NEW ORLEANS – NOLA ChristmasFest, New Orleans only indoor Christmas festival, opens to the public Friday, December 18, 2015, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, but local children can get a sneak preview the night before by being part of a colorful Lantern Parade through the streets of the Warehouse District.
Children of all ages are invited to light the way to the Convention Center and be the first to experience ice skating and all of the other attractions and activities that NOLA ChristmasFest has to offer at the Lantern Parade, beginning at Fulton and Lafayette Streets, on Thursday, December 17, at 5:00 p.m.
Children and their guardians interested in participating in the Lantern Parade and private preview must register online in advance.
NOLA ChristmasFest ushers in the Christmas spirit for its third year with an ice skating rink, holiday characters, amusement rides and much more inside the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
The popular annual family holiday celebration, which runs through Sunday, December 27, features the only ice skating rink in New Orleans as well as an amazing walk-through maze, themed inflatables and rides such as the Kringle Carousel, Winter Whirl, Snowball Fight and Snowy Summit Climbing Wall. Additionally, NOLA ChristmasFest visitors will have the option to take and/ or purchase memorable Christmas photos with Santa and several of his North Pole friends.
NOLA ChristmasFest will take place inside Hall B at the Convention Center and will be open from noon to 8:00 p.m. each day during the holiday celebration. Special hours on Christmas Eve are from noon to 5:00 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
NOLA ChristmasFest will display thousands of dazzling lights and more than 60 Christmas trees decorated by New Orleans businesses, and Convention Center Boulevard will be draped in holiday décor with more than one million mesmerizing lights synced to traditional and contemporary Christmas music.
NOLA ChristmasFest tickets are now available online and can also be purchased on site over the 10 days. Single day general admission tickets are $5, and they grant access to the Amazing Maze, the Kringle Carousel, Santa and holiday characters and beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Single day all-access tickets are $20. Group, student and season passes are also available. All-access tickets gain entry to the ice skating rink, rental of one pair of skates, carnival rides, inflatables, the Amazing Maze, Santa and holiday characters and the Great Hall of Trees. Additional charges will apply for optional face painting, professional photos, special events and refreshments.
NOLA ChristmasFest will offer discounted parking at the Hilton Whale Surface Lot located in front of the Riverwalk, the Hilton World Trade Center Garage and the Fulton Garage on Convention Center Blvd. Parking discount details are available on the website.
NOLA ChristmasFest is sponsored by Entergy, Capital One, UnitedHealthcare, P&N Postlethwaite & Netterville, Raising Cane’s, Alamo Security, Southern Eagle, Centerplate, Coca Cola and Freeman in partnership with the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. The event is presented by the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and coordinated by Diane Lyons and ACCENT-DMC.