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Come for the New Orleans Bowl, Stay for the Holiday Magic

Each December, New Orleans hosts the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Caesars Superdome. This season, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks take on the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday, December 16, 2023, giving football fanatics and travel enthusiasts alike an excuse to touch down in the Big Easy during the holiday season!

The New Orleans Bowl isn’t just a football game; it’s an immersion into the heart and soul of one of the most vibrant cities in the world. It’s a chance for visitors from all around the country (and the world!) to explore the rich tapestry of culture and history that the Crescent City offers.

Whether you’re gifting tickets to a fan or adding to the itinerary of your pre-planned trip, we invite you to be part of the magic!

 

Game Day

In the morning, seek out beignets from Cafe du Monde,* followed by a stroll through the French Quarter, seeing the holiday sights. You can do some holiday shopping or simply enjoy the festivities. In the afternoon, head to the Superdome for kickoff at 1:15pm. 

At the game, you’ll enjoy a first-hand view of the Caesars Superdome, a venue that has seen some of the greatest sports and entertainment events. The dome is a symbol of resilience and a witness to countless historic moments, and as such is a fantastic venue for the New Orleans Bowl!

And after the game, grab a bite to eat and venture out to see the holiday lights and sounds in the French Quarter and beyond!

To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com. And for game day information, such as the bag policy (great information to have when you’re packing for your trip!), visit https://www.neworleansbowl.org/. 

 

The Luncheon

If you’ve been invited to the annual R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Luncheon (which takes place a few days before the game), you’ll be treated to an opportunity to feed your soul while experiencing the football spirit and pageantry of each team. In years past, speakers have included New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis, Steve Gleason, Ryan Clark, Charlie Ward, and Darren Woodson This year’s speaker is no less impressive: you’ll also hear from Avery Johnson – a former NBA basketball player and coach.

 

STEM Fest

If you’re bringing the whole family to the Big Easy, consider attending the New Orleans Bowl STEM Fest, yet another fantastic experience built into the New Orleans Bowl festivities. Each year, students are invited to attend the free fest, and each attendee receives a ticket to the game.

For more information, visit https://www.neworleansbowl.org/stemfest. 

 

After the Game

While the New Orleans Bowl is the main event, the city itself is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. From the historic French Quarter to the picturesque Garden District, every corner of New Orleans tells a story, especially during the holiday season. 

Because New Orleans is more than a destination – it’s an invitation to experience genuine Southern hospitality. From friendly locals to the warm welcome of the city itself, you’ll leave with memories that extend beyond the football field. 

We invite you to peruse our holiday blogs, Merriment, Magic, and Memories in New Orleans and 

Holiday Magic in the Crescent City when you’re building your trip itinerary and planning activities!

 

Rest Your Head at the Lanaux Mansion

Our spacious and comfortable suites are steps away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, yet worlds apart – the perfect peaceful refuge after days and nights of fun, food, and football!

When you visit for longer than just the weekend, take advantage of our Holiday Happenings package, which offers a 10% discount on Sundays through Thursdays through December 28, 2023. A two-night minimum stay is required, and this promotion is based on availability.

Browse our available suites here to see which room is right for you, and when you’re ready to book your stay, visit our website and use promo code “HOLIDAY”.

If you have any questions, we’re just a call or email away at lanauxevents@gmail.com or (504) 948-6119! 

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Merriment, Magic, and Memories in New Orleans

If you’ve begun planning your holiday trip to New Orleans, you already know there’s no shortage of holiday magic to be found.

If you missed our recent blog Holiday Magic in the Crescent City, we highly recommend checking it out for an incredible list of holiday traditions and experiences.

In the meantime, here are even more reasons to visit New Orleans this holiday season!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
On December 13th, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform The Ghosts of Christmas Eve at the Smoothie King Center. They’ll perform classics like “The First Noel” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”, alongside some favorite holiday hits and original music.

For tickets, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com.

Holiday Tours
Gray Line is known for their fantastic holiday tours: their Christmas Eve Bonfire Express Tour, the Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure Tour, and the Jingling Through The Crescent tour.

