The Culture & Architecture
of New Orleans
Itinerary: December 9-14, 2026
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 | WELCOME TO THE CRESCENT CITY!
Meet at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Upon arrival at New Orleans’ new Louis Armstrong International Airport, collect your luggage and then proceed to the bottom of the baggage claim escalators where our local guide and U.S.-based tour leader will be waiting with a ‘PRC’ sign. Depending on flight schedules, travelers will be grouped by arrival and escorted to private transportation for the transfer to Henry Howard Hotel where our New Orleans adventure will begin.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport
Check into the Henry Howard Hotel
Settle into the Henry Howard Hotel, an intimate boutique property in the heart of the Lower Garden District that perfectly captures New Orleans' historic elegance. This beautifully restored 1867 mansion features just 18 rooms, each uniquely designed with period architectural details, soaring ceilings, and modern luxuries. The hotel's secluded courtyard and wraparound galleries offer peaceful retreats from the festive energy of the season, while its location on St. Charles Avenue places you steps from the iconic streetcar line and within walking distance of Magazine Street's galleries, restaurants, and shops. This will be your home base for the week as you explore New Orleans during its most enchanting season.
Henry Howard Hotel
5:00 PM ~ Welcome Party: Beams & Brews with PRC and Live Music at the Hotel
Kick off your holiday adventure with Beams & Brews, the Preservation Resource Center's beloved casual gathering where architecture enthusiasts, preservationists, and curious travelers come together over drinks and conversation. In the inviting courtyard or parlor of the Henry Howard Hotel, PRC staff will introduce you to New Orleans' rich preservation landscape while local musicians set the festive mood with live performances. This informal welcome creates the perfect atmosphere to meet your fellow travelers, toast to the week ahead, and begin understanding the passionate community effort that keeps New Orleans' historic architecture alive. Learn what makes this holiday tour different from any other New Orleans experience as you sip cocktails and prepare for five days of unprecedented insider access.
Beams & Brews at our hotel
7:00 PM ~ Dinner at Mr. John's Steakhouse
Just one block from the hotel, settle in for your welcome dinner at Mr. John's Steakhouse, a New Orleans institution where classic American chophouse dining meets Creole hospitality. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century building, this family-owned establishment has been serving perfectly aged steaks, fresh Gulf seafood, and indulgent sides since 2003. The warm, wood-paneled dining room exudes old-world charm, while the menu delivers everything from bone-in ribeyes to Louisiana-style barbecue shrimp. This is New Orleans dining at its most satisfying—unpretentious, generous, and executed with the kind of attention to detail that has made Mr. John's a local favorite for over two decades.
Mr. John’s Steakhouse
9:00 PM ~ Optional Evening Concert: Peter Harris & Friends at Bayou Bar
If you're not ready for the evening to end, cross the street to the Bayou Bar for an optional intimate concert featuring bassist Peter Harris and friends. Recognized as a 2024 Jazz Hero by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Harris is a masterful musician whose versatile guitar work spans traditional jazz, blues, and contemporary sounds. Sink into the cozy atmosphere of this classy neighborhood bar within the Pontchartrain Hotel and let the music welcome you properly to the Crescent City.
Bayou Bar
DAY 2: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 | FRENCH QUARTER FOUNDATIONS
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
Henry Howard Hotel breakfast
10:00 AM ~ Visit to the Preservation Resource Center
Step into the historic Leeds-Davis Building, home to the Preservation Resource Center since 2000, and discover why this organization has been the guardian of New Orleans' architectural soul for over 50 years. This striking Commercial Gothic structure—one of the few surviving cast-iron buildings in the city—is itself a preservation success story, featuring a restored façade that showcases the innovative 19th-century building techniques that preceded modern skyscrapers. As you meet the PRC's staff, you'll understand how this organization has prevented countless demolitions, advocated for protective legislation, and empowered communities to save their historic neighborhoods.
PRC Visit
12:30 PM ~ Lunch at Napoleon House
Experience lunch in one of New Orleans' most atmospheric spaces as you dine on the second floor of the historic Napoleon House, accompanied by a live banjo player. Built in 1797 as the residence of Nicholas Girod, mayor of New Orleans, this legendary establishment earned its name from the mayor's 1821 offer to provide refuge to Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile—an invitation Napoleon never accepted before his death that same year. Today, the building's weathered plaster walls, vintage murals, and timeworn elegance create an ambiance found nowhere else in the city. Savor their famous muffulettas, warming jambalaya, and refreshing Pimm's cups while a musician fills the intimate upstairs dining room with melodies.
