Kicking off the Holiday Season with the French Market District
The French Market District will help kick off New Orleans' holiday season with its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
The event runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Oscar Dunn Park and includes live music, festive performances, and a classic New Orleans second line parade. The French Market Corporation invites both locals and visitors to join in the start of the holiday season and enjoy some of the city's favorite cultural traditions.
Musical Event Schedule
The festivities get underway at 3:30 p.m. with a performance by the Victory Belles, a vocal trio whose specialty is 1940s-style harmonies and a very strong sense of nostalgia. The Baby Dolls will also be there, a historic New Orleans Carnival tradition from the very early 1900s. They're a big part of the city's Black cultural heritage and are a very distinctive New Orleans phenomena.
After the tree lighting, a brass band will lead everyone in a lively second line parade from Oscar Dunn Park to St. Louis Cathedral. At 6 p.m., the festivities move inside the cathedral for a special holiday concert with Charlie Halloran and the Tropicales. Charlie Halloran is a trombonist and bandleader from New Orleans, specializing in traditional jazz, Caribbean music, and old school dance music. With his band the Tropicales, he will combine New Orleans sounds with the Caribbean to finish the evening off in style.
History and Significance
The French Market District of New Orleans is presenting the event. The district includes the French Market itself, a number of restaurants, shops, gathering spaces, and historic sites. The French Market has existed since 1791 and is one of the oldest public markets in the country. It began as a trading post and has evolved into a market where you can experience the local food, crafts, specialty goods, and the culture of New Orleans. It's still a hub for festivals, concerts, and community events throughout the year. The Tree Lighting Ceremony brings together the city's history and New Orleans' musical traditions for an afternoon of seasonal festivities. From vintage vocal performances to a brass band-led second line, the celebration offers a distinctly local way to welcome the holidays.
For more information about the ceremony, visit the French Market District's website.
