Christmas in New Orleans

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA

We were walking past Our Lady of the Rosary up the road from La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast (yes, that's what the church looked like this morning in the dawn), when we both noticed that this weekend is the beginning of the Advent season.  You know what that means?  Christmas in New Orleans!

The nice thing about being located right in the middle of Esplanade Avenue is that we can walk to the French Quarter or Frenchman Street if we choose, or we can go in the other direction to City Park.

An alligator rheindeer

If it is Christmastime in New Orleans, that also means it is Celebration in the Oaks.

An alligator Santa

Most cities light up their parks with Christmas displays.  You probably have something like this in a city near you.  Unlike other places, however, New Orleans is built for walking.  This is true of the Esplanade Avenue, and it is true of Celebration of the Oaks.  When you go to Celebration of the Oaks, you don't drive around by yourselves, you interact with everyone else.

Celebration of the Oaks is held in the Botanical Gardens, in the Amusement Park, and in Storyland.  The amusement park is open and full of Christmas trees decorated by local schools.  You can take the miniature train around the park and see the lights over one of the lagoons.  Storyland is open, too, with its sculpture garden illustrating fairy tales. 

The romantic light of Celebration of the Oaks

There is ice skating, carousel rides, hot food and drinks.  The showstopper is what's in the botanical gardens.

A celebrated oak at night

A hobbyhorse

The best light sculpture in City Park, however is not the sleigh being pulled by alligators, it is not the Papa Noel show, it is not the giant corn in the vegetable garden, it is this....

Pink elephant, New Orleans, LA

I was talking to Eric the other day.  "I don't know when the last time was that I saw a real alligator," he said.  "Sometimes, you'd see them in the Industrial Canal just after Poland Avenue.  When I was a kid we'd go looking for alligator eggs along the edges of the canal.  My uncle used to pickle them."

Eric grew up in the Holy Cross neighborhood.  "The only time I see an alligator nowadays is when I take the kids up to Celebration of the Oaks.  We take the 91 bus and make a night of it.  The kids like to sit on Alligator Santa's lap to get their picture taken. "

I asked Eric if he had seen any of the other animals featured at Celebration of the Oaks.  "Sure enough," he said.  "I've seen more than my share of pink elephants in my day.  Heck, they're around every corner on Bourbon Street."

Whether you are interested in enjoying the show at City Park during Christmas in New Orleans, or if you are interested in enjoying the holiday ambiance of the French Quarter, we know a colorful New Orleans bed and breakfast that is taking reservations.   

A votre sante et joyeux Noel.