Lunch at Napoleon’s House
2:00 PM ~ HNOC Civil Rights Christmas Cards Exhibition with Leona Tate
Meet one of New Orleans' living civil rights pioneers as Leona Tate shares her extraordinary story at the Historic New Orleans Collection. On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Leona Tate, along with Gail Etienne and Tessie Prevost, walked through hostile crowds escorted by Federal Marshals to desegregate McDonogh 19 Public School—the same week Ruby Bridges integrated William Frantz Elementary. HNOC's poignant exhibition reveals how people across the nation responded to these brave young girls, sending Christmas cards filled with messages of encouragement, hope, and support during that traumatic first year. Leona, now founder and executive director of the Leona Tate Foundation for Change, will share her memories of that pivotal moment in American history and discuss how those cards sustained her family during their darkest days. This intimate conversation offers rare personal insight into the human cost and enduring legacy of the Civil Rights Movement—a profound reminder of courage, compassion, and the power of small gestures during times of profound social change.
American activist and civil rights pioneer, Leona Tate
4:30 PM ~ Time at Leisure in the French Quarter, Evening on Your Own
Enjoy free time to explore the French Quarter at your own pace during the holiday season, when the Vieux Carré takes on a special festive character. Stroll through Jackson Square to see the St. Louis Cathedral framed by seasonal decorations, browse the holiday displays in Royal Street galleries and antique shops, or grab a café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde. The late afternoon light casts a golden glow over the centuries-old architecture, making this the perfect time for photography and leisurely wandering. Dinner is on your own tonight—we're happy to provide recommendations for exceptional restaurants and live music venues throughout the Quarter.
Free time in the French Quarter
DAY 3: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | RIVER ROAD TRADITIONS
Leisurely Morning
Sleep in, enjoy a relaxed breakfast, or explore the Lower Garden District and Magazine Street at your own pace this morning. The late departure allows you to recharge before this afternoon's journey into Louisiana's river parishes.
Time at leisure
12:00 PM ~ Depart for River Road
Embark on one of America's most culturally significant drives as we travel the legendary Great River Road, following the meandering curves of the mighty Mississippi through Louisiana's River Parishes. This historic corridor reveals a landscape of contradictions: magnificent live oak alleys draped in Spanish moss frame surviving antebellum mansions, while towering petrochemical plants now occupy land once devoted to plantation agriculture. Starting in the 1970s, plantation lands were sold to industrial corporations, transforming the region into what's now known as "Cancer Alley" for the extreme cancer risks faced by predominantly Black descendant communities who still live here. The drive itself becomes a moving classroom, preparing you to understand the complex history you'll experience at Woodland Plantation, B&C Seafood, and the Festival of the Bonfires—a journey through both Louisiana's darkest chapters and its most resilient cultural traditions.
Great River Road
1:00 PM ~ Cajun Lunch and Live Music at B&C Seafood
Stop for lunch at B&C Seafood Riverside Market & Cajun Restaurant, a family-owned spot known for its fresh local catch and authentic Cajun specialties. Enjoy favorites like fried catfish, seafood gumbo, or crawfish étouffée in a laid-back, welcoming setting right on the river. A Cajun band will perform a private concert exclusively for our group, filling the restaurant with the accordion-driven, French-inflected sounds that define South Louisiana's musical heritage. With its market-style charm, hearty flavors, and genuine hospitality, B&C offers an authentic taste of the cultural traditions that thrive along the River Road.
B&C Seafood
3:00 PM ~ The Descendants Project
Visit Woodland Plantation, the historic site of the largest slave revolt in the U.S. South, now stewarded by The Descendants Project as a powerful museum dedicated to truth-telling and healing. On January 8, 1811, over 500 enslaved people rose up along this stretch of River Road in an organized rebellion for freedom that was violently suppressed and deliberately erased from history for generations. Founded by Joy and Jo Banner, descendants of enslaved people who labored in these river parishes, The Descendants Project tells the story of how the same lands that once enslaved people now poison their descendants with industrial pollution. Through powerful exhibits on the 1811 Slave Revolt and the plantation-to-petrochemical pipeline, you'll understand the ongoing struggle for environmental justice. This is also the birthplace of jazz pioneer Edward "Kid" Ory, whose innovations shaped early New Orleans jazz and launched Louis Armstrong's career—a reminder that even from places of profound suffering, creativity and resilience emerge.
