Caroling in Jackson Square: How to Join One of New Orleans' Oldest Christmas Traditions

Few holiday scenes in New Orleans are as memorable as Jackson Square on the night of the annual Christmas caroling. Thousands of people fill the square, candles in hand, with St. Louis Cathedral lit up behind them, and sing carols together under the oaks. The event has been held for decades, organized by the Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré, and it has become one of the city's best-loved Christmas traditions for locals and visitors alike.

It's also one of the busiest evenings of the year in the French Quarter. This guide covers how the event usually works, when to arrive, what to bring, and how to plan transportation in and out of the Quarter.

What Caroling in Jackson Square Is

Caroling in Jackson Square is a free, community sing-along held in the square in front of St. Louis Cathedral. Participants traditionally receive candles and song sheets, and the crowd sings a program of familiar Christmas carols together. It's family-friendly, informal and open to everyone, whether you sing well or just enjoy the atmosphere.

The event is usually held on the Sunday evening before Christmas. Exact timing, details and any changes are set by the organizers each year, so check the official announcements before you plan your evening. Weather can also affect the event, as it is held outdoors.

When to Arrive

Jackson Square fills quickly on caroling night, and the best spots, close to the front where you can hear and see well, go early. A few tips:

• Arrive well before the start time if you want to be inside the square rather than at its edges.
• Families with young children often prefer a spot near the edge of the crowd, where it's easier to step away if needed.
• Expect gates to the square to be busy as the start time approaches, and allow time to get through the crowd.
• Plan for the event to end in the evening, with thousands of people leaving at once.

What to Bring

• Layers. December evenings in New Orleans are usually mild but can turn cool and damp, especially after sundown.
• Comfortable shoes. You'll be standing for a while and walking on historic streets.
• Something to protect your hand from dripping wax, such as a paper cup or a small piece of cardboard.
• A small bag only. The square is crowded, and less is easier.
• A fully charged phone to find your group and your ride afterward.

Getting Into the French Quarter

The streets immediately around Jackson Square are largely pedestrian, and on a busy December evening the surrounding blocks fill with visitors, diners and holiday shoppers. Street parking is extremely limited, and garages and lots near the river and the French Market can fill. Our French Quarter parking guide explains the options if you're driving.

A chauffeured drop-off avoids the search. Your chauffeur drops you on the nearest street open to vehicles, usually along Decatur Street or another nearby street depending on traffic and closures that evening, and you walk the last short stretch to the square. Our Jackson Square car service page covers the area in more detail.

Planning the Pickup

When the caroling ends, the crowd leaves all at once, and the streets around the square fill with pedestrians. Rideshare pickups are difficult, and cars trying to reach the square move slowly. The best approach is to agree on a specific pickup point a few blocks away before the event, in a spot your chauffeur can reach easily.

• Choose a meeting point away from the square, where traffic is moving.
• Set a pickup time about twenty to thirty minutes after the expected end, or call when you're ready.
• Make sure everyone in your group knows the meeting point, in case you get separated in the crowd.
• If you're having dinner afterward, simply walk to the restaurant and arrange your pickup from there.

If It Rains

Because the caroling is outdoors, rain can change the evening. Watch the organizers' announcements on the day for any change of plans, and bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket if the forecast is uncertain. Candles and rain don't mix, so a rainy night may also mean a smaller crowd and an easier arrival. If the event goes ahead in light rain, a car waiting a few blocks away means a short, dry walk instead of a long wait for a ride.

Staying in the French Quarter?

If your hotel is in the Quarter, you may be able to walk to the square, which is often the easiest option on caroling night. Guests staying in the CBD, the Warehouse District, the Garden District or farther out will find a drop-off and pickup much easier than finding parking. If you're arriving in New Orleans the same day, we can meet you at MSY and bring you to your hotel in time to drop your bags and walk over.

Making an Evening of It

Caroling in Jackson Square fits naturally into a festive December evening in the Quarter. Many visitors combine it with:

• A Réveillon dinner at one of the Quarter's restaurants. Reserve early, as caroling night is busy.
• A walk through the decorated streets, where many balconies and storefronts are lit for the season.
• Coffee and beignets near the square, though lines can be long after the event.
• A drive to see Celebration in the Oaks in City Park. Our Celebration in the Oaks guide covers the details.

For an evening with several stops, an hourly booking keeps the vehicle and chauffeur with your group, so you can move from the Quarter to dinner and on to the lights without arranging separate rides.

Bringing Children and Older Relatives

The event is family-friendly, and children often love the candles and the singing. With young children, keep candles under close supervision, choose a spot where you can step out of the crowd easily, and agree on a meeting point in case anyone gets separated. Families with young children can request infant, convertible and booster seats when booking their ride.

For older relatives or anyone who finds crowds and standing difficult, plan a drop-off as close as possible and a spot near the edge of the square. A shorter visit followed by dinner nearby is often more enjoyable than staying for the whole program in the middle of the crowd.

Choosing a Vehicle

For a couple, a sedan such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class seats up to three. Families and small groups fit comfortably in a Chevrolet Suburban, which seats five, or a Lincoln Navigator, which seats six. For larger families, church groups or friends traveling together, a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to thirteen passengers.

Booking Your Ride

The Sunday before Christmas is one of the busiest evenings of the season, so book as soon as your plans are set. Sedan and SUV reservations can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter and special-event bookings up to 12 hours before. Your quote is all-inclusive, covering tolls, taxes and gratuity.

Call (877) 609-1919 any time or book online. Tell us where you're starting, how many people are in your group and whether you're adding dinner or other stops, and we'll plan the drop-off and pickup around the crowds.