A little holiday train chugs past a 40-foot, three-dimensional sign that spells out love for a city park. Nearby, the Three Little Pigs and a Mama Duck with her ducklings glow in the dark.
That ride is one small piece of a much bigger glow. Over a million lights cover about 25 acres of parkland in Louisiana. Hundreds of illuminated displays shine under giant live oaks.
The whole thing feels playful instead of fussy. You can hop on rides, roam a storybook garden, and stroll past an 18-foot mushroom you can walk through.
I believe the train is the coziest seat in the house. It gives you a slow, sparkly loop with no walking required. Where exactly does this glowing train roll, and what else is waiting along the tracks?
Victory Avenue Is The Ticket To The Holiday Train
Celebration in the Oaks’ Holiday Express runs inside Carousel Gardens Amusement Park at New Orleans City Park, Louisiana. For the Walking Tour and train, approach the park via Lelong Drive toward the entrance at 7 Victory Avenue.
The Carousel Gardens entrance on Victory Avenue is the final clue, not the separate driving-tour gate on Friederichs Avenue. The train is part of the walking-tour amusement park area.
Use designated City Park parking and enter with a Walking Tour ticket, which includes the Holiday Express ride. The 2026–27 season runs November 27 through January 1, with selected closed nights; follow the event’s current ticket and operating schedule.
Over A Million Lights Is Not A Typo
One million twinkling lights. Say it slowly, and it still sounds a little wild.
Celebration in the Oaks spreads those lights across about 25 acres of New Orleans City Park. Hundreds of illuminated displays fill the space, so every turn brings something new to look at.
The glow reaches the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Each area has its own feel, which keeps the evening from blending into one long blur of bulbs.
The setting helps a lot here. City Park’s famous live oaks spread their branches wide, and lights look extra dramatic draped across those twisting limbs.
For 2026, an ancient live oak gets its own spotlight. The tree is illuminated as a special feature on the Walking Tour, and it’s a fitting nod to the festival’s name.
This tradition dates back to the late 1980s. Families in Louisiana have been making it part of their holiday routine for decades.
Bring a fully charged phone. Between the trees, the displays, and the train, your camera roll is about to fill up fast.
Ride Everything As Many Times As You Want
Unlimited rides at night, wrapped in holiday lights? Kids might call that the best deal of the year.
The Walking Tour ticket gives you all-access entry to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. That includes unlimited rides, so nobody has to count tickets or pick just one favorite.
The park has 17 rides in total. You’ll find the Music Express, the Live Oak Ladybug Rollercoaster, a Ferris Wheel, and a drop tower.
Bumper cars are on the list too. So is a 40-foot fun slide, which sounds like a lot of slide for one evening.
The Ferris Wheel deserves a special mention during the festival. Riding up high gives you a different angle on all those glowing displays below.
Height requirements vary by ride, so check them before you promise anything to a small rider. Accessible ride options are also available for guests with disabilities.
I can’t imagine a better way to burn off holiday energy before bedtime. Ride, walk, look around, and then ride again.
A Century-Old Carousel Steals The Spotlight
Some rides spin. The Flying Horses carousel spins with more than 100 years of history behind it.
The antique carousel sits at the heart of Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. It’s one of the oldest carousels in the United States, and it has been operating for over a century.
It moved to its current spot in 1928. That’s a long time to keep the horses galloping in circles.
Here’s a fun fact for your next trivia night. It’s the only antique hand-carved carousel remaining in Louisiana.
Music comes from a Wurlitzer #150 Band Organ. That old-time sound adds a sweet, old-fashioned mood to the whole ride.
During Celebration in the Oaks, the carousel becomes even more charming. Holiday lights all around the park make the hand-carved horses feel straight out of a storybook.
Grandparents might enjoy this ride as much as toddlers. It’s gentle, pretty, and full of history you can actually sit on.
Save it for a calm moment in your visit. After the roller coaster and bumper cars, a slow spin feels just right.
Fairy Tales Get A Sparkly Upgrade In Storyland
Nursery rhymes rarely come with this much glow. Storyland changes that during the holiday season.
The fairy tale-themed area is included with your Walking Tour ticket. That means you can wander from the rides to storybook scenes without paying anything extra.
Storyland is a big part of the light display at Celebration in the Oaks. Its themed settings pair nicely with the playful characters spotted from the Holiday Express.
Younger kids tend to love spaces made just for them. Storyland fits that bill, with a setting built around familiar tales.
It also works as a great photo stop. The lights add color and shine to scenes that already feel cheerful in daylight.
Plan your route so Storyland isn’t rushed. Little ones often want time to explore, point, and look at every detail they recognize.
Grown-ups get a little nostalgia here too. Seeing classic stories lit up for the holidays can bring back plenty of childhood memories.
Pair it with a train ride afterward. The Three Little Pigs on the Holiday Express route keep the fairy tale theme rolling along.
New Surprises Are Waiting For 2026
An 18-foot mushroom you can walk through sounds like something from a dream. For 2026, it’s on the Walking Tour.
Celebration in the Oaks is adding several fresh features this season. The goal seems simple: give returning families something new to find.
A 22-foot pure-white prism tree joins the lineup. Next to all the colorful displays, an all-white tree should really stand out.
The Peppermint Post Office is getting a makeover too. It’s been reimagined, so even longtime fans will see it in a new way.
New photo opportunities are scattered along the walking route. Twelve-foot angels greet guests right at the Walking Tour entrances.
The Driving Tour gets upgrades as well. An expanded route along Palm Drive now features 45 exhibits.
Look for a Mardi Gras-inspired tree display there. It uses purple, green, and gold light curtains with six-foot beads, which feels very Louisiana.
Enhanced uplighting also brightens the live oaks along Roosevelt Mall. It’s a lot of new sparkle for one season, and I like that the festival keeps evolving.
Your Car Can Join The Party Too
Prefer heat on and a cozy seat? The Driving Tour lets you enjoy the lights without leaving your car.
The route runs about two miles through City Park. It features 45 exhibits and takes around 30 to 45 minutes to finish.
Tune your radio to 96.1 FM for holiday music. Suddenly, your car feels like a private parade float with a soundtrack.
Pets are allowed in vehicles on the Driving Tour. Your dog can enjoy the show from the back seat, which is a nice bonus.
The entrance sits at 4 Friederichs Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124. Want faster entry? A Dasher Pass offers expedited access through 3 Friederichs Avenue.
Tour buses and extra-large vehicles aren’t allowed because of height restrictions. Keep that in mind if you planned to bring the whole extended family in one giant van.
The Driving Tour doesn’t include the Holiday Express or the rides. Some families split the fun over two nights, which isn’t a bad idea at all.
Smart Planning Makes The Night Way Smoother
Tickets first, then fun. That’s the golden rule for this festival.
All tickets must be bought online ahead of time for a specific date and time slot. The event is also cashless, so leave the coin jar at home.
Celebration in the Oaks runs from November 27, 2026, through January 1, 2027. It’s closed on December 7, 14, 24, and 31.
Hours change by day. Monday through Thursday runs 6 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday run 5 to 10 PM, and Sunday runs 5 to 9 PM.
Christmas Day is open from 6 to 10 PM. Last entry is always half an hour before closing.
The Walking Tour entrance is at 7 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. Another entrance sits at 5 Victory Avenue near the Oscar J. Tolmas Visitor Center.
Parking anywhere in City Park is free. That includes the Tricentennial lot and nearby street parking.
Value Nights offer reduced prices on select dates. Pets and outside food aren’t allowed in Carousel Gardens, so plan snacks and sitters accordingly.
Every Ticket Helps The Park Keep Glowing
Fun with a purpose feels extra good. Celebration in the Oaks is the City Park Conservancy’s largest annual fundraiser.
Money raised supports park maintenance and beautification all year long. So your train ride helps keep City Park lovely long after the lights come down.
The event draws over 185,000 visitors each year. That’s a lot of people helping one beloved New Orleans park.
Bike lovers get their own special evenings. Bike Nights run November 30 and December 1, 2, and 3, from 6 to 9 PM.
On those nights, only cyclists can roll through. The Driving and Walking Tours are closed, and pedestrians and motorized bikes aren’t allowed.
No bike? Rentals are available from Wheel Fun Rentals. The Pedal Pit Stop at 1 Palm Drive offers refreshments, restrooms, and seating.
Inside Carousel Gardens, two cafés serve food and refreshments. Wheelchair rentals are available too, so more guests can enjoy the evening comfortably.
I believe the best holiday traditions give something back. This one does exactly that, one glowing Louisiana night at a time.