old Antique Carousel, Live Oak Ladybug Roller Coaster, Fun Slide, Bumper Cars, Rockin' Tug, the Scrambler and Tilt-A-Whirl. Kids’ rides include the Mini-Jet, Umbrella Cars and Construction Zone. Unlimited rides are available for $12/person/night. Individual Ride tickets are also available for limited rides ($2-$3 per ride). Call in advance as some rides may not be operational at some time during the event due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
City Park's annual holiday lighting exhibit and festival returns starting November 28th. Before you drive all the way to New Orleans, visit www.celebrationintheoaks.com for information, schedules of performances and updates on closures due to weather. Admission is $6 per person, children under age 3 free.
DIRECTIONS to New Orleans City Park from Jackson.
From Jackson, the most direct route to New Orleans is South I-55. Simply take the interstate all the way to I-10. Once you are at I-10, head east.
From I-55:
Baton Rouge/LaPlace/Airport/Kenner/Metairie
- Take the I-10 East towards New Orleans
- Veer right onto I-10 at the I-10/I-610 split
- Take the City Park Ave./Metairie Rd. Exit (231-A)
- Turn left onto City Park Avenue.
- Turn left at Carrollton Ave.
- Turn left onto Lelong Ave. into the Park (at Esplanade Ave.)
From the Mississippi Gulf Coast/Slidell/East New Orleans
- Take the I-10 West
- Take the I-610 West exit towards Baton Rouge/New Orleans International Airport (Exit #238B)
- Take the Canal Blvd. Exit (1-A)
- Turn left onto Canal Blvd.
- Turn left at City Park Ave.
- Turn left at Carrollton Ave.
- Turn left onto Lelong Ave. into the Park (at Esplanade Ave.)
