Turkey Day in NOLA: Gobble Up the Culture
Why go over the river and through the woods this Thanksgiving when you can hop in the car or catch a quick flight to NOLA?
Between bites of Cajun fried turkey, oyster dressing and sweet potato pie, you can experience our rich traditions which include Thanksgiving at the Fairgrounds Race Course, catching the Bayou Classic football game, and ushering in the holiday season with a train ride through Celebration in the Oaks at City Park. You can also get a jump on your holiday shopping in the French Quarter, the Arts/Warehouse District and on Magazine Street.
Make your home base the French Quarter and choose one of the hotels from the French Quarter Collection.
You Can Party with the Ponies
Thanksgiving Day at the Fair Grounds Race Course is a tradition for many New Orleans families. Don a fun hat and come out to this historic track to play the ponies and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast. For reservations and more information about spending the day at America’s third oldest race track, click here.
There’s Nothing Like Thanksgiving Dinner NOLA Style
Many of New Orleans’ best restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day. Give grandmere a break this year and make your reservations now. See Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day.
You Can Watch a Cat Fight
One of the great rivalries in college football exists between the Southern Jaguars and the Grambling State Tigers. On Saturday, November 30, it will all be settled at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at the Bayou Classic.
The fun kicks off with an enormous Thanksgiving parade from the Superdome to the French Market, featuring brass bands from all around the United States. Speaking of bands, don’t miss the “Battle of the Bands” held in the Superdome the night before the big game. Learn more.
Black Friday Fun
Sure online shopping is easy, but it’s not as fun as waking up early on Black Friday morning and hitting the cobblestoned streets of New Orleans running. Unique gifts can be found all over the French Quarter, in the Arts/Warehouse District (the Soho of the South), and on Magazine Street – six miles of galleries, boutiques, quirky shops and restaurants in Uptown New Orleans. Give your loved ones some original art you saw on the fence at Jackson Square. Stuff their stockings with pralines this year. Pick up gag gifts like “Cajun in your Pocket” and alligator claw back scratchers. Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. New Orleans makes it fun.
Celebration in the Oaks
Every year, more than a hundred thousand visitors make Celebration in the Oaks their Christmas tradition. Come see the ancient live oaks in New Orleans City Park transformed into a winter wonderland by more than a million tiny lights. Experience a recreation of A Cajun Night Before Christmas, Mister Bingle, the Who Dat Tree, and photos with Santa. Learn more.
