French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) proudly announces details regarding the 35th annual Holidays New Orleans Style (HNOS). HNOS, a collaboration between FQFI and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC), is a curation of the city’s most celebrated traditions. 
Throughout the season, the event will offer Reveillon feasts at over 60 of the city’s finest restaurants, nearly 80 special holiday events including more than a dozen free concerts produced by FQFI, and Papa Noël hotel deals for all budgets. The festivities begin November 21 with the Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration. The following evening, November 22, brings the official Holidays New Orleans Style Kickoff, an event that includes fireworks, music, and the French Market Annual Tree Lighting. HNOS ends on Twelfth Night, January 6th, 2020, when the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc parades in the French Quarter and Phunny Phorty Phellows board the St. Charles Avenue streetcar to herald the start of Carnival.
Locals and visitors alike will enjoy neighborhood events such as the Algiers Bonfire and Concert and Jingle on the Boulevard. History-lovers will appreciate special tours of private homes in holiday dress and programs like Creole Holiday Traditions, A 19th Century Christmas, and historical characters strolling in the French Quarter. The sounds of the season will fill St. Louis Cathedral and St. Augustine Catholic Church during FQFI’s concert series with over a dozen free performances. Other events include: nightly excursions through the lighting display at City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks; Audubon Zoo Lights presented by Children’s Hospital; Luna Fete and the Improvisations Gala at the New Orleans Jazz Museum; ice skating, gingerbread houses, and carnival rides at NOLA ChristmasFest; caroling in Jackson Square presented by neighborhood organization Patio Planters; holiday steamboat cruises; theatrical and musical performances; and holiday parades, including a second-line for French Quarter neighborhood students led by the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk’s Singing Santa & the Riverwalk Jazz Band. Dozens of activities are planned, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy dining, shopping, and culture.
“Visitors and citizens have discovered New Orleans as one of the nation’s most authentic and family-friendly of holiday celebrations,” said Mark Romig, president and CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. “Holidays New Orleans Style will once again feature Revellion dinners, citywide holiday decorations, concerts, shopping, the annual French Market tree lighting, and the Morial New Orleans Convention Center’s ChristmasFest. The magic of the holidays comes alive like no other destination in New Orleans.”
Free Concerts at St. Louis Cathedral and St. Augustine Church
Holidays New Orleans Style celebrates New Orleans’ rich musical heritage with jazz musicians, gospel choirs, classical ensembles, and others performing the sounds of the season with concerts at St. Louis Cathedral located in Jackson Square and St. Augustine Church located in historic Treme. Concerts at St. Louis Cathedral take place at 6 p.m. on December 2-5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, and 22. Concerts at St. Augustine take place at 4 pm on Saturday, December 7, 14, and 21. This year’s lineup brings six debuts, including Jose Fermin Ceballos with Merengue-4, Cajun trio Sweet Cecilia, Quiana Lynell, The Nayo Jones Experience, Zulu Gospel Choir, and Loose Cattle – led by Tony winner Michael Cerveris. Returning artists include Ellis Marsalis, Opera Creole, and many more. FQFI president and CEO Emily Madero said, “As a non-profit, our mission is to showcase New Orleans’ culture and heritage, and what better way than our holiday concert series! This year’s artists reflect our diversity with something for everyone to enjoy, with opera, Cajun, Latin, gospel, and jazz performances.” All concerts are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule visit fqfi.org.
Reveillon Dinners
Reveillon, an adaptation of a traditional Creole holiday dining custom, will be celebrated nightly in over 60 restaurants throughout the city. Reveillon menus are offered only once a year, making HNOS the only time guests can enjoy this authentic taste of New Orleans. Menus showcase the feasts of Christmas past, present, and future: Four Reveillon restaurants – Antoine’s, Galatoire’s, Commander’s Palace, and Tujague’s – are more than 100 years old and feature classic Creole cuisine. Contemporary Reveillon utilizes preparation techniques and products of the modern-day not necessarily available to the original Creoles and is available at Café Amelie, The Country Club, Muriel’s Jackson Square, and dozens of more restaurants. B’Reveillon (brunch) will be served at Cavan and Rib Room. Petite Reveillon (small plates) can be enjoyed at Bistro on the Bend, Jayne Bistro and Bar, and St. James Cheese Company. New Reveillon participants include: Andrea’s Restaurant, Bordeaux Restaurant, Couvant, Nolé Restaurant, and St. James Cheese Company.
Reveillon on the Rocks
The Reveillon dinner has been celebrated in homes and restaurants all over New Orleans since the 1850s. Local bartenders also capture the spirit of Reveillon, one-sip-at-a-time with festive cocktails. Beginning December 1st and continuing until the last toast on New Year’s Eve, and at some spots lasting through Twelfth Night (January 6th), more than 20 bars and restaurants will say “Cheers to the Holiday Season!”
Cooking Demonstrations
Holidays New Orleans Style serves up a series of cooking demonstrations from many of New Orleans’ finest chefs. FQFI, NOTMC, and WWL-TV team up to bring the “12 Days of Reveillon.” For three weeks in December (12/9-24), WWL-TV will showcase New Orleans’ great chefs, preparing items from their 2019 Reveillon menus each morning between 8 and 9 a.m. Chefs include: Tory McPhail (Commander’s Palace), Tom Wolfe (Rib Room), and Anthony Scanio (Emeril’s Delmonico).
Papa Noël Hotel Rates
Holidays New Orleans Style gives the gift of a memorable holiday encounter that can only be experienced in New Orleans. Travelers can take advantage of special offers at more than 60 of the city’s finest hotels and bed and breakfasts that feature attractive nightly Papa Noël discounted rates and luxurious value packages to visitors as their gift of the season. In 2019, new participants include: 1851 Mansion on St. Charles, French Quarter Suites Hotel, Grenoble House, Hyatt Place New Orleans Convention Center, JW Marriott New Orleans, New Orleans Courtyard Hotel, SpringHill Suites New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street, and TownePlace Suites New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street.
The HNOS guidebook, available at visitors’ centers and Papa Noël hotels, is the central resource for locals to discover what to explore and visitors to plan their stay. Visit fqfi.org for complete information or to download the digital guidebook.
Holidays New Orleans Style 2019 is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. in collaboration with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to drive economic impact through investing in New Orleans unique cultural industries. FQFI also produces French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron (April) and Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron (August).
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