Know what kids love best on Mother’s Day? Mother Nature! Pick up a picnic from one or your favorite New Orleans restaurants and pull up some grass at one these four parks.
City Park (Mid-City/Lakeview)
As New Orleans’ largest park, City Park stretches from Mid-City and Bayou St. John into the Lakeview neighborhood toward Lake Pontchartrain. From end to end, City Park boasts luscious green space lined with Spanish moss-draped oak trees and is filled with plenty of walking and biking paths. Come climb a tree, read stories under the oaks, and feed the ducks.
Audubon Park (Uptown)
Audubon Park is another large grassy area with plenty of room to run around and have a picnic. The park also has lots of gazebos and covered areas for setting up camp while the kids play tag and fly kites.
The Fly (Uptown)
After driving beyond Audubon Park and past the Audubon Zoo, you’ll reach The Fly, a long stretch of a park that borders and overlooks the Mississippi River. Come throw a Frisbee or have a picnic as you enjoy the mighty river in the background.
Woldenberg Park (French Quarter)
Woldenberg Park borders the Mississippi River on the Canal Street side of the French Quarter. There are lots of statues and art to enjoy as well as river traffic. Come take a walk or jog as a family.
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New Orleans makes the music.
You make the memories.
April 24-May 4, 2025
Jazz Fest is part of growing up in New Orleans. And while it might seem like more work than fun to have the little ones in tow for an event like this, most parents we know wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ve gotta start them on the Zydeco early!
If you do decide to Jazz Fest with the fam, here are a few tips. You might want to bring a beach blanket or a chair with an umbrella for quick naps. If you’re worried about music levels on your little one’s ears, throw some ear muffs or headphones into the stroller. And invest in a pair of those cute little rain boots, just in case.
The Official Jazz Fest Shuttle will get you right inside the gate (see link below). Once inside, head for less crowded stages like the Jazz & Heritage and Fais Do-Do stages. Plus the Blues and Gospel tents offer chairs. And don’t forget the Jazz Fest Kids Area! Your children will love the Ochsner Children’s Tent with shows specifically tailored for kids.
The Cultural Arts Tent is a great place to get those creative juices flowing. Your kids will be able to work with Mardi Gras flower makers, float painters and builders, paper mâché sculptures, puppeteers, costume makers and more. Each Saturday, at 2 pm, a petit carnival parade will roll through the area and your kids can join in!
There’s also the Ochsner’s Children’s Activity Tent offering fun STEM-focused health and wellness activities. And new this year is the Interactive Technology Tent where you can have motion graphics fun using props and a green screen. And the JF Peace Garden offers mindful movement, games and activities that use quiet observations and play for a gentle sensory experience. Have a tween in your household? They can take part in a Silent Disco Dance Party from 3-5 pm. daily.
And all this is just the tip of the iceberg! Some people might recommend going on Thursdays or Fridays to avoid the larger crowds but some of the best acts are on the weekend so we say “just go for it.”
Photo credit: Missy Fields Dalton
<<Learn More About Jazz Fest/See 2025 Lineup>>
<<Find a Hotel for Jazz Fest>>
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Lend us your bunny ears!
This April 9th, hop down the Bunny Trail with Old Man River. On the Easter Bunny Brunch Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat NATCHEZ, your family will have a blast getting your pictures taken with the Easter Bunny, dancing to live jazz, and nibbling away at an eggcellent brunch buffet. And, of course, there are those great river views. This is how you make Easter memories that will last a lifetime.
Date: Sunday, April 20th, 2024
First Sailing: Boarding at 11:00 a.m., Cruising from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Second Sailing Boarding at 2:00 p.m., Cruising from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: Steamboat Natchez (where Toulouse St. Meets the Mississippi River)
Reservations are required. Book here.
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Raw oysters? Nuh uh. Fried alligator? No way, dude.
New Orleans may be the Creole and Cajun Culinary Capital of the World but, let’s face it, most little ones aren’t going to be happy with iconic New Orleans dishes like turtle soup, crawfish étouffée, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce.
On the other hand, fresh-caught, fried Gulf seafood is always a kid pleaser but, if your kids will go through withdrawal without chicken tenders, you can find it in our local restaurants as well.
Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter and Metairie serves a whole lot more than oysters. Kids under 12 can have their choice of Fried Shrimp, Fried Fish, Chicken Tenders, Cheese Burgers and Junior Dawgs–all served with French fries and a small fountain drink–for just $5.99.
Felix’s menu in the French Quarter and at the Lakefront has great choices for your little ones as well, including Fried Fish, Fried Shrimp, Chicken Tenders and Hamburgers. Plus, your kids will get a kick out of watching the oyster shuckers at work even if they won’t eat oysters.
Landry’s Seafood House also has a special menu for the little ones. Kids can eat for under $8 in both the French Quarter and Lakefront locations. There are 11 options including Fried Shrimp, Corn Dogs and Chicken Strips and it comes with juice, milk or soda and one side (not to mention a great view).
The thing that really stands out to us on Oceana’s Kid’s Menu is The Big Ch-Easy Burger, but they also have Fried Shrimp and great Chicken Tenders. We love that you can get kiddy cocktails here. Remember Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers?
The kid’s menu at Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant in the Arts/Warehouse District is a winner, too. Burgers, Shrimp, Fish, Chicken Tenders, Buttered Pasta…it’s all good.
