Events & What’s Happening
Iconic two-weekend festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course celebrating Louisiana music, food, and culture with hundreds of artists across multiple stages
💡Kids 10 and under are free with a paying adult; the Congo Square stage and craft areas are great family zones, and mornings are cooler and less crowded
Annual celebration of Black culture featuring music, empowerment panels, food, and community events centered around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome
💡Daytime events at the Convention Center are family-friendly and often free; the nighttime concerts require tickets and run very late
Halloween-season music and arts festival held in City Park featuring rock, hip-hop, and alternative artists across multiple stages
💡Costumes are encouraged for families; the festival grounds in City Park are flat and easy to navigate with strollers, and daytime sets are family-friendly
New Orleans' official Halloween parade rolling through the CBD and Warehouse District with floats, throws, and costumed riders
💡This is one of the most family-oriented parades in the city; stake out a spot on Magazine Street for great views and manageable crowds
Beloved holiday light display and festival in City Park featuring millions of lights, carnival rides, and the iconic live oak trees draped in decorations
💡Drive-through tickets are easiest with young children; the walk-through experience with the train ride is magical for kids ages 3 and up
World-famous carnival season culminating on Fat Tuesday with parades, beads, floats, and street celebrations throughout the city
💡Family-friendly parades like Krewe of Boo and mid-city routes are less crowded; bring a ladder seat for kids and arrive 2 hours early for a good spot
One of the largest free music festivals in the South featuring Louisiana music across multiple stages in the historic French Quarter
💡The festival is free and entirely outdoors; bring earplugs for little ones and head to the riverfront stage early for shade and more space
Weekly farmers market along the Mississippi River in Crescent Park featuring local produce, artisan goods, prepared foods, and live music
💡The park's waterfront location is beautiful for a Sunday stroll after shopping; arrive before noon for the best selection and cooler temperatures
Free weekly story time sessions for young children at New Orleans Public Library branches citywide, featuring books, songs, and crafts
💡Sessions vary by branch so check the NOPL website for the location nearest you; the Children's Resource Center at Main Branch has the most robust programming
Weekend family activities in City Park including paddle boating, the Storyland playground, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
💡Carousel Gardens tickets are affordable and the vintage carousel is a New Orleans landmark; go early on Saturdays to beat the afternoon heat and crowds
Nightly live music scene on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighborhood with multiple venues and street musicians showcasing authentic New Orleans jazz and funk
💡Early Friday evenings before 8pm are manageable with older children; the outdoor street musicians are free to enjoy and give kids an authentic taste of New Orleans music culture
Weekly educational programs, animal encounters, and keeper talks at Audubon Zoo in Uptown New Orleans, one of the top-ranked zoos in the country
💡Visit the Louisiana Swamp exhibit and the new wetlands habitat to connect kids with local wildlife; Sunday mornings are less crowded than Saturdays
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡Café Du Monde is open 24 hours and the line looks intimidating, but it moves fast — arrive before 8am or after 9pm to skip the worst of the tourist surge. Beignets are $4.50 for an order of three and the powdered sugar situation is genuinely out of control, so dress kids in dark colors.
- 💡The free Algiers Ferry departs from the foot of Canal Street every 30 minutes and gives kids a Mississippi River crossing for free — the views of the skyline from the water are better than anything you'll get on land, and the whole round-trip takes about 25 minutes.
- 💡The Audubon Zoo participates in the Louisiana Children's Museum's reciprocal admission program — if you're a member of a participating children's museum back home, you may get free or discounted zoo entry. Check the ACM reciprocal network before you pay full price.
- 💡Snowballs (not snow cones — locals will correct you) at Hansen's Sno-Bliz on Tchoupitoulas Street are a New Orleans institution since 1939. The line wraps around the block on hot days, but it moves steadily. Ashley Hansen still runs it and the flavor combinations like cream of peach with condensed milk are unlike anything at a chain stand.
- 💡The St. Charles streetcar runs 24 hours and costs $1.25 each way — buy a Jazzy Pass for $3/day per person if you plan to ride more than twice. Kids under 3 ride free. Riding from Canal Street all the way to Carrollton and back is a 90-minute round trip that kids genuinely love as an activity in itself.
- 💡Second-line parades happen almost every Sunday from late September through late June, organized by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs. They are free, open to the public, and involve brass bands, dancing, and decorated umbrellas parading through neighborhoods. Check the WWOZ community calendar at wwoz.org to find the week's route — they almost always wind through Central City or Tremé.
- 💡The Louisiana Children's Museum in City Park reopened in its current location in 2019 and is genuinely excellent for ages 2-10. It's closed Mondays, but on the first Saturday of each month admission is free from 9am to noon for Louisiana residents — and they don't check IDs.
- 💡Avoid renting a car if you're staying in the Garden District or French Quarter — parking costs $30-50/night at most hotels, and rideshares to City Park or the airport are cheaper than the daily parking fees. If you do drive, the City Park parking lots on Dreyfous Drive are free.