by Emma Boyce

In the spirit of Christmas, the sleek Louisiana thoroughbreds at the New Orleans Fair Grounds take a backseat to reindeer from noon to 4 pm, December 22.  While Dancer and Baby Rudy, the two arctic creatures chosen to represent Santa’s fleet, will serve as the focal point, children and adults can enjoy an entire day of fun activities, food, racing (not reindeer) and even a chance on Santa’s lap.

by Emma Boyce

Jazz up your holiday season with some much needed folly at the Contemporary Arts Center on December 18 and 19 for Judith Owen and Harry Shearer’s Holiday Sing-A-Long. If you’re already grunting ‘bah, humbug’ at the very idea of a sing-a-long, think again. Shearer—the guy who brought you the sinister scrooge himself, Mr. Burns of The Simpsons, and helped bring you the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap— and his singing, songwriting wife revitalize hackneyed Christmas classics with plenty of biting wit and irony.    

by Emma Boyce

There's no need to wait by the chimney. Hundreds of Santas, reindeers, abominable snowmen and drummer boys will take to the French Quarter streets Saturday night for the tenth annual Krewe of Kringle Santa Pub Crawl sponsored by Abita Beer.  

As Monday ticks down, there's only one thing on most of our minds this week. No matter if you keep Christmas with a turducken, a giant bonfire or a special prayer to beat the Dirty Birds, the end of the week can't come soon enough. So, to get ready, here are videos of 10 songs that we make merry to here in New Orleans. Click through to view.

Following the success from their inaugural march during Mardi Gras Stardate 2011, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chubacchus will be hosting a holiday celebration Friday December 9th titled “Christmas in Tatooine” at The Big Top, 3 Ring Circus Arts Education Center, 1638 Cilo Street. Everyone from Vulcans to Jedi Masters are encouraged to attend and dance the night away to tunes by The Green Demons + Eat A Happy Holidick. Along with a fully stocked cantina, festivities will also include an art auction and raffle as well as low-cost, high-tech tattoos. Doors open at 8 and there will be a $10 cover for nonmembers and $5 for members.

Usually, we mark our holidays by standing around and drinking. But, in the already-bustling CBD, the holidays are a time for running. For those of us old enough to partake in winter's finest warming beverages (and don a beard), next week's Running of the Santas will provide all the elixirs, along with NOLA's answer to a Flaming Lips concert. But in the Spirit of Christmas etiquette guide, reindeer are always first. On Saturday, the Reindeer Run lets all the red-nosed kids run free down Canal St.

Down on Canal St., the Krewe de Jingle is gearing up to give today's balmy weather the feel of winter holiday wonderland. The parade beings at 1 p.m., and follows a simple route towards the river on Canal St., up Decatur St. to Poydras, down Poydras to S. Peters, and back to Canal, ending at the corner of Royal St. This morning, as the floats were rolling out, NoDef managed to catch the parade in super fast forward hyperspace motion. So put on a little Alvin and the Chipmunks, click through and enjoy. And don't forget the real thing!

by Ryan Sparks

Southeast Louisiana’s French heritage endures in many ways, but as the holidays approach, one tradition shines bright among the others, probably because it involves a giant fire. Along Mississippi River levees throughout the parishes to our north, the the burning of the yule log is reinterpreted as a blazing tower that helps Papa Noel find his way through the swamp.  This Saturday night the Algiers Holiday Bonfire will provide a flaming spectacle closer to home, kicking off the season of joy and giving. Click through for more pictures.