Celebration in the Oaks

City Park becomes the emblem and ground zero for Christmas in New Orleans with its gaudy 'Celebration in the Oaks'. Millions of tiny light bulbs flick on and the park becomes a tropical winter wonderland. The lights illumine the park's towering oak trees, meandering lagoons, statuary and shrubs. There's also a cartoony 'Santa's Village' and a variety of special events from the Thanksgiving weekend opening to the New Year's Eve closing. Visitors may either walk through the lighted displays or drive their car through. Romantics like to book a horse-drawn carriage.