Woodland Plantation & the Descendants Project
4:30 PM ~ Festival of the Bonfires
Experience one of Louisiana's most spectacular and unique holiday traditions at the Festival of the Bonfires along the Mississippi River levee. For centuries, residents of the river parishes have built towering bonfires on Christmas Eve to light Papa Noël's way down the river, creating a beloved tradition that blends French, Acadian, and American customs into something uniquely Louisiana. Tonight's festival brings this tradition to life weeks before Christmas, featuring a gumbo cook-off where local teams compete for bragging rights with their family recipes, live Cajun and zydeco music that keeps the crowd dancing, and the dramatic lighting of a massive bonfire as darkness falls. Savor bowls of championship gumbo, enjoy the festive riverside atmosphere, and witness flames leaping into the December night sky—a spectacle that captures the warmth, community spirit, and enduring cultural traditions of South Louisiana. This is Christmas the Louisiana way: outdoors, communal, and absolutely unforgettable.
Festival of the Bonfires
8:30 PM ~ Depart Festival & return to hotel
Optional evening concerts and music venues available for those with energy to spare.
Live music
DAY 4: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 | HOLIDAY SPLENDOR
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
Henry Howard Hotel breakfast
9:30 AM ~ PRC Holiday Home Tour with Private Opening
Begin your day with the most coveted ticket in New Orleans: the Preservation Resource Center's legendary Holiday Home Tour, which has welcomed visitors into the city's most stunning private residences for decades. This year, you'll enjoy exclusive early access before the public arrives, touring a magnificent Garden District mansion adorned in its full holiday finery. Wander through grand parlors adorned with elaborate mantels, heirloom ornaments, and fresh magnolia garlands; admire soaring ceilings draped with seasonal greenery; and explore lush courtyards transformed into winter wonderlands—all while learning about the home's architectural significance and preservation story from knowledgeable docents. After your private tour, join the public route to explore additional spectacular homes throughout the historic Garden District, each offering a unique glimpse into how New Orleans' most beautiful residences celebrate the season. This is your chance to step inside the doors that are opened only once a year, experiencing the creativity, elegance, and preservation passion that make this tour a beloved New Orleans holiday tradition.
Holiday Home Tour
2:00 PM ~ Cocktail Hour, Solo Piano Concert, and Feast of the Seven Fishes at Chef Jason Goodenough's Home
Prepare for one of the tour's most intimate and memorable experiences as Chef Jason Goodenough welcomes you into his Garden District home for an afternoon of music, storytelling, and the Italian-American tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. A New Orleans culinary talent recognized by the D.C. Wine & Food Festival, Chef Goodenough has created a special holiday menu celebrating this Christmas Eve tradition with seven spectacular seafood courses—from Gulf oysters and shrimp to redfish and more—each prepared with both reverence for Italian tradition and Louisiana ingredients. As you gather in his historic home, a solo pianist will perform seasonal music that fills the elegant spaces, creating an atmosphere of warmth and celebration. This is the kind of privileged insider experience that defines Project Por Amor and PRC tours: seated around a chef's own table, sharing stories and laughter with fellow travelers, enjoying world-class cuisine in an impossibly beautiful setting.
Feast of the seven fishes with Jason Goodenough
7:00 PM ~ Celebration in the Oaks
As darkness falls, experience City Park transformed into a magical winter wonderland at Celebration in the Oaks, one of the nation's most spectacular holiday light displays. Stroll beneath 800-year-old live oak trees draped with millions of twinkling lights, wander through enchanting, themed displays, and marvel at elaborate light sculptures that turn the park's 25 acres into a fairytale landscape. The massive oaks—some of the oldest living things in North America—provide a majestic natural cathedral for this dazzling display, their gnarled branches creating dramatic silhouettes against the colored lights. Whether you explore on foot or by the miniature train, Celebration in the Oaks captures the joy and wonder of the season in a uniquely New Orleans way, blending natural beauty with festive creativity in a setting that feels both timeless and magical.
Celebration in the Oaks
9:30 PM ~ Return to Hotel
Optional evening concerts available for night owls.