Jingling Through The Crescent is a seasonal, daily, 2.5 hour motor coach tour through some of New Orleans’ most historic neighborhoods (such as the Treme and Faubourg Marigny), where you’ll learn about our culture, history, and people. The tour makes two stops, one at Lake Pontchartrain and one at the Roosevelt Hotel.

The Christmas Eve Bonfire Express Tour shows off one of the Mississippi River’s most vibrant traditions: the lighting of the bonfires! This tour is a round-trip motor coach tour of a unique Cajun tradition.

The Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure Tour is similar to the Express Tour, showing off the lighting of the bonfires, but also includes a visit to Destrehan Plantation for a traditional holiday dinner!

For more information on holiday tours and Gray Line’s other tours, visit https://www.graylineneworleans.com/.

Sailing with Santa
Beginning November 25, board the Steamboat Natchez for live entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus himself! The cruise offers an optional lunch, holiday tunes, and stunning views of New Orleans and the Mississippi River.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.steamboatnatchez.com/cruises/holiday-cruise/sailing-with-santa.

Christmas Eve & New Years’ Eve on the Mississippi River
Take to the Mississippi River once more on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day aboard the Steamboat Natchez!

The Natchez will host a Christmas Eve Jazz Cruise on Sunday, December 24. Enjoy a Creole dinner, breathtaking views of the New Orleans skyline, and live music on their annual dinner cruise.

On Sunday, December 31, the Steamboat Natchez will host their New Years’ Eve Celebration, featuring live music, an open bar, hand-passed hors d’oeuvres, and other food as you cruise along the Mississippi River.

For more information, visit https://www.steamboatnatchez.com/.

New Years’ Eve with a View
If you prefer to be in the sky rather than on the water, ring in the new year above New Orleans at Vue Orleans! Guests will enjoy 360° birds-eye views of the Crescent City, along with a champagne toast, beverages, passed hors d’oeuvres, and live music.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://vueorleans.com/articles/new-years-eve-at-vue.

Make Memories at the Lanaux Mansion
This holiday season, complete your travel plans with a festive stay at the Lanaux Mansion! Our one-bedroom suites or two-, three-, four-, five-, or six-bedroom suites will be a magical setting for your holiday stay.

We’re pleased to offer a 10% discount on Sundays through Thursdays from November 13, 2023 to December 28, 2023 with our Holiday Happenings package. A two-night minimum stay is required, and this promotion is based on availability.

Browse our available suites here to see which room is right for you, and when you’re ready to book your stay, visit https://secure.thinkreservations.com/thelanauxmansion/reservations and use promo code “HOLIDAY”!

And as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out at lanauxevents@gmail.com or (504) 948-6119 with any questions! We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you!

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Holiday Magic in the Crescent City

The holiday season in New Orleans is a magical time as the city’s traditions and history come to life to offer a one-of-a-kind experience for all. 

We invite you to explore all the Crescent City has to offer from your home base: the Lanaux Mansion, and this year, we’re sharing a few classic holiday must-dos and a limited time special for booking your holiday stay!

 

Merriment on Magazine

Beginning on November 25th, Magazine Street will host Merriment on Magazine. Boutiques and shops up and down Magazine Street will offer holiday fashions, holiday home decor, and gifts for all the special individuals on your list. 

When you’ve finished shopping, enjoy a cocktail or a meal at one of the many fantastic restaurants on Magazine Street!

For information on special holiday sales, gift guides, and events, visit https://magazinestreet.com/event/merriment-on-magazine/.  

 

Reveillon Dinners

Throughout the month of December, New Orleans’ restaurants will offer exclusive Réveillon menus. This Creole Christmas tradition, which dates back to the 1800s, includes impressive multi-course meals and specialty cocktails so every visitor can enjoy a taste of New Orleans’ finest cuisine.

To view a list of this year’s participating restaurants, visit https://holiday.neworleans.com/food-and-drink/. 

 

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will host their Holiday Spectacular on December 2nd at the Orpheum Theater. The 90 minute concert will feature all the holiday favorites and is a holiday experience the whole family can enjoy together.

For tickets and more information, visit https://lpomusic.com/.  

 

The Marigny Opera Ballet’s Jazz Nutcracker

From December 8th to 10th and 15th to 17th this year, The Marigny Opera Ballet will present their reimagining of The Nutcracker, accompanied by an original jazz score by New Orleans’ own Lawrence Sieberth.

