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December 1-15 Give a Gift, Get a Treat. Creole Cuisine

Restaurant Concepts hosts its annual toy drive for local children in need. For each gift delivered to a Creole Cuisine Restaurant

Concepts restaurant, the donor will receive a complimentary dessert to enjoy at the end of the meal. For gifts brought to Daiquiri

Paradise, the donor will receive 2 for 1 daiquiris. Drop off at any Creole Cuisine restaurant. CreoleCuisine.com.

1-Jan 3 Celebration in the Oaks Driving

Tour. Celebration in the Oaks in City Park is the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country. City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout the 2.25 mile driving tour of the Park. Guests must remain in their vehicles at all times. New Orleans City

Park, 2 Friederich Ave. Closed Dec 24 and 31. neworleanscitypark.com/celebration-inthe-oaks. 1-Jan 14 Me Time Challenge. The Allstate

Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic and

Ochsner Health are teaming up for a brandnew virtual challenge focused on physical and mental health. All challenge proceeds will go directly to the Women’s Wellness and Survivorship Center at Ochsner

Baptist. Registrants receive a virtual bib, commemorative Me Time Challenge longsleeve shirt and a finisher’s medallion. $35. ccc10k.com.

3 Good Shepherd School Virtual Gala.

The Good Shepherd School, which provides a free tuition quality Catholic private education to children in New

Orleans no matter their financial status, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a memorable virtual Gala. New

Orleans’ legendary Commander’s Palace

Restaurant will provide fine dining cuisine delivered to your door as you enjoy the sounds of Irma Thomas. 598-9399.

thegoodshepherdschool.org.

4-5 Jennifer Ponson Jewelry Designs

Show. View Jennifer Ponson Jewelry

Designs at the Bead Shop by appointment. 4612 Magazine St. 895-6161. 5 Art Walk & Wine Tasting. Visit gallery to gallery in the 700 and 800 blocks of Royal

Street sipping wines from around the globe while taking in some of New Orleans greatest gifts—rare antiques, fine art, and stunning historic architecture. Tickets are limited. 4-6pm. nowfe.com. 5 Early Childhood Open House. Ursuline

Academy, 2635 State St. Register online at go.uanola.org.

5 Improvisations: The New Orleans Jazz

Museum Gala. 7-11pm. 400 Esplanade.

Tickets are limited. nolajazzmuseum.org/ events/gala2020. 5-20 Holiday Tea. Continue this festive

Ritz-Carlton tradition in the Ritz’s French

Quarter Balcony room. The Ritz-Carlton,

Dec 1-Jan 3 Celebration in the Oaks

Driving Tour. Celebration in the Oaks in City Park is the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country.

City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout the 2.25 mile driving tour of the Park. With more than 165,000 visitors pouring into the Park to see the magical winter spectacle in previous years, 2020 is a special year and City

Park has made it happen a driving tour! Guests must remain in their vehicles at all times. New Orleans City

Park, 2 Friederich Ave. Closed Dec 24 and 31. neworleanscitypark.com/ celebration-in-the-oaks.

921 Canal St. 12pm. Adults, $75; children 5 and older, $55. Exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations, 940-7658. ritzcarlton.com. 5-20 Gingerbread Build. Children of all ages are invited to build a festive gingerbread house. Price includes one gingerbread house with all the decorating essentials. Adult supervision and reservations are required. The Ritz-

Carlton, 921 Canal St. 1pm. Table of four including children, $175. Reservations, 940-7658. ritzcarlton.com.

5, 12, 19, 22 and 23 Brunch with Santa.

Santa will once again visit the Court of

Two Sisters for a festive brunch. Includes three-course brunch with coffee and tea (or buffet if restrictions change before the event), visit with Santa, festive live jazz, and a gift for every child. The Court of

Two Sisters, 613 Royal St. 10am or 1pm. $15-$50. Reservations required by >>

email or phone. court2si@courtoftwosisters.com. 522-7261 ext 24. 5, 12, 19, 26 Champagne Saturdays. Symmetry Jewelers &

Designers, 8138 Hampson St. symmetryjewelers.com. 8 Drink & Learn: Creole Holiday Traditions. Celebrate the season with Creole history and cocktail recipes that pay homage to New

Orleans holiday delights. Hosted by Drinks Historian Elizabeth Pearce and Sazerac House cocktail experts. The Sazerac House, 101

Magazine St. 4-5:30pm. For tickets, visit sazerachouse.com. 11 A Very Merry Drag Brunch. Hosted by Broussard’s featuring the

Southern Barbitchuates, a festive limited menu and specialty cocktails.

All COVID safety procedures will be followed. Broussard’s Restaurant, 819 Conti St. 11am or 1:30pm. Reservations, 581-3866.

