Well folks, the time has come. It’s that wonderful time of year when our evenings will be spent sipping hot chocolate, listening to our favorite Christmas songs, and enjoying dazzling light displays across the state. To jumpstart your holiday season, we’ve got some of our favorite Christmas towns in Louisiana that shouldn’t be missed. From Christmas festivals to mesmerizing Christmas light shows, these towns really embrace the holiday season.

1. Natchitoches

Easily taking the top spot as one of the best places to go for Christmas in Louisiana, no other town does it better than Natchitoches. As the Christmas capital of Louisiana, this is one Christmas town you don’t want to pass over this year. The annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival is a six-week-long celebration that’s been going strong since 1927, making it one of the oldest Christmas festivals in the country. From November 18, 2023, until January 6, 2024 downtown Natchitoches transforms into a winter wonderland with Santa sightings, plenty of shopping opportunities, and an insanely beautiful light display. Stroll down the waterfront and enjoy over 300,000 lights plus more than 100 set pieces along the Cane River Lake. This is one of the most popular Christmas events in Louisiana, so be sure to book your accommodations as early as possible!

2. New Orleans

The Crescent City fully embraces the holiday spirit, and you’ll find plenty of things to do for Christmas in New Orleans. One of the most popular holiday events is over at City Park. Celebration in the Oaks is a time-honored tradition for many locals, and folks young and old will thoroughly enjoy wandering through the park’s incredible holiday display. Speaking of holiday traditions in New Orleans, be sure to swing by the Roosevelt Hotel and stroll through the lobby. Since 1930, the Roosevelt has been turning its lobby into a winter wonderland and it just gets better and better every year. Over 100,000 lights, nearly 1,700 feet of garland, and thousands of glass ornaments adorn the 78 birch trees and 40 Christmas trees for a sight that will fill you with holiday cheer. This is an excellent spot for family Christmas pics!

3. Acadian Village

For most of the year, LARC’s Acadian Village is a living history museum where you can wander through historic buildings and get a glimpse of what life was like for some of the earliest Acadian settlers. During the month of December, the Acadian Village transforms into Now Acadien au Village, a magical wonderland boasting half a million lights, live entertainment, carnival rides, and photos with Santa.

4. Monroe-West Monroe

Northeast Louisiana knows how to celebrate the holiday season, and both Monroe and West Monroe come together for a holly jolly good time. Stroll through the Freedom Trees at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, enjoy a champagne stroll along West Monroe’s Antiques Alley, or take the whole family to Kiroli Park for Christmas at Kiroli. Beyond the city limits, Candy Cane Lane is an excellent drive-thru holiday light show in Louisiana with over a mile of dazzling displays.

5. Shreveport

There’s a lot to explore over on the northwest corner of Louisiana. The Shreveport-Bossier City Area boasts plenty of holiday activities, sightings with Santa, holiday lights, and so much more. Be sure to check out Christmas in Roseland, an enchanting lights show at the American Rose Center. It’s the largest rose park in the country!

6. Lake Charles

Holiday events in Lake Charles begin the day after Thanksgiving and carry on until the new year. There will be plenty of Christmas light displays, and some of our favorites are the Holiday Lights Display at Millennium Park and The Grove at Heritage Square. Be sure to check out the giant Christmas tree at Prien Lake Park. This thing would put the Grinch into the holiday spirit!

7. Baton Rouge

Christmas in Baton Rouge is always a good idea. The jolly good time kicks off with the Festival of Lights and the lighting of the tree in the Town Square, and from then on, it’s non-stop holiday fun. Ice Skating at the Raising Cane’s River is a magical way to spend an evening with your loved ones in between checking out all of the dreamy light displays you’ll find all over Baton Rouge. Speaking of Christmas lights in Baton Rouge, Zoolights is returning to the Baton Rouge Zoo this year, and it runs from November 24, 2023, until December 30, 2023.

For more seasonal adventures, check out some of our favorite things to do in winter in Louisiana. Happy holidays!