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There is certainly no shortage of things to do with kids in New Orleans. There are festivals, Mardi Gras, the Saints and Pelicans, playgrounds, and endless water fun … the list goes on and on. We know how to have a good time in New Orleans, and there are year-round family-friendly events. Here at the New Orleans Mom, we break down all New Orleans has to offer for families. We understand that with growing families comes a consideration for the financial cost of said activities. For those times when you can’t find anything to do, there are no holidays in New Orleans, or when you simply find yourself looking for budget-friendly activities with kids in New Orleans … check out our list below!

Favorite Free Things To Do In New Orleans With Kids

The Parenting Center at Manning Family Children’s Hospital

Are you a new parent of a baby 0-6 months old? Head over to Manning Family Children’s Hospital to visit their Parenting Center of Snuggles and Struggles every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. They also offer a virtual option via Zoom for parents who cannot attend in person.

This is a chance to connect with other new parents, share your experiences, and learn from one another. Come as you are and bring your new baby. Register at manningchildrens.org/snuggles, call 504.896.9591, or email [email protected].

The Parenting Center at Manning Family Children’s is a great place to connect with other parents and caregivers to navigate the obstacles of parenthood, whether you have a newborn or a teen.

Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

Kids can explore the swamps and wetlands at the Barataria Preserve. There are owls, snakes, alligators, and tons of other critters just out and about. Kids can become official junior park rangers, complete with their own ranger badge. The boardwalk trails are an awesome opportunity to be in nature but stay mud-free. The added bonus is that it is stroller-friendly! Your visits are guaranteed to be a different experience every time, seeing new sights! If you find yourself on the Westbank, check out these other hidden gems as well.

Note :: Because of demolition and construction of the trails and Visitor Center for the next two years, all trails at the Barataria Preserve and the Visitor Center are closed, with the exception of the Twin Canals Trail. You can join them on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Lafitte’s Barataria Museum and Wetland Trace for weekly programming, and guided hikes along the Wetland Trace trail at 1:00 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Audubon Louisiana Nature Center

Audubon Louisiana Nature Center is a cherished community resource located adjacent to Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the facility, but the Audubon Institute, like the people of New Orleans, rebuilt. There are walking trails, an indoor interpretive center, a planetarium, and ranger chats. If you like the outdoors, also check out our guide to the best places to camp with kids in Louisiana.

Northlake Nature Center

The Northlake Nature Center is used for environmental education programs, hiking, and other nature activities. The Center offers visitors the opportunity to experience three different ecosystems: hardwood forest, pine-hardwood forest, and pond-swamp.

Get Out & HIKE!

There are plenty of places to get out and explore nature in Louisiana, and we have more hiking trails than most realize. There are over 250, to be exact, so there is sure to be one that is within driving distance. If you have never used All Trails, I suggest downloading the app. You can find new hikes around you, time your hikes, leave reviews, and post photos. I love being able to look back on the different places we have explored. Check out all these great hiking trails in Louisiana!

Free Kid’s Workshop

Every month Home Depot and Lowe’s host DIY workshops for kids. All you have to do is register each month! Check out this New Orleans Mom’s experience with Home Depot’s monthly workshops.

We PLAY Center

The We PLAY Center is filled with age approproate toys and activities where caregivers and children ages birth through 3 years old can have playtime while developing their social and emotional skills in a safe space. The best part is that it is always free to play!

Kids Skate Free Club

Kids Skate Free Club is for kids ages 13 years and younger at Airline Skate Center in Metairie. Kids can skate free at the times listed below. Register here!

• Fridays: 7 pm – 10 pm
• Saturdays: 1 pm – 3:30 pm
• Sundays: 1 pm – 3:30 pm and 7 pm – 10 pm

Note: A small annual membership fee of $5.99 per child is now required.

Kidz Block Party at the Covington Trailhead

Head over to the Kidz Block Party at the Covington Trailhead on June 26th, July 31st, and August 28th from 5 pm – 8 pm. This is a free event for the public alongside the Covington Block Party to make a space that’s more inclusive and fun for all ages.

City Park

New Orleans City Park has lots of great areas to explore with your kids for free! They have four separate playgrounds: Stanley Ray, Magnolia, Sir Cumference, and Starbucks. They all offer different areas to play, but all have one thing in common – areas for parents to sit! The Couturie Forest is a beautiful place to walk the trails, watch for birds, and feel like you are out of the city for the afternoon. One local mom shares all about Couterie Forest and why it’s a fun, free thing to do in New Orleans here. You can take your bikes around Big Lake, try your hand at a round of disc golf on the free 18-hole course, or walk through the Sculpture Garden! There are days worth of free fun within our own New Orleans City Park.

Take A Ride On The Algiers Ferry

Board the ferry from the terminal next to the aquarium or in Algiers Point for $2 per person, and take a ride across the mighty Mississippi! Sit on the top deck to feel the breeze and snap some pictures as you zip across the water. With it departing every 30 minutes, you can enjoy exploring each side, walking along the riverfront, or at Algiers Point. This can make for a nice afternoon, especially if you catch a ride at sunset! Download and use Le Pass to pay your fare instantly. More information is here.

Early risers? Catch the sunrise from the levees of Algiers Point.

Explore The City Via Streetcar 

Looking for a different way to experience New Orleans? Why not do it on the various streetcar routes that are available? With adults only costing $1.25 and children 5-18 years old only costing 50 cents, riding the streetcar around different parts of town could be a cheap and unique experience for the day. Take the dark green streetcar down St. Charles (the oldest operating one) and daydream looking at the houses. The Canal line can take you to our historic cemeteries if you’re adventurous, or you can hop on one that says “museum” and head towards City Park and NOMA (free admission on Wednesdays!) to explore for the day. Head to the website to map out your day!