11-18 NOLA Virtual Christmasfest: Santa’s Little Helpers Digital

Series. Programming includes Christmas crafts, holiday baking and decorating, holiday dance classes, nightly book readings from some our favorite Christmas characters, and so much more. nolachristmasfest.com. 12 Longue Vue’s Merry Market. Outdoor marketplace, photos with Santa and garden crafts. Also introducing Edith and Edgar’s

Museum Café. Longue Vue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd. 1-4pm. Tickets and details, longuevue.com. 12 Seated Mini-Vinola. Sample ten wineries from around the world paired with three highly acclaimed New Orleans restaurants all while seated at your table. Each winery or wine representative will mingle throughout the room, pouring these rare and highly valued wines.

Rib Room, 621 Saint Louis Street. 3-5pm. nowfe.com.

12-13 Preservation Resource Center’s Holiday Virtual Home

Tour. The Preservation Resource Center’s Holiday Home Tour, presented by McEnery Residential, goes virtual this year, throwing open the doors to stunning historic New Orleans homes for a series of video tours. Participants will enjoy learning about the architecture and design of these grand residences, all decked in holiday finery. $40. 581-7032. prcno.org. 12-13, 19-20 The Nutcracker Ballet. Toy soldiers, the Mouse King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy—experience these classic characters again this holiday season as part of the fantastical journey with The

Nutcracker. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive,

Metairie. 2pm. jpas.org. 15 Cheers to Cheese: Holiday Gatherings. This holiday themed cheese and cocktail tasting explores spirited pairings. Join St. James

Cheese Company and our Sazerac House cocktail experts as we toast to the holidays. The Sazerac House, 101 Magazine St. 4-6pm.

For tickets, visit sazerachouse.com. 20 Virtual Holiday Concert Series: Rachel Van Voorhees. Tune in for the virtual version of this beloved holiday tradition! Concerts will be streamed live via the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI)

Facebook page and YouTube channel. fqfi.org. 21 Virtual Holiday Concert Series: Tim Laughlin. Tune in for the virtual version of this beloved holiday tradition! Concerts will be streamed live via the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) Facebook page and YouTube channel. fqfi.org. 22 Virtual Holiday Concert Series: Amanda Shaw. Tune in for the virtual version of this beloved holiday tradition! Concerts will be streamed live via the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) Facebook

page and YouTube channel. fqfi.org.

23 Virtual Holiday Concert Series: Don Vappie- A Very Vappie

Christmas. Tune in for the virtual version of this beloved holiday tradition! Concerts will be streamed live via the French Quarter

Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) Facebook page and YouTube channel. fqfi.org. 24 Virtual Holiday Concert Series: Irma Thomas. Tune in for the virtual version of this beloved holiday tradition! Concerts will be streamed live via the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) Facebook page and YouTube channel. fqfi.org. 25 Christmas Day Jubilee. Enjoy an enhanced four-course menu and unlimited Champagne. The Ritz-Carlton, 921 Canal St. 12-5pm. Adult, $99; 12 and under, $45. Exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations, 940-7658. ritzcarlton.com. 31 New Year’s Eve Masquerade. End 2020 on a festive and memorable note. Indulge in a five-course dinner perfectly paired with exciting champagnes and wine. The Ritz-Carlton, 921

Canal St. 8pm. 21 and older. $350. Exclusive of tax and gratuity.

Reservations, 940-7658. ritzcarlton.com. January 1-3 Celebration in the Oaks Driving Tour. Celebration in the

Oaks in City Park is the most spectacular holiday lights festival in the country. City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout the 2.25 mile driving tour of the Park. Guests must remain in their vehicles at all times. New Orleans City Park, 2

Friederichs Ave. neworleanscitypark.com/celebration-in-the-oaks. 1-14 Me Time Challenge. The Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City

Classic and Ochsner Health are teaming up for a brand-new virtual challenge focused on physical and mental health. All challenge proceeds and donations from participants will go directly to the

Women’s Wellness and Survivorship Center at Ochsner Baptist.

Registrants receive a virtual bib, commemorative Me Time Challenge long-sleeve shirt and a finisher’s medallion. $35. ccc10k.com. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Champagne Saturdays. Symmetry Jewelers &

Designers, 8138 Hampson St. symmetryjewelers.com. 20 Virtual Hot Toddy Tasting. Cocktail Kits available for sale for curbside pickup. A portion of the sales benefiting the Louisiana

Hospitality Foundation. The Sazerac House, 101 Magazine St. 5-5:45pm. For tickets, visit sazerachouse.com. 23, 24 The World is my Home – The Life of Paul Robeson. A one-man tribute to the life and career of the great African American bass baritone will be presented for two shows only. Written and performed by Stogie Kenyatta. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive, Metairie. Jan 23, 7:30pm; Jan 24, 2pm. jpas.org. 26 Cocoa & Cocktails: Bourbon. Learn why chocolate and whiskey is a pairing steeped in craft and tradition. Hosted by Sazerac House cocktail experts and Piety & Desire Chocolates. The Sazerac House, 101 Magazine St. 4-5:30pm. For tickets, visit sazerachouse.com.

NOTE: All dates and events are subject to change or cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Send your event information to scoopINOLA@gmail.com to have it featured in an upcoming issue of

Inside New Orleans.