JLNO Loves Chillin’ Out this Summer in the Crescent City

There’s a lot that’s hot in our Crescent City this summer that will help you cool off and won’t burn up your wallet. You may have already scoped out a thing or three already. Just in case you haven’t (or are looking for some more ideas) here’s a list of affordable happenings for children and families in the Big Easy.
 

The Audubon Institute

Audubon Zoo: Dinner and a Zoovie
(+Cool Zoo/Gator Run)

6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans
June 30
July 14 and 28
Doors Open at 6:00pm
Cool Zoo/Gator Run, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Movie will start after 8:00 p.m.
  June 30: The LEGO Batman Movie
  July 14: Finding Dory
  July 28: Trolls

Audubon Zoo is hosting a summer movie series at the Capital One Stage inside the zoo! And extended hours for the Cool Zoo/Gator Run on these dates too! (Tickets to the water park for these extended hours are only available with purchase of ZOOvie tickets). ZOOvie tickets are $6/person; ZOOvie + Cool Zoo/Gator Run tickets are $12/person. Prices are for members and nonmembers alike. Children 2 and under are free. For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, go to AudubonNatureInstitute.org/zoovie Movies TBD.

Aquarium & Butterfly Garden and Insectarium:
Go 4th on the River

Butterfly Garden & Insectarium
423 Canal Street, New Orleans (Aquarium address above)
Discount for June 30 – July 4
Hours 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fireworks on the River at 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a weekend of discounted admission to the Aquarium and Butterfly Garden & Insectarium – $4 off per single adult or child ticket. And after a day exploring these Audubon attractions on July 4th, head to the Woldenberg Riverfront Park with your lawn chairs and picnic to grab a spot for the Dueling Barges Fireworks display! It is recommended to come early to grab a spot. The New Orleans Riverfront fills up quickly for this wonderful show that lights up the sky to music simultaneously broadcast on Magic 101.9 FM and WWL AM and FM radio. Be sure and bring your radio to get the full experience! Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
 

CHATEAU SEW

2103 Magazine Street, New Orleans
Camp Four: June 19 -23; 9:00 a.m. – Noon
Camp Five: July 10 – 14; 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Chateau Sew is offering five summer camps for children ages 5 – 13. The classes vary from beginner to intermediate. Campers will learn how to use a sewing machine, read a pattern and hand stitch among other sewing skills, depending on their level of experience. In addition to the camps, Chateau Sew will also offer at least one weekend kids’ craft or sewing workshop per month. Birthday party workshops are also available! For more information about the camps, upcoming workshops, and pricing, go to Chateausew.com or call (504) 533-9221 during business hours, Mon – Sat, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. And for private parties, please call for dates and availability.
 

CITY PARK

Botanical Gardens
5 Victory Avenue, New Orleans
Open 7 days a week
Hours 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (last entry at 4:00 p.m.)

Courtesy of The Helis Foundation, City Park offers free entry to its Botanical Gardens on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents. Individuals should show their LA identification to the cashier at the ticket desk in the Oscar J. Tolmas Building. All other days, admission is $6/adult, $3/child (ages 3-12), children under 3 are free. Friends of City Park have free admission.

Couturie Forest
1009 Harrison Avenue
Open 7 days a week during Daylight Hours

This City Park (almost) hidden gem is located on Harrison Avenue near the NOPD Stables. Couturie Forest offers a host of trails to explore, bird watching, Laborde Mountain (the highest elevation in New Orleans), and you may even spot an alligator! It is open during daylight hours and is free to the public.

Happy 3rd of July!
Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn (between the Botanical Gardens and the Peristyle)
Concessions begin at 5:00 p.m.
Performance 7:00 p.m.
Fireworks 9:00 p.m.

The Marine Corps Band New Orleans will perform patriotic music live at 7:00pm from the Peristyle facing the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn. Come early with your picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs and grab a seat for this wonderful complimentary event that concludes with a fireworks finale at 9:00 p.m. (Concessions will sell food and drinks beginning at 5:00 p.m.).

Scavenger Hunt
If you are looking to explore City Park with your children, take a moment to print out the children’s children’s activities list and Scