New Orleans, Louisiana Weather in December

December weather

December feels mild by day, but damp weather can make the French Quarter feel chilly after dark. Highs average 17°C and lows 11°C, with rain on about 10 days. It's wetter than November, so allow for showers and cloud.

You can still explore the Garden District on foot, browse the French Market, or take a streetcar along St. Charles Avenue. A rainy afternoon suits the National WWII Museum. Long beach days and weather-dependent plans are less reliable, so keep indoor sights in mind.

Holiday traditions

The city dresses up for Christmas, with Celebration in the Oaks lighting City Park and holiday displays around town. You can also look for Reveillon dinners, a New Orleans tradition of special menus at local restaurants. Christmas Eve bonfires on the river levees are another local custom, especially outside the city.

Families who enjoy festive lights may prefer an evening at City Park, where you can wander among the displays.

Crowds and local tips

December is generally calmer than Mardi Gras season, though Christmas and New Year bring more visitors. The holiday week can feel busy, and accommodation may cost more than during quieter parts of the month. Outside those dates, you'll usually find fewer crowds than in the city's major festival periods.

For a practical rainy-day plan, take the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District and admire the old homes from under the route's live oaks. Bring a rain jacket for the ride; showers can interrupt an otherwise easy afternoon. A bowl of gumbo in the French Quarter is a welcome stop when the air turns cool.