Your Ultimate Guide To Winter Attractions And Activities In Louisiana
By Jackie Ann|Published October 04, 2023
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Winter is one of the most magical times to visit Louisiana. Sure, the Pelican State may not be your typical winter wonderland, but winter in Louisiana is equally as exciting, and there are plenty of seasonal activities to keep you entertained. Here’s your ultimate guide for all of the wonderful things to do in Louisiana in winter—no snow shovels needed!
Are you ready to experience a Cajun Christmas? From Shreveport to Cypremort Point, there are plenty of holiday events in Louisiana to keep you entertained all season long. Add these events to your holiday season itinerary and who knows…you may just start a new holiday tradition for your family!
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival is one of the most popular Christmas festivals in the country! It’s been going since 1927 and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Downtown Natchitoches transforms for this six-week festival, with 100+ displays illuminating the beautiful Cane River Lake. The festival kicks into high gear on the weekends with epic fireworks displays, live music, food trucks, and special appearances by Santa. Many of the shops downtown have extended hours, too, so you can pop into all of the charming small businesses and pick up some holiday gifts while you’re there.
Celebration in the Oaks is one of those time-honored traditions most locals in the Greater New Orleans Area look forward to. Many of us grew up coming to this holiday light show and now get the privilege to introduce the next generation, and it just gets better every year. You have the option to walk through or drive through, and I’d recommend parking the car and experiencing this magical moment on foot. Millions of twinkling lights adorn City Park’s ancient oak trees, gardens, and green spaces. Carousel Gardens Amusement Park also dresses up for the occasion, with plenty of family-friendly rides, hot cocoa, and faux snow to enjoy.
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3. Christmas in Roseland
American Rose Center, 8877 Jefferson Paige Rd, Shreveport, LA 71119, USA
Location: 8877 Jefferson Paige Rd, Shreveport, LA 71119
Popularity: Moderately popular
Price: $10 per person
The Gardens of the American Rose Center is the largest park dedicated to roses in the USA! How awesome is that? During Christmas, the garden transforms into Christmas in Roseland where you can walk through the rose garden and see all of the holiday lights. 2023 marks the 40th anniversary, and they’re pulling out all of the stops. During the week of December 8-11, there will be a Christmas Market with plenty of local vendors selling everything from handmade soap to woodwork.
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4. Candy Cane Lane
Candy Cane Lane, 170 LA-151, Calhoun, LA 71225, USA
Candy Cane Lane is one of the best holiday light shows in Northern Louisiana, and it’s all done by a family on their own property! The Hansons have been opening up their gates for a drive-thru holiday light show every year since 2017. It gets bigger and better every year, and you can expect over a million lights and tons of interactive displays along the 1+ mile path. The lights turn on every night from November 11 until December 31, and you can buy tickets to Candy Cane Lane online, or with cash at the gate.
Christmas Towns In Louisiana
I love it when a town goes all in on the holiday spirit. These Christmas towns in Louisiana pull out all the stops during the winter season, so be sure to pay a visit during this time of the year.
Few cities in Louisiana can compare to Natchitoches during Christmas. We spoke about the Natchitoches Christmas Festival just a moment ago, but it really bears repeating! Natchitoches fully embraces the Christmas season so much that it rivals Disney! And that’s truly an accomplishment. The six-week festival is truly a sight to behold, and the downtown area of Natchitoches is so walkable, with plenty of historic sites and unique shopping opportunities, it’s just simply the best. I highly recommend taking one of the walking tours through the 33-block historic district.
The Crescent City goes all out for the holiday season, and it’s a bit of an underrated city as far as Christmas is concerned. Because Mardi Gras is right around the corner, New Orleans isn’t as big of a tourist destination during December, so it’s a great time to visit. From the French Quarter to City Park, the whole city dons a festive look with wreaths, twinkling lights, and big red bows everywhere you look. Take a stroll through Jackson Square, enjoy some beignets, and take in the sights and sounds of the French Quarter this holiday season. You may even want to attend a mass at St. Louis Cathedral or enjoy a special Reveillon dinner. And don’t forget about NOLA ChristmasFest in the Convention Center. It’s one of the only places you can go ice skating in Louisiana! There is so much to see and do in New Orleans during the winter season. Be sure to check out the lobby of The Roosevelt Hotel, it’s one of the best Christmas light displays in the city. Book a stay at The Roosevelt for the full experience.
