Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

ne w orleans through the y ear  45

Average monthly temperature
°C °F Temperature Chart
30 90 New Orleans is a
semi-tropical city, and
25 80
during the summer,
20 70 the temperature may
15 60 rise above 90°F (33°C).
Winters are relatively
10 50 mild, as are spring and
5 40 fall, which are the most
comfortable times of
0 30
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec year to visit.
Mardi Gras (early Feb to early
Winter Mar). Carnival begins on
The winter months are Jan 6 with masked balls and
enlivened by the holiday spirit other celebrations. However,
of Christmas and New Year. the majority of the parades
As soon as Christmas festivities do not begin until the
end on Twelfth Night (Jan 6), second weekend before
the excitement of Mardi Gras Mardi Gras itself (the Tuesday
begins to build with events before Lent).
and preparations for the main
celebrations before Lent.
Public Holidays
December New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
Christmas (all month). Martin Luther King Day
Candlelight caroling in Jackson (3rd Mon, Jan)
Square (see p56), Reveillon
dinners, and his toric homes Mardi Gras Parade making its way Mardi Gras Day (varies,
Feb 3–Mar 9)
decorated for Christmas in through Lafayette Square
the French Quarter and Presidents Day (3rd Mon,
Garden District. featuring colorful period Feb)
Festival of Bonfires (early to costumes and artillery Memorial Day (end May)
mid-Dec and on Christmas Eve). demonstrations. Independence Day (Jul 4)
Both riverboats (see pp66–7) Labor Day (1st Mon, Sep)
and paddlewheelers ply February Columbus Day (2nd Mon,
the Mississippi River in this New Orleans Boat & Oct)
blazing festival in which local Sportfishing Show (second Veterans Day (Nov 11)
people build bonfires to guide week). A display at the
Santa Claus to their hometown Mercedes-Benz Superdome Thanksgiving (4th Thu, Nov)
for Christmas. (see p97), with all the latest Christmas Day (Dec 25)
Countdown (Dec 31). On New fishing accessories.
Year’s Eve, people gather at
Jackson Square (see p56) to
await and celebrate the arrival
of the New Year with live
music, food, and fireworks.
January
Sugar Bowl (first week).
Thousands of college
football fans gather in the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
(see p97) for this important
postseason game.
Battle of New Orleans
Anniversary (weekend closest
to Jan 8). A live reenactment
of this 1815 battle (see p19)
takes place at Chalmette
Battlefield in St. Bernard Parish, Fireworks at the traditional Countdown on New Year’s Eve

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