Check out Rivertown

Rivertown in Kenner has so much to do! You can take a stroll through Heritage Park and visit Lafitte’s Landing. They, of course, also have the planetarium and observatory, and the Space Science Complex that you can explore as well. Check their schedule and start planning your visit now!

Go For Some Bowling

If you go over to this website, you can find a bowling alley local to you that is offering free games for kids over the summer. There are eleven locations in Louisiana. Just click on the location and register your children ages 2-17 for their free games to enjoy!

Visit Surge for a great time! They are a great choice since they have locations in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. Shoe rental is required for all bowlers. Don’t miss out on the ultimate family fun all summer long!

Lakeside Kids’ Castle

The Kids’ Castle, located in Lakeside Shopping Center, is a great place to let your kids blow off steam indoors! It is free to enjoy, but you do need to book a 25-minute time slot to be able to play. Every Friday at 11 AM, they will be having “Sensory Adventures,” which will feature sensory activities that will engage your child’s senses in a way that facilitates exploration. Must be under 51 inches to play, and everyone (including adults!) needs socks. Get more info here and book your free time to play.

Find Some Local Murals 

New Orleans is known for its art, so why not go check out some of the different murals around town (and snap some great pics!). This map gets updated regularly, and there are over 140 different locations that you can preview to plan out your day.

Enjoy Science Saturdays in Hammond

On the third Saturday of every month from 1 PM – 5 PM, LIGO in Livingston opens its doors to visitors for free family science fun with a theme.

Enjoy athletics at Southeastern

Regular-season home events for these sports are free and open to the public: soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Tickets are available for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, and softball.

Free Days at Local Museums

• The Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum :: located inside Arnaud’s, is free during restaurant hours. The museum features a lavish exhibit of dozens of Mardi Gras costumes dating back to the 1940s.
• Longue Vue House and Gardens :: On the first Sunday of each month, Longue Vue offers free garden admission to all Louisiana families from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Pre-registration is required. Tours of the house are half-price as well.
• New Orleans Museum of Art :: Louisiana residents receive free general admission on Wednesdays.
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art :: Louisiana residents receive free general admission on Thursdays from 10 AM to 5 PM.
• Contemporary Arts Center :: Louisiana residents receive free general admission on Sundays.
• Wendell Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum :: located in Patterson, this museum is always free and perfect if you have an airplane lover.
• New Orleans Museum of Trade :: This free museum is a self-guided tour learning about the historical importance of money in New Orleans. This is interesting and a great thing to pop into downtown.
• New Orleans African American Museum :: NOAAM hosts free monthly festival-like family-friendly cultural experiences every third Saturday. It includes a diverse vendor market, live performances, a guest DJ, food, fellowship, and free museum admission.

Library Activities

Our community is full of public libraries, whether you are in Jefferson Parish, Orleans, Plaquemines, or St. Tammany. They are truly wonderful places. There are almost daily activities, such as story time, music time, and weekend crafts. The craft hour will get you out of the house on Saturday mornings, allowing your kids to create something, and then you can grab some books for reading during the week. Kids absolutely love going to the library for craft hour. In addition to the activities listed above, the libraries host special summer programming that is worth checking out. This includes visits from magicians, musicians, and the Zoomobile, just to name a few!

Crescent City Farmers Markets

There are three different Crescent City Farmers Markets throughout New Orleans on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Take a stroll around and look at all the locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, flowers, meats, Louisiana seafood, and more. Not only is everything going to be straight from farm to table, but they also offer a variety of different ways to pay, including using your SNAP benefits. They have local artists and musicians who perform each week. Check the calendar here for everything that is going on. Some of our favorite farmers markets can be found here.

Splash Around

Beat the heat of the summer and find one of the local splash pads or pools! In Jefferson Parish, there are multiple options that are free or less than $5 on both the East and West Banks. Personally, I love the one at Woldenberg Park in front of the aquarium. For a complete list from all over the state, find our recommendations here.

Take A Self-Guided Tour

Did you know that there are tours around town that are next to free and self-guided, so you can go at your own pace? Whether it is the Garden District, French Quarter, or even playing a Historic Exploration Game, there are a variety of different options. This is a great and educational way of getting out of the house and learning about some local history.

Attend Louisiana’s Annual Free Fishing Weekend

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) invites you to take part in its annual Free Fishing Weekend on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. Louisiana’s Free Fishing Weekend allows residents and visitors to fish in Louisiana waters without an otherwise required fishing license.

While a fishing license is not required, all fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions, will remain in effect during Free Fishing Weekend.

Good Old Fashioned FUN

• Check out a local playground
• Throw rocks at the Bonnabel Boat Launch
• Go “Sledding” down the levee with flattened cardboard boxes
• Feed the ducks at City Park or Lafreniere Park
• Pack a picnic lunch and head to the Fly to fly kites on the Southshore or the Mandeville Lakefront on the Northshore.
• Go geocaching with the entire family
• Go camping at a park, or have a backyard campout at home.
• Spend the day at Fontainebleau State Park and enjoy its trails and beaches, or explore the lake on kayaks or canoes.
• Take a bike ride along the scenic Tammany Trace that spans from downtown Covington, through Abita Springs, Mandeville, and Lacombe, and ends in Slidell.
• Go for a run along Crescent Park, a beautiful urban park along the riverfront.
• Go for a hike at the mini Grand Canyon, Red Bluff, in Mississippi.

What did we miss? What free activities do you enjoy doing with your family in New Orleans?

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