Canal Place announces exclusive holiday experiences and extended hours

Written By Alicia Vial

Lighting of Canal Street kicks off the holiday season Tuesday, Nov. 25

NEW ORLEANS — Canal Place, the Gulf South’s premier luxury shopping destination and home to a curated collection of exclusive, high-end brands, is pleased to announce its extended shopping hours and a festive lineup of holiday experiences. This season’s events—including Selfies with Santa, Movies with Santa at Prytania Canal Place, Brunch with Santa at Brasa Steakhouse and live music—are designed to complement the unmatched elegance of its retail offerings.

“We’re thrilled to once again welcome locals and visitors to experience the magic of the holidays at Canal Place, where exclusive luxury meets festive cheer,” said Matt Brown, general manager of Canal Place. “From our twinkling lights to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while discovering one-of-a-kind luxury gifts this season. Our collection of brands, many of which are exclusive to Louisiana, makes Canal Place the definitive destination for holiday elegance.”

In keeping with the storied annual tradition, the holiday season kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 25 with the Holiday Lighting of Canal Street hosted by the Downtown Development District. Enjoy live music, hot chocolate, photo opportunities, a glitter bar and special appearances by Santa and his elves starting at 3:30 p.m. in Canal Place’s Plaza. At 5:45 p.m., Santa will flip the switch to illuminate 2-miles of Canal Street. After guests take in the more than 1 million twinkling lights on Canal Street, they are invited to step inside Canal Place for the inaugural Holly Jolly Stroll to enjoy complimentary refreshments and sweet treats from your favorite stores. Discounted parking is available.

Extended holiday hours begin Friday, Nov. 28 with stores opening from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with live holiday music from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Holiday Music Series continues throughout December featuring local jazz musicians every Saturday and Sunday. Shoppers can also enjoy lunchtime choir performances from elementary schools across the greater New Orleans areas.

Back due to popular demand, Selfies with Santa returns to Canal Place Saturday, Dec. 6 from noon to 3. p.m. Santa will make his grand entrance by ringing his reindeer bells and descending the iconic glass elevators before taking his seat in front of the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree. Families can enjoy live entertainment from Sugarplum fairies and Santa’s helpers, festive décor and gourmet cookies during this free family-friendly holiday experience. Discounted parking is available.

Prytania Theatres at Canal Place is excited to announce the return of its popular Movies with Santa series, offering families a festive way to celebrate the holiday season. The series features four beloved holiday films screened every Saturday at 10 a.m. and noon, starting Nov. 29 and running through Dec. 20. Scheduled favorites include “Arthur's Christmas” (Nov. 29), “Elf” (Dec. 6), “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Dec. 13) and “The Polar Express” (Dec. 20). Adding to the magic, Santa Claus himself will make a special appearance and greet guests before each screening. Tickets are $10 and include admission to the movie, plus a complimentary mini bucket of popcorn and a mini soft drink. Tickets can be purchased online at canalplacestyle.com. Discounted parking is available.

Brasa South American Steakhouse’s 2nd annual Santa’s Brunch, a festive and family-friendly event will take place Saturday Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. Guests are invited to indulge in a custom, multi-course brunch experience, featuring a delightful three-course menu for adults and a special two-course menu for children. The celebration includes bottomless mimosas, live music and the highly anticipated opportunity for festive photo opportunities with Santa Claus himself. Reservations for this annual tradition are now open and spots are limited. To make a reservation visit canalplacestyle.com. Discounted parking is available.

To learn more about Canal Place’s holiday events and to see a detailed list of extended holiday hours visit canalplacestyle.com.

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About Canal Place: Situated on the edge of the historic French Quarter, Canal Place is home to many notable, exclusive designer boutiques and a 9-screen movie theater. An on-site, four-star hotel, The Westin Canal Place, and a convenient covered parking facility add to Canal Place’s unique offerings. Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, this world-class shopping center boasts a superb mix of stores including Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, MCM, Golden Goose, Tiffany & Co, Brooks Brothers, Swarovski and lululemon athletica. For more information, visit canalplacestyle.com.  

About O’Connor Capital Partners:  Founded in 1983, O’Connor Capital Partners oconnorcp.com is an institutional real estate investment, management, and development firm based in New York City and run by President and CEO, William Q. O’Connor. The firm pursues acquisitions, developments and conversions on behalf of its institutional funds, separate accounts, and own account. O’Connor primarily targets retail and residential opportunities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Since inception, O’Connor has acquired or developed over $30 billion of property, including over 55 million square feet of retail space and over 30,000 residential units globally. 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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