There’s no place like home for the holidays, and for the first time in several years, Canal Street will feel like home during the Canal Street: Your Home for the Holidays campaign. The Downtown Development District has a month of activities designed to bring people back to the famous corridor for shopping, dining and sight-seeing. While the holiday season kicks off on November 25 with the lighting of Canal Street, the tree at Astor Crowne Plaza at 5:30 p.m. -- as well the opening of Miracle on Fulton Street at 6:00 p.m. -- the DDD’s retail promotion officially begins on December 6 when Canal Street turns into a virtual winter wonderland with a parade – the first New Orleans holiday parade in 15 years -- and an outdoor all-star concert. Santa Claus may steal the spotlight in the parade, but there will be plenty of other celebrities riding on the holiday-themed floats, which will be accompanied by walking characters, dance troupes, stilt walkers, festival queens and marching bands, such as Edna Karr High School, Rabouin High School and Warren Easton High School, as well as the Riverwalk Jazz Band.
The parade, which will begin at 10:00 a.m., will roll from Convention Center Boulevard up Canal Street to Robertson Street (near Claiborne Avenue) and back to its starting point. It will be followed by an all-star outdoor concert beginning at 12 noon at Elk Place. Entertainers include Jeremy Davenport, Rockin Dopsie, Jr., jazz trumpeter Marlon Jordan and vocalist Stephanie Jordan, the Batiste Brothers, Rebirth Brass Band, Amanda Shaw and James Andrews.
Throughout the day, merchants will hold holiday sales, offer in-store promotions and other activities. Kids on Canal Street is the theme for December 13, when Radio Disney will be on site with songs, games and lot of give-aways. Louisiana State Representative Neil Abramson and Criminal District Court Judge Karen Herman will teach children to play dreidel "under the clock" at the Chateau Bourbon hotel, formerly the Chateau Sonesta (and former D.H. Holmes!) in the 800 block of Canal Street. Both the Radio Disney live remote and the dreidel games will be from 12 noon til 2 p.m. Santa will make a special appearance at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, and those who bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots will get their picture taken with him for free! Children’s programming and entertainment, including the gingerbread display at the Ritz Carlton and a puppet show by Calliope Puppets, will take place at various locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On December 20, a light-hearted approach to Last-Minute Mania will provide some “peace on Earth” with an alternative shopping experience. Carolers will stroll the corridor, good-natured Public Safety Rangers will play Santa’s elves by passing out candy canes and other goodies. Rides on the Canal Street streetcar from the river to Claiborne will be free from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with coupons available at participating merchant locations along Canal Street. Midday Merriment will get workers out of their buildings and onto Canal Street on December 10 and 17 as the DDD provides musical programming. Merchants are being asked to provide special discounts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the two Wednesdays. Also during this time, nola.com will be onsite to publicize its “Home for the Holidays” online promotion in which people may submit their holiday memories of Canal Street for a chance to win valuable prizes. | 
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