For more information, visit https://www.marignyoperaballet.org/. 

 

LUNA Fête

Arts New Orleans will bring back LUNA Fête for the holiday season from December 7th to 10th this year. In their 10th anniversary year, this free festival of light, art, and technology boasts large-scale outdoor light projections across 7.5 acres of the Mississippi River Heritage Park and Convention Center Pedestrian Park.

In addition to art installations, attendees can discover local artists and check some items off their holiday gift list. You’ll also find food vendors, drink vendors, and multiple surprise entertainment experiences. More information can be found at https://www.lunafete.com/. 

 

Holiday Home Tours

On December 17th, the Patio Planters will present their annual self-guided Holiday Home Tour from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours showcase classic French Quarter homes, courtyards, and gardens in their full festive decor, and this year the Lanaux Mansion is one of those elegant homes!

Tickets go on sale on November 1st. For more information, visit https://patioplanters.net/events/holiday-home-tour/. 

 

NOLA ChristmasFest

Get in the holiday spirit at NOLA Christmas Fest from December 21st to 30th at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Admission provides access to carnival rides, an indoor ice skating rink, ice slides, and so many activities for children, including cookie decorating, gingerbread house making, and visits with Santa. 

Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, expect a few special surprises! For tickets or more information, visit https://nolachristmasfest.com/. 

 

A Magical Holiday Stay at the Lanaux Mansion

New Orleans is a perfect destination for an enchanting Christmas getaway, and when you stay at the Lanaux Mansion, you’ll be steps away from the festivities.

This year, we’re pleased to announce our Holiday Happenings package. Join us in our festive surroundings for the holiday season and enjoy a 10% discount on Sundays through Thursdays from November 13, 2023 to December 28, 2023. A two-night minimum stay is required, and this promotion is based on availability. 

Whether you’re looking for a one-bedroom suite or a two-, three-, four-, five-, or six-bedroom suite to host the whole family, the Lanaux Mansion will provide the grace of a bygone era with the modern comforts you want. Browse our available suites here to see which room is right for you. 

 

 

When you’re ready to book your stay, visit https://secure.thinkreservations.com/thelanauxmansion/reservations and use promo code “HOLIDAY” today!

If you have any questions about booking or holiday recommendations (including our favorite restaurants and other activities), please don’t hesitate to reach out at lanauxevents@gmail.com or (504) 948-6119. 

We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you!

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Festivities Galore During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a joyful time no matter where you are, but there is something extra special about celebrating the holidays in New Orleans. When it comes to food and fun, New Orleans flourishes, and our Réveillon dinners and New Years traditions truly set the city apart from the rest. 

 

All About Réveillon

 

Réveillon dinners are a Creole Christmas tradition dating back to the 1800s. Traditionally, the celebration included a large family meal that would take place after midnight mass concluded on the night of Christmas Eve. Dinner would be served around 2:00 in the morning and would include dishes such as gumbo, meat pies, soups, desserts, and brandy or coffee. Though this tradition nearly died out completely, it was revived in the 1990s with a few twists. 

 

Now, Réveillon menus are exclusive menus that restaurants will offer during the holiday season, and, to the relief of many, these meals are now typically served during the day instead of the early hours of the morning, rather than solely offered the night of Christmas Eve. Réveillon menus can be found across the city throughout the month of December!

 

While Réveillon meals are often enjoyed by large groups of family and friends, smaller parties are welcome to take part in this Creole tradition at some of the top restaurants in New Orleans. Historically, restaurants such as The Court of Two Sisters, Crescent City Brewhouse, Tableau*, and Muriel’s Jackson Square* have hosted these multi-course meals – each with their own signature takes on the traditional menu. To view this year’s participating establishments, visit https://holiday.neworleans.com/food-and-drink/. 

 

Once you’ve delighted in a Réveillon dinner, we encourage you to continue the festivities among the various light displays throughout the city. Celebration in the Oaks, an annual light show in New Orleans City Park, includes miles of holiday lights featuring local favorites including Mr. Bingle and New Orleans Saints-themed lights and decorations. 