Porter & Luke’s on Metairie Road is idea for families as well. There your kids can choose from Meatballs & Pasta, Luke’s Chicken Fingers, Catfish Strips and Porter’s Shrimp Plate.
And although they don’t have a kid’s menu per say, Commander’s Palace in the Garden District offers off-the-menu kid items like Fried Shrimp and Fried Chicken with fries on the side. They also serve a wonderful mocktail called the Duck Bubble Bath made with orange juice and cranberry juice, garnished with a rubber duck wearing a chef’s hat.
After a day of exploring New Orleans, your kids are going to be hungry. Make sure you know where to go. Find more family restaurant ideas.
Photo courtesy Acme Oyster House
>>Go to Free Things to Do in New Orleans
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Kids can never get enough beads! On the heels of Mardi Gras come New Orleans St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day parades. Put the kids back in the car and head for the fun.
Irish Channel Parade, March 15
POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER
This procession in the Irish Channel neighborhood will start rolling around 1 p.m. Organized by The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Committee in 1947, throws always include beads, flowers, and the fixing for an Irish stew. See parade route.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Road, March 16
This parade has been rolling down Metairie Road since 1971. Head there for noon to see 100 floats and trucks, bands, and marching clubs. View route.
Downtown Irish Club Parade, March 17
The Downtown Irish Club Parade starts at 7 p.m. Your little leprechauns will love it. See route.
Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie, March 23
Head to the burbs for the Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade. We’ll see you on the Veterans parade route at noon. See route.
Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade in the French Quarter, March 22
The Italian American St Joseph’s Society has taken to the streets for this parade for more than 50 years! The procession begins at 6 p.m. with floats, the queen with 100-some maids, and hundreds of tuxedoed Italian-Americans offering up green, white and red beads, silk flowers, and blessed fava beans. View route.
Gretna Irish-Italian Parade, March 30
The City of Gretna’s Irish-Italian Heritage Parade & Events begins at noon at Burmaster & Franklin Streets and ends at 4th Street & Huey P. Long Ave. Music & free beer while supplies last. View route
St. Bernard Irish-Italian Islenos Parade, April 5
The St. Bernard Irish-Italian Islenos Community Parade starts at 11 a.m. in Chalmette. Come see more than 50 floats, 35 marching groups and 1,500 cabbage-tossing members. View route.
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On Sunday, February 16th, the Krewe of Little Rascals rolled in Metairie. Founded in 1983 by Jack and Maureen Spittler, their goal was to give the children of the New Orleans area their own unique Mardi Gras experience. In 2024, the parade was cancelled after Jack Spittler’s death. This year’s procession saluted their late founder with a lead float with an empty seat.
With members ranging from age 2 to 19, was built to promote the qualities of leadership and self-esteem. The founders believed children should be children, and ALL children should have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential regardless of race, color, economic background, religion or special needs.
Today, a percentage of the krewe’s members come from agencies that serve physically and emotionally challenged children.
When the krewe began there were only 3 Krewe floats plus the royal floats. Now the parade has 17 floats that are joined by marching groups, bands, horseback riding groups, car clubs and more.
Mardi Gras legend Arthur Hardy once wrote, the Krewe “Little Rascals is the longest running, most flamboyant, most successful organization for young people in the history of Mardi Gras.”
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New Year’s Eve Activities for Families…
New Year’s Eve is not just for grownups – not even in New Orleans. Here are some fun ways to say “bienvenue” (welcome) to 2025 in NOLA with your little ones. If you play it right, you can have a great day with the kids and still get home in time to pick up the babysitter and go out on the town.
Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure
Gray Line New Orleans offers lots of holiday fun, including two ways to see the Christmas Eve bonfires that light the levee to guide Papa Noel. Learn more.
Noon Year’s Eve at Louisiana Children’s Museum
With this countdown ’til noon event at the Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park, kids who can’t stay up until midnight don’t have to miss the fun.
New Year’s Eve Parade
End the New Year with a Mardi Gras-style parade in the French Quarter. The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade begins at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street at 2 p.m. (time subject to change).
Fireworks on the Riverfront
If you have children old enough to stay up until midnight, find yourself a spot along the riverfront from the New Orlean Hilton Riverside to Crescent Park.
View A Kid’s Guide to Mardi Gras
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Prepare your little prancers and dancers! Jazz Brunch with Santa is back at The Court of Two Sisters!
The annual celebration will take place on December 7, 14 & 20 this year and will include live jazz entertainment, a brunch buffet, a visit with Santa, and a gift for every child (naughty or nice.)
Costs: $55 for ages 13+ and $35 for ages 2-12 with a paid adult.
This popular event always sells out so book now. Prepaid reservations are required. Call 504-522-7261, ext. 24 or email [email protected].
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Sailing with Santa – Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Teach your children the true meaning of Christmas on Sailing with Santa Cruise on the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Head down to the dock near Jax Brewery in the French Quarter on November 30th. The cruise is $5 per person (without lunch) and $20 per person (lunch included). All participants, regardless of age, must bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots.
Entertainment on board will be geared to children, with a meet and greet and photos with a visit from Santa. Holiday attire is recommended but not required.
Boarding time: 2 p.m.
Cruising: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ticket pickup and cruise: 400 Toulouse Street (adjacent to JAX Brewery Building)
For reservations and more info about the Sailing with Santa Cruise, go here.
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See: New Orleans Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day
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