I know the Acadian Village isn’t really a town, it’s more of a town-within-a-town, but it still deserves a spot on the list. For 11 months of the year, Acadian Village is a living history museum focusing on the early life of Acadians who first settled in the Lafayette area. During the month of December, the Acadian Village transforms into Noel Acadien au Village, a magical Christmas village with half a million lights, carnival rides, live music, food, and plenty of photo opportunities. Papa Noel is known to make an appearance, too!
Outdoor Activities
Sorry, you won’t find any ski slopes or sledding hills down here in the Bayou State. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of outdoor activities in Louisiana that take place during this time of the year.
8. Swamp Boat Tour With Santa
McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours, 1337 Henderson Levee Rd, Henderson, LA 70517, USA
Location: 1337 Henderson Levee Rd, Henderson, LA 70517
Popularity: It’s a newer event, so it’s still a bit of a hidden gem
Price: $25 per person
Head down to Henderson, Louisiana to hop in a swamp boat and take a tour of the Atchafalaya with Santa as your guide! More commonly known as Papa Noel in these parts, McGee’s Swamp Boat Tours offers these holiday swamp tours on select days from the end of November until Christmas. Alligators tend to hibernate during this time of year, but just the opportunity to cruise through the swamps is magical in and of itself.
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9. Sunset Dinner Jazz Cruise
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, 1 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
The Creole Queen is a historic paddleboat with daily tours that will take you down the Mississippi River with beautiful skyline views of New Orleans. Dinner is served during the tour, along with some live music from a local jazz band.
10. Zoo Lights at the Baton Rouge Zoo
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo, 3601 Thomas Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70811, USA
After the animals have gone to bed for the evening, their illuminated counterparts take center stage at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Zoo Lights boasts more than 50 illuminated sculptures of all your favorite animals plus traditional holiday displays. The zoo partners up with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, so if you bring a non-perishable food item with you, you’ll get a 50% discount.
Nothing says a Cajun Christmas more than the Festival of the Bonfires. Remember when you were a kid and you would put out paper lanterns in your driveway to light the way for Santa? Well, that’s the same idea with the bonfires, just on a grander scale. The levee bonfires started as a small neighborhood thing and now it’s one of the most celebrated Christmas events in the state. On Christmas Eve at 7 p.m., fire marshals give the green light, and all of the bonfires are lit simultaneously for a spectacular show that can be seen from miles away. All to light the way for Papa Noel!
Winter Getaways
Sometimes, you just need a few days in a new environment. These winter getaways are the perfect place to come back to after a long day of exploring historic sites, perusing art galleries, or hitting the hiking trails.
12. Lake Claiborne State Park
Lake Claiborne State Park, 225 State Park Rd, Homer, LA 71040, USA
Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer is just the ticket for a calm and quiet winter getaway. There are over 10 miles of hiking trails to explore here, and if you’re really lucky, you might get to see the park with a fresh dusting of snow! It doesn’t happen often, but you know with how the weather has been this year I think anything is possible.
13. Sun Outdoors
Sun Outdoors New Orleans North Shore, 43234 LA-445, Ponchatoula, LA 70454, USA
One of the perks of Louisiana winters is that you can still feel like you’re in a tropical oasis in the middle of December. That’s exactly the vibe you’ll feel when you book a stay at Sun Outdoors, a family-friendly resort in Ponchatoula. It’s conveniently located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, so you can still explore both cities, but we wouldn’t blame you if you just sat poolside for the duration of your stay.
What are your favorite things to do in Louisiana in the winter? Let us know in the comments below!
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