UPTOWN • DOWNTOWN • MID-CITY • LAKEVIEW • GENTILLY • N.O. EAST • ST. BERNARD
Merry Christmas from
OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!
CRESCENT CITY
Smithfield USDA Choice Spiral Sliced Bone In Ham Ribeye Roast
$2.69 $15.99 www.robertfreshmarket.com lb. See our full ad inside.
N O L A.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, D e c e m b e r 17, 2025
lb.
1GN
Wonderful time of the year This week brings the last chilly blast of spirited activities before Christmas. Make sure you experience some of the lights, bonfires, carols and harmonies that mark the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas Eve’s Lighting of the Bonfires
Caroling in Jackson Square is Dec. 21.
STAFF PHOTOS BY SCOTT THRELKELD
LIGHTING THE WAY
DON’T MISS CAJUN HOLIDAY BONFIRE CELEBRATION: A plantation tour, a private bonfire viewing and a Cajun-style dinner are included in the motorcoach tour of Destrehan Plantation on selected dates Dec. 19-30. The bonfire viewing is a preview of the Christmas Eve bonfires on the Mississippi River levee. The Gray Line package starts at $150. www.graylineneworleans.com JINGLE ON THE BOULEVARD PARADE: The Jingle On The Boulevard Parade will be held Dec. 20, starting at noon in New Orleans East. The parade lines up on Crowder Boulevard and Morrison Road and heads down Crowder to Hayne Boulevard, Read Boulevard, then disbanding at Lake Forest Boulevard. www.jingleontheboulevard.com NOLA CHRISTMASFEST: The holiday wonderland will take place from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 4:309 p.m. Dec. 20-29 (with other hours Dec. 24-25) Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans. Activities include live music, visits with Santa, rides, and the Big Freezy, the city’s only ice-skating rink with real ice. Skating with Santa is from 9:30-11 a.m. Dec. 21; special tickets are required. Tickets are $25 for weekdays and $30 for Saturdays and Sundays. Guests under 18 need a parent or guardian for admission. nolachristmasfest.com.
MEOWY CATMAS 2025: The Amazing Acro-Cats will present a holiday special through Dec. 21 at the AllWays Lounge & Cabaret, 2240 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans. In addition to the cats performing tricks, there will be an appearance by The Rock Cats, the only cat band in the world, playing seasonal holiday selections. Performances start at 7 p.m., with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $48.74. A portion of ticket sales will go to local rescue partner Big Easy Animal Rescue (B.E.A.R.). theallwayslounge.net. CAROLING IN JACKSON SQUARE: Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre will present its annual holiday singalong Dec. 21 from 7-8 p.m. Gates open at 6:30. Song books and candles will be provided. Mark Romig will serve as master of ceremonies, with local musicians Harry Mayronne, Chris Wecklein and Amy Alvarez leading carols. patioplanters.net. HOLIDAYS AT AUDUBON: New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Zoo will offer special holiday activities through Jan. 4. The aquarium, 1 Canal St., will feature Santa photos, a snowflake lobby, Scuba Santa and story time. Activities at the zoo, 6500 Magazine St., will include Papa Noel, animal enrichments, kid crafts and holiday beverages. Admission starts at $25. audubonnatureinstitute. org/holidays.
CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS: City Park’s fundraiser features more than a million lights, running to Jan. 1. The 2-mile driving tour starts at 4 Friederichs Ave. in New Orleans, and the walking tour, starting at 7 Victory Ave., includes unlimited amusement park rides and access to the Botanical Garden. Tickets start at $7. celebrationintheoaks.com. KENNER’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: The free holiday experience at Heritage Park in Rivertown, 2015 Fourth St., Kenner, will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to Dec. 31. Activities include lights, snow, music, food, arts and crafts, weekend vendors, live entertainment and a special appearance from Santa Claus. kenner.la.us. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK: The 39th annual light exhibit kicked off Dec. 1 in Lafreniere Park’s South Mall parking lot, 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie, located closest to the West Napoleon Avenue entrance. The lights will remain open from 5:30-9 p.m. weeknights and 5:30-10 p.m. weekends through Dec. 30, with more than 40 new displays with more than 10 million LED lights. Driving and walking tours are available. Admission is $20 per vehicle in advance, $25 at the gate. lafrenierepark.org. CREOLE CHRISTMAS: Destrehan Plantation will offer an evening tour of the house and a walking tour of the Spirit of Christmas Lighting in the Alley of Oaks through Dec. 30, with tours starting at 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. The light show features more than 100 lighted frames and 50 Christmas trees, along with a lighted tunnel. $5, 2 and under free. Destrehan Plantation is located in St. Charles Parish at 13034 River Road in Destrehan. www.destrehanplantation.org. LIGHTING OF THE BONFIRES: Each Dec. 24, the east and west banks of St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes are lined with hand-built bonfires that light the way for Santa Claus. The bonfires start at 7 p.m. Most are concentrated in Gramercy, Lutcher, Paulina and Garyville along La. 44. Organizers recommend arriving in the area before 6 p.m. More at festivalofthebonfires.org.
SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTMAS
The Victory Belles, through Dec. 23
HOLIDAYS IN HARMONY: The Victory Belles bring the sounds of the season to life in a musical review through Dec. 23 at BB’s Stage Door Canteen inside The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St., New Orleans. A buffet-style lunch is included with the matinee luncheon ticket. Tickets start at $22, with luncheon and show tickets starting at $65. nationalww2museum.org. ä HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Peter Rubhardt, PAGE 2G will perform holiday favorites like “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans. Special guest appearances include vocalist Alexis Marceaux on “Merry Christmas, Darling” and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins on “Let It Snow.” Tickets start at $13. lpomusic.com. ALGIERS POINT CHRISTMAS CAROLING: Algiers United Methodist Church, 637 Opelousas Ave. in New Orleans, will host the event on Dec. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. The Confetti Park Players will sing some special Christmas carols with friends, family and neighbors. www.algiersumc.com. CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kraemer, will present Handel’s “Messiah” and other classical Christmas music on Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way in New Orleans. Doors open at 6 p.m. Meg Frazier will conduct the chorus. Tickets start at $25. lpomusic.com.
Hanukkah events will spread light around the metro area.
More holiday music, theater and other events.
PROVIDED PHOTO
SAVE $ 30 2
SAVE $ 00 2
HANUKKAH LIGHTS AND CELEBRATIONS
CHANUKAH PARTY: New Orleans Jewish Community Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, will host a luncheon with traditional Hanukkah foods, including latkes and sufganiyot (doughnuts), from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 18. The event includes dreidel games and live music, sponsored by the Jewish Endowment Foundation. Tickets start at $5. RSVP by Dec. 15. nojcc.org. OUTDOOR MENORAH LIGHTING: As part of Chanukah on the Avenue, Temple Sinai will have its menorah lighting Dec. 19, 6 p.m., at 6227 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. templesinainola.com.
SAVE up $ 02 to 5
SAVE up $ 58 to 3 When You Buy 2
LB
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HALF
99
Hormel Cure 81 Spiral Sliced Ham LIMIT 1
¢LB
TROPICAL
Golden Pineapples
1
$ 19
16 OZ QUARTERS SALTED OR UNSALTED
5
2/$
Rouses 4 Butter LIMIT
Stores will close at 7pm Christmas Eve and remain closed Christmas Day.
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24 PACK 12 OZ
Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew
9
$ 97
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Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores December 17th - December 24th, 2025.