NEW DATE AND TIME FOR MANNING FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARADE

Due to rain expected Saturday, Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade moves to Sunday, December 7 with a roll time of 12:30 pm.

The Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade will now roll at 12:30 pm on Sunday, December 7, in partnership with Kern Studios, NewOrleans.com, WDSU, Audacy and many other generous parade sponsors, kicking off the NOLA holiday season.

NEW ORLEANS – Due to the strong chance of rain expected on Saturday, December 6, the Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade and WDSU live broadcast have been rescheduled for Sunday, December 7 with a roll time and broadcast start time of 12:30 pm. All other parade details remain the same. For complete information and the parade route map, visit www.nolaholidayparade.com.

FULL PARADE DETAILS:

The 4th annual Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade will take place in downtown New Orleans on Sunday, December 7, 2025, starting at 12:30 pm. The event, which has been nominated for the second year in a row as a Top 10 holiday parade among USA Today readers, is back with its traditional downtown New Orleans route and signature throws.

Celebrating the holiday season in New Orleans, the 30-float parade will include custom, holiday-themed floats that feature animatronic props, intelligent lighting systems, special effects and audio systems, along with traditional rider floats, bringing the joy and magic of the holiday season to tens of thousands of parade-goers, along with those tuning in from home via the WDSU 2-hour parade broadcast.

“We are proud to continue this now beloved family tradition to help kickoff the holiday season here in New Orleans,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children’s. “We invite the community to join us for a day of joy and fun as we celebrate the season of giving and gratitude, while celebrating our vital, 70-year mission and bold new chapter for kids as we proudly renamed to Manning Family Children’s earlier this year.”

The parade will also feature high-flying helium balloons with a few new designs this year, along with dozens of New Orleans’ beloved marching groups and bands, and of course, Santa himself along with his cast of holiday characters. Leading the parade will be a very special King and two Queens, who are Manning Family Children’s patients, 11-year-old Abron, 7-year-old Jules, and 9-year-old Abigail.

“The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year here in New Orleans,” said Barry Kern, President and CEO of Kern Studios. “Local families and tourists alike will line the streets of our traditional downtown route on December 6 as we enjoy the season like only New Orleans can. Kern Studios is proud to partner with Manning Family Children’s again this year to bring kids and families this opportunity to experience joy and wonder together.”

The Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade is made possible in partnership with Kern Studios, NewOrleans.com, WDSU, Audacy, and many other supporters. Sponsors include b1BANK, Chick-fil-A New Orleans, Coca-Cola United, Downtown Development District, the French Market District, Louisiana Feed Your Soul, and Keesler Federal Credit Union.

“New Orleans has so much to offer for both tourists and locals alike throughout the holiday season – and there is no better way to kick off Holidays New Orleans Style than with a parade,” said Alice Glenn, Executive Vice President for New Orleans and Company. “We encourage you to come out and line the route on December 6, and while you are downtown, take time to also visit the many wonderful restaurants, hotels and holiday experiences also taking place.”

The Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade will begin at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North Peters Street, traveling North Peters to Decatur Street through the vibrant French Market toward Jackson Square and Oscar Dunn Park, where it will bring the joy and magic of the holiday season to life. The parade will then make its way back to North Peters, turning right on Canal Street, with a U-turn on Burgundy Street, traveling back through downtown to Tchoupitoulas Street, ending at St. Joseph Street.

For those who can’t catch the parade in person, WDSU will be televising the parade live via a two-hour special broadcast. Programming will begin at 12:30 pm and will air until 2:30 pm.

Finally, patients at Manning Family Children’s have been busy decorating custom-made and adorned plastic ornaments that will be given out as signature throws this year. Each one-of-a-kind ornament includes a tag with the patient’s name.

To learn more about the Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade, visit www.nolaholidayparade.com