Spice up your New Year by celebrating in Louisiana!

Everywhere in Louisiana, parties ring in the New Year but the biggest party of them all takes place on the mighty Mississippi River in the Crescent City – New Orleans! Some cities in America have great fireworks shows and a fun countdown, but none can ring in the New Year in the historic French Quarter or with a 9-foot Fleur de Lis “ball” drop as everyone screams “3 … 2 … 1.”

The New Orleans celebration kicks off early in the night with live music in Jackson Square, which doesn’t stop until after the ball drops. Speaking of the New Year’s ball, in New Orleans the only ball we honor is football, so we turned the typical New Year’s “ball” into a 9-foot electronic Fleur de Lis that drops from a 25-foot pole atop the French Quarter. Once the Fleur de Lis drops down, a huge fireworks show erupts, lighting up the night and flickering over the Mississippi River to start the year with a New Orleans bang!

New Year’s celebrations take place throughout Louisiana. Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette feature many private, ticketed events in beautiful hotels and attractions. You might be lucky enough to make it onto the VIP list at one of our fabulous casinos. Bring the kids to Sci-Port in Shreveport to watch the sights and sounds of the New Year, or get a ticket to one of the many “ticket-only” events at L’Auberge du Lac Casino in Lake Charles.

If you are in the mood for a private event, with glasses of champagne passed on silver trays, there are plenty to choose from around the state – such as in a beautiful hotel in Baton Rouge or the L’Auberge du Lac Casino in Lake Charles. However, if you want a party in one of the oldest neighborhoods in America, fireworks shot from a barge on the Mississippi River and a huge glowing Fleur de Lis “ball” drop, then head to New Orleans and ring in a jazzy, spicy New Year!