The holiday season gets started New Orleans-style on Dec. 6, when the 4th annual Manning Family Children’s Holiday Parade hits the streets in the French Quarter and Warehouse District. The parade presenter, Manning Family Children's hospital, was formerly known as Children's Hospital.

The Carnival-style procession will include 30 Kern Studios floats, with seasonal themes including a toy factory, a choo choo train, holiday calliope and Jack Frost. Santa will, of course, be a featured rider.

The Children’s Holiday Parade is the only New Orleans procession that also features large-scale, shaped, helium balloons that drift past along with floats, bands and other elements.

This year, look for a few new balloon designs, including a piggy bank, a pudgy Christmas tree, Santa and Mrs. Santa or

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