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With nine state museums and 21 state parks and preserves, there is no shortage of things to do every day of the year in Louisiana.
Head to countless festivals. Listen to live music that will get in your bones and never leave. Enjoy world-class fishing, boating and paddling. Get up close with nature on biking and hiking trails. You’ll find excellent camping and picnic areas, including well-equipped cabins and RV parks, at many of our Louisiana state parks.
Discover the history of Mardi Gras, see Louis Armstrong’s cornet, relive historical moments in Louisiana sports history and so much more when you visit one of Louisiana’s museums. There are countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture that makes Louisiana such a special place.
Find your Louisiana with these events happening around the state this weekend. Check out a full list of this weekend’s events and plan your visit today!
Celebration in the Oaks
December 1-30
New Orleans
Located in New Orleans’ iconic City Park, Celebration in the Oaks features one of the most spectacular holiday light shows in the country! Explore 25 acres of dazzling lights and breathtaking displays. City Park, Botanical Garden, Storyland and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park are all captured with hundreds of thousands of lights to create a winter wonderland in the Big Easy.
To enjoy the luminous scene, drive the two-mile route throughout the park. You can also book a walking tour, which includes access to the amusement park and the Botanical Garden.
Fireworks & Food Trucks
December 30-31
Prairieville
Combine your love of food, fireworks and crafts at Fireworks & Food Trucks at Oak Grove. Browse locally made wares at the craft and small business market — you may find one or two items you didn’t get over the holidays. Nom on a diverse selection of food truck fare as you browse firework vendors for colorful sparklers or showstopping displays that will make your New Year’s celebration the talk of the neighborhood.
Continue your day of fun in nearby Gonzales, where the kiddos can let loose at Kidz Kove Discovery Park, an all-access playground that features additional equipment for children with physical or sensory developmental challenges. Or, stop by Sugarfield Spirits Co.’s distillery and tasting room to sample their Louisiana-inspired flavors of cider, plus delicious wines and spirits.
Big Night New Orleans New Years Eve
New Orleans
December 31
Welcome in 2024 NOLA-style at the Big Night New Orleans New Years Eve event — now hosted at the legendary Fillmore New Orleans. Get your groove on to the hottest bands and DJs, like the Ying Yang Twins and The Soul Rebels, and ring in the new year with a huge midnight celebration.
Experience the Crescent City’s unforgettable culture. Learn the truth about the world of voodoo at the VooDoo Spiritual Temple, dive into the city’s scrumptious food scene with can’t-miss culinary experiences, take a mule-drawn carriage tour of the mystic French Quarter or stroll through the paths at New Orleans City Park.
Flying Heart New Years Celebration
December 31
West Monroe
Ring in the new year like a local with suds, games and live music at the Flying Heart New Years Celebration at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub. Aside from out-of-this-world craft brews and cocktails, savor delicious pizzas, like the Day Wrecker (a cheesy steak- and bacon-topped pie), or sample sweet treats like the chocolatey, ice cream-topped Sugar Daddy. The evening includes the musical reunion show of The Cowboys with Guitars and a Champagne toast at the stroke of midnight.
Plan a weekend getaway to West Monroe to fully enjoy the town’s numerous sights and attractions. Duck Dynasty lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the Robertson family’s Duck Commander: The Tour. Meanwhile, souvenir-shoppers will adore the dozens of boutiques and antique shops in the city’s downtown area, known as Antique Alley.
Hilton’s New Year’s Eve Party
Baton Rouge
December 31
End your year with Gatsby-era chic and glamour at the Hilton’s New Year’s Eve Party. You’ll feel like a star as you arrive and strut down the red carpet dressed in your glitziest gown (Bonus! Capture the moment aside the 1935 Rolls Royce on set). The event features dinner and breakfast buffets, a live big band and DJ, a midnight Champagne toast and breathtaking views of fireworks over the Mississippi.
You’ll find plenty of adventure for a weekend of fun in Baton Rouge. Dive into the local food scene with your choice of top-notch restaurants, including Mason’s Grill, Tsunami and The Chimes Restaurant. After you’ve filled your belly, climb aboard a WWII naval destroyer at the USS KIDD Veterans Museum. You’ll discover behind-the-scenes history and unique artifacts on this incredible restored warship.
New Year’s Noon Carnival & Countdown
December 31
Lafayette
Experience a magical new year’s celebration at the New Year’s Noon Carnival and Countdownat the Children’s Museum of Acadiana — where the party unfolds in a world designed especially for kids. Enjoy a spectacular afternoon dancing to live music, playing old-fashioned carnival games, winning fabulous prizes and exploring more than 12 interactive exhibits. The party culminates in a countdown celebration to ring in the new year (at noon, of course) with festive hats, noisemakers and a shower of confetti.
Round out your afternoon with a stop at Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe, a nostalgic dinner-style ice cream parlor serving up banana splits with all the fixings, creamy malts, towering cones and fizzy ice cream floats. For more adventure, step back in time at Vermilionville Historic Village, an interactive living history museum. Watch artisans demonstrate their skills, talk history with the local blacksmith and investigate restored period buildings.
NYE Wine Pairing Dinner
December 31
Lake Charles
Celebrate the new year with a sumptuous NYE Wine Pairing Dinner at Bodega Wine Drive. If you love good food and vino, you’ll relish this lavish three-course meal featuring tender filet medallions and creamy Basque cheesecake, along with the hand-picked selection of delicious international wines. And what better complement to the evening than a live band playing the smooth, lively jazz tunes that Louisiana is so well known for.
Work up an appetite before dinner with a day of hiking, biking and wildlife viewing at the Sam Houston Jones State Park. After your meal, embrace the community’s nightlife through a few games of chance at Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino or L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles.
Rock the Clock 2024
Shreveport
December 31
Immerse yourself in a world of color, mystery and excitement at The Grand Masquerade: Rock the Clock 2024. Dress to the nines for this elegant black-tie event, and don’t forget to bring your most dazzling mask. Spend the final hours of 2023 dancing to live music and sampling delicious cocktails until the crowd yells, “10, 9, 8 . . .”
Experience the Louisiana history and culture through detailed dioramas, beautiful regional art collections and fascinating historic artifacts at the Louisiana State Exhibition Museum. For an excursion on the wilder side, take a hike through Red River National Wildlife Refuge or explore the Shreveport Aquarium where you can feed the rays, meet shark pups and touch moon jellyfish.
Make Plans for Louisiana This Month
Whether it’s one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.