 

Luna Fete is another local favorite that is free to the public, transforming buildings in downtown New Orleans into art by way of projections onto buildings. Other areas at Luna Fete include illuminated sculptures and various winter wonderlands.

 

Ringing In a Bright and Shiny New Year

 

Everyone knows New Orleans boasts the best parties, and of course New Year’s Eve is no different. During the day, the Caesar’s Superdome hosts the Allstate Sugar Bowl, preceded by the Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Parade, taking place prior to the game. Both events offer a taste of New Orleans Mardi Gras with floats, bands, and revelry. 

 

And once midnight arrives, the city comes alive with fireworks on the Mississippi River that can be seen from a variety of locales throughout the city – including Jackson Square where many will gather for an informal party.

 

Vue Orleans, the 360-degree observatory, includes indoor and outdoor observatory decks to see the city light up from 34 floors above the ground. 

 

Another beloved tradition? Take a late-night riverboat tour! These tours typically include food and drink, music, and stellar views of the city as the clock strikes midnight. One of the biggest New Year’s Eve river tours can be found on board the Steamboat Natchez. Their New Year’s Eve celebration includes an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, a buffet, live entertainment, and views of the fireworks at midnight. 

Whatever your plans are this holiday season, let the Lanaux Mansion be your home away from home! To book your reservation, please visit https://secure.thinkreservations.com/thelanauxmansion/reservations.

 

*Walking distance to the Lanaux Mansion

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Labor Day in New Orleans

On any given day, you’ll find some unique revelry in NOLA — especially in the French Quarter. Each and every holiday brings a series of activities in the Crescent City. 

The city loves any excuse to celebrate life, and Labor Day is no exception. This year, expect a myriad of things to do all across the city, from sporting events to festivals.

The Lanaux Mansion team has curated a list of some memorable things to get you started on planning your holiday weekend stay. 

Mark Your Calendar

Allstate Louisiana Kickoff

The 2022 college football season kicks off on Sunday, September 4, when the LSU Tigers take on the Florida State Seminoles in the Caesars Superdome. This will be the first time the Tigers and the Seminoles face off in the Crescent City.

Both teams will bring fans from home to see a game in the legendary Superdome. You can enjoy the weekend revelry as you move from the French Quarter to the CBD for what’s sure to be a wild contest. For more information, visit https://allstatesugarbowl.org/allstate-louisiana-kickoff/.

Southern Decadence Festival

Decadence Fest is back!  From Thursday, September 1 through Monday, September 5, we’ll see an array of parades, parties, brunches, and other events throughout the French Quarter.

The revelry will last all weekend, but the big parade takes place on Sunday. The festival celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community in NOLA and beyond. For more information, visit http://www.southerndecadence.net/. 

Tulane Football Kickoff

Tulane University football begins its season on Saturday, September 3, when Tulane faces off against the University of Massachusetts at Yulman Stadium.

With a long history and an avid fan base, Tulane football is a can’t-miss experience. Given the team’s spring-game showing, we’re looking forward to seeing the Green Wave back in action. For more information, visit https://tulanegreenwave.com/sports/football. 

River Cruise Drag Brunch

On Saturday, September 3, the Creole Queen Paddlewheeler will host a brunch accompanied by  fabulous New Orleans drag queens, live jazz, and unique views of the Mississippi River.

A New Orleans’ drag brunch is an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime. Cruise along the river on your Saturday morning while enjoying a traditional New Orleans brunch and enjoying the show. For more information, visit https://www.neworleans.com/event/drag-brunch-river-cruise/76537/. 

Experience the Victory at The National World War II Museum

The National World War II Museum will host an exclusive, limited-time exhibit from Thursday, September 1 to Sunday, September 5. The subject is the American experience in World War II.

The museum is offering private early access and guided touring. They are also featuring special experiences including an “Out of the Vault” tour and a USS Tang Submarine experience. For more information, visit https://www.nationalww2museum.org/events-programs/events/128608-experience-victory-september-1-4-2022. 

With Labor Day weekend still a ways away, expect even more to come! There will be no shortage of things to do in New Orleans over the holiday weekend.

Haven’t booked your stay yet? We’re always glad to welcome you at the Lanaux Mansion! To make your reservation, visit https://secure.thinkreservations.com/thelanauxmansion/reservations

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