For some college students who are planning to spend Christmas in New Orleans, living like Ebenezer Scrooge seems like the only way to get through the holidays. However, the generous Big Easy is offering many events that will allow you to enjoy the holiday season at no cost at all.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT SERIES
Fill your ears with the sounds of the season throughout the month of December with the St. Louis Basilica Holiday Concert series. As part of the annual tradition, the Cathedral will host free jazz performances, gospel choirs, classical ensembles and more from some of New Orleans’ most prominent musicians.

The Christmas acoustics, which generally run from 6 to 7p.m. at the heart of the French Quarter, are open to the public and will end Dec. 20.

BONFIRES ON THE LEVEE
Light the way for the Cajun Papa Noel on his airborne journey by blazing bonfires along the Mississippi River on Christmas Eve. The Louisiana tradition gathers crowds at around 7 p.m. to assemble imaginative wooden structures on the river levees. These holiday bonfires, usually accompanied by fireworks, begin in St. James Parish 30 miles upriver from New Orleans.

MOVIES ON THE MISSISSIPPI
Enjoy a hot chocolate and the mighty Mississippi River as you watch a free holiday movie screening at the Riverwalk. Together with the Downtown Development District, the New Orleans Film Society will host “Home Alone” Dec. 11 and “Elf” the 18.

Movies start at 6:30 p.m. and the first 50 people at each showing will receive free fleece blankets.

HOLIDAY ON THE BOULEVARD AT ASHE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
Don your dancing shoes because music and merriment are the order of the day outside the Ashé Cultural Arts Center on Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. until 6p.m. The 16th annual holiday celebration, located at 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in Central New Orleans, features a diverse mix of jazz, hip-hop and r&b, as well as spoken word artists and dancers. The event is free and open to the public.

MIRACLE ON FULTON STREET
Head over the pedestrian-only outdoor stretch in the Central Business District, and get into the holiday spirit with music, outdoor lighting displays and simulated snowflakes trickling down the air.

NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS AND FLEUR DE LIS DROP
Whether you want to watch the fleur de lis drop at midnight on Jackson Square or enjoy a unique view of the midnight fireworks over the Mississippi River, head to downtown for both of these unofficial New Year’s Eve events which will give visitors the opportunity to welcome 2016 with a bang.