New Orleans is best place for Christmas activities and gifts
Christmas in New Orleans is truly the best way to celebrate the holidays! All around town, there are extravagant decorations, one-of-a-kind events, and wonderful lighting displays bound to get you in the Christmas spirit. Deanie’s Seafood is Holiday Central, from a New Orleans-style holiday family program in the French Quarter for you and the kids, to gift cards for fresh Louisiana seafood from our market or shipped from Shopdeanies.com, to Pictures with Santa, to prepared holiday entrees, sides, casseroles and desserts for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
We’re highlighting our top picks for ringing in holiday cheer, as well as a few unique and locally-sourced gift ideas.
Holiday Hotels, Homes, and Window Displays
Hotels in the French Quarter offer some of the most stunning Christmas decorations in the city. Stroll through these hotel lobbies for beautifully decorated trees and artfully displayed lights. Take a stroll through the Roosevelt Hotel’s glittering Waldorf Wonderland lobby, the Windsor Court’s sparkling entryway, and The Ritz Carlton’s custom-made gingerbread display to get in the holiday spirit.
Deanie’s in the French Quarter showcases holiday decorations collected over 50+ years by proprietor Barbara Chifici in our traditional department store display windows lining Dauphine Street. The former site of the D.H. Holmes Department store annex at the corner of Iberville and Dauphine, Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter is decked out in style with six holiday window displays that will delight the little ones and fill your heart with Christmas nostalgia.
Each year, Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré and Preservation Resource Council conduct New Orleans holiday home and courtyard tours on select weekends in December. The tours take you through homes in the Garden District, New Orleans Arts District and French Quarter, and give participants a unique glance into some of these amazing historic homes and neighborhoods.
New Orleans Kids’ Holiday Favorites
Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter continues its memorable family friendly holiday program, Candyland Christmas featuring Vince Vance, an official event of Christmas New Orleans Style! This interactive holiday program offered over four dates in December features a full buffet breakfast, face painting, arts & crafts, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, complimentary pictures with Santa, and an entertaining sing-along and holiday performance by New Orleans’ favorite son, Vince Vance alongside his female songstresses, the Valianettes.
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Deanie’s Candyland Christmas tickets are available for Dec. 8-9, and Dec. 15-16. (Tickets are all inclusive and non-refundable.) Pro tip: It’s the perfect event for grandparents to enjoy with their grandchildren!
Bring the whole family to enjoy a true New Orleans tradition at City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks. View hundreds of thousands of mesmerizing Christmas lights, ride the train through the park, and don’t miss Mister Bingle!
Enjoy a sip of cocoa and free photo with Santa at Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter, 841 Iberville St. The holiday tradition continues from 6 to 10 p.m., Dec. 7-8 and 14-15.
Beginning Dec. 1 Fulton Alley will transform into Miracle on Fulton Street with lights, daily “snow” fall and holiday cheer through Dec. 23. And just down the block is NOLA ChristmasFest, which takes place Dec. 20-31 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This sixth-annual family-friendly seasonal event features a real indoor ice skating rink, ice slides, a carousel, carnival rides, inflatables, Santa and friends, gingerbread houses, decorated trees and more!
New Orleans Holiday Gift Ideas
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For a holiday gift—whether you’re shopping for friends, family, or your child’s teacher—you can always send money or a generic gift certificate. But for something really special, surprise them with a Deanie’s Seafood gift card! They’ll love the chance to enjoy the best seafood in the city and they’ll appreciate the extra thought you put in.
Gift cards from Deanie’s are redeemable at our three restaurant locations as well as Deanie’s Seafood Market in Bucktown, plus at our online seafood market, Shopdeanies.com.
One of the benefits of living in an iconic city like New Orleans is that most everyone has an affinity for New Orleans, whether it’s Mardi Gras, fleur de lis, Saints gear or local cookbooks. From Fleurty Girl to the French Market to Mignon Faget, New Orleans-themed gifts are a favorite for locals as well as friends and family living far away. At Deanie’s you can purchase Deanie’s t-shirts and baseball caps at our restaurant location in Bucktown and in the French Quarter, as well as Deanie’s Lil’ Chefs Toy crawfish pot, which includes a toy boil pot, paddle, crawfish plus fixings like boiled potatoes and corn.
Get in the Spirit with Holiday Meals
Think about your favorite holiday memories and what comes to mind? For us, it’s the food! Holiday traditions across the world are based on traditional recipes that help bind people around their culture and heritage. In Louisiana, that largely means seafood, sweet potatoes and fried turkeys!
Show someone you love them this holiday season with a dish from our Holiday Take Home Menu[d], available for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday celebrations! Choose from prepared main dishes such as Smoked Boston Butt and Cajun Fried Turkeys and sides including stuffed crab, stuffed mirlitons, oyster, crab and crawfish dressing, sweet potato casserole, oyster patties, crawfish étouffée, as well as delicious desserts. Not only will you save your loved one or holiday host the hassle of slaving over a special dish but you know they’ll love it!