Page 2 - Inroads Dec 1, 2016

FeaturesPage 2 December 1, 2016

Five Ways to Celebrate Winter Break in Louisiana

Final exams are upon us. But just be-
yond the late nights spent cramming and the
nerve-wracking hours spent cranking out those
final writing assignments a different season
awaits-the holiday season! Maybe you’re into
Santa and his elves. Maybe you prefer Chanu-
kah or Kwanzaa. Maybe you don’t celebrate any
religious holiday. No worries. Here’s a holiday
we can all celebrate-winter break. Granted,
winter in Louisiana isn’t usually the “wonder-
land of snow” our northern neighbors enjoy,
but it can still be fun. And if you’re tired of
classrooms and lectures, math problems and
group projects, then you’ll really appreciate a
little time to relax and have fun.
Here are five suggestions for making the Levee bonfires, said to light the way for Papa Noël,
most of winter break in Louisiana: are among the oldest Cajun traditions.

Be a tourist. Whether you’re a native, an international student, or an out-of-state student planning to stay
here over the break, winter is the best time to tour Louisiana. The food is always great, but the weather is even
better. Take a haunted cemetery tour or a swamp tour. Shop the neighborhood stores on Magazine Street. Do a
pub crawl. Watch the dueling barges New Year’s Eve fireworks display on the Mississippi River.
Enjoy the music. Along with its great food, New Orleans is best known for its music. If you like Jazz and
Blues, we’ve got you covered. But other music genres are equally represented. From the Louisiana Philharmonic’s
Holiday Spectacular at the Orpheum to caroling in Jackson Square to the Beatles vs. Stones tribute band face-off
at Harrah’s and everything in between, the music is always playing.
Laugh your stress away. At least two great comedy acts are coming to New Orleans over the break. See
Adam Sandler, David Spade, Nick Swardson, and Rob Schneider at our very own UNO Lakefront Arena on
December 8th. What better way to unwind after finals end? Or, before you head down to Woldenberg Park for
fireworks, catch Amy Schumer at the Smoothie King Center on New Year’s Eve.
Attend a local festival. There aren’t many fairs and festivals in December and January, but there are still a
few worth considering. Check out the Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival on December 3rd and 4th in
Buras. And the “don’t miss” event of the Yuletide season is the lighting of bonfires along the Mississippi River at
the Bonfire Festival in Lutcher on December 11-13. Help Papa Noël finds us on the bayou, Cher!
Or just relax. Of course, you don’t have to do anything at all to enjoy winter break in New Orleans. A stroll
along the Riverwalk or along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain can be as therapeutic as anything else. The point is
to get out there-wherever there is-and recharge your batteries for the spring semester.