DAY 5: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 | GRAND FINALE
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
10:00 AM ~ St. Louis #3 Cemetery Tour
Explore the rich history and unique above-ground burial traditions of New Orleans with a guided cemetery tour through St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, on stately Esplanade Avenue near City Park. This beautiful Catholic cemetery is near tranquil Bayou St. John and is an ideal place to learn about the burial customs of New Orleans. St. Louis No. 3 is the final resting place of notable architect James Gallier, Storyville photographer E.J. Bellocq, and New Orleans chef and civil rights leader Leah Chase. The historic cemeteries take on special poignancy during the holiday season, when families often leave seasonal decorations on family tombs, creating a touching reminder of how New Orleanians honor their departed loved ones year-round.
St. Louis No. 3 Cemetery Tour
11:00 AM ~ Sunpie Talk and Concert at Pitot House
Meet Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, one of New Orleans' most remarkable Renaissance figures, for an intimate talk and concert at the historic Pitot House on Bayou St. John. Sunpie's extraordinary life journey—from Arkansas sharecropper's son to Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, from National Park Service ranger to acclaimed musician, photographer, author, and Big Chief of the Northside Skull and Bones Gang—embodies the creative spirit and cultural richness of New Orleans. In the gardens of this beautifully preserved 18th-century Creole colonial home, Sunpie will share stories from his 30-year career documenting Louisiana's cultural traditions while performing his unique blend of zydeco, blues, and Afro-Cuban music he calls "Afro Louisiana." His accordion and rubboard bring the sounds of Creole Louisiana to life, while his engaging personality and deep knowledge offer profound insights into the parade culture, musical traditions, and cultural preservation that define the city. This is your chance to learn from a true keeper of culture—someone who has dedicated his life to understanding, documenting, and perpetuating the traditions that make Louisiana extraordinary. Light refreshments will be served, and special PRC friends and supporters are invited to join us for this celebration.
Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes at Pitot House
4:00 PM ~ Leisure Time at Hotel / Optional Hotel Lobby Holiday Displays
Enjoy your final afternoon of free time in New Orleans. Rest at the hotel, take a final stroll through the Garden District, or join an optional tour of the grand hotel lobbies downtown, where historic establishments like The Roosevelt and The Ritz-Carlton create spectacular seasonal displays. These lobbies become destinations unto themselves during December, featuring towering Christmas trees, elaborate gingerbread houses, and festive decorations that showcase the city's flair for holiday celebration.
Leisure time at the hotel
6:00 PM ~ Sazerac House Private Cocktail-Making Class
Before your farewell dinner, gather at the Sazerac House for a private cocktail-making class celebrating New Orleans' official cocktail. This interactive museum and tasting room on Canal Street tells the story of New Orleans' cocktail heritage, and tonight you'll learn the art and history of crafting the perfect Sazerac—a drink born in New Orleans in the 1800s that combines rye whiskey, Peychaud's bitters, absinthe, and a lemon peel twist. Under expert guidance, you'll mix your own Sazerac while learning about the drink's evolution, the role of New Orleans in American cocktail culture, and the ongoing debate over proper technique. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or simply curious, this hands-on experience offers a delicious toast to your week exploring the Crescent City's rich cultural traditions.
Sazerac House
7:30 PM ~ Final Dinner: Réveillon at Antoine's Private Rex Room
Celebrate the culmination of your New Orleans holiday journey with a Réveillon dinner in Antoine's legendary private Rex Room, accompanied by live jazz. Since 1840, Antoine's has been the crown jewel of French Quarter dining, and tonight you'll experience both the restaurant's storied elegance and the cherished Réveillon tradition—special multi-course menus served during the holiday season that date back to 19th-century New Orleans, when Creole families would gather for lavish midnight feasts after Christmas Eve mass. The private Rex Room, named for the King of Carnival and adorned with Mardi Gras royalty memorabilia, provides an intimate setting for this farewell celebration. As a small jazz ensemble fills the room with New Orleans standards, you'll savor courses that blend Antoine's legendary French-Creole cuisine with seasonal specialties, from oysters Rockefeller (invented here in 1899) to contemporary creations honoring Louisiana ingredients. This is New Orleans dining at its most historic, most elegant, and most meaningful—a final toast to the city's enduring traditions, the preservation efforts that keep them alive, and the extraordinary week you've shared discovering the heart of the Crescent City during its most enchanting season.
Réveillon
DAY 6: MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 | DEPARTURE
Final Breakfast at the hotel
Enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
Henry Howard Hotel breakfast
Check out of Hotel & Transfer to MSY Airport
We will say goodbye and shuttle everyone to the airport depending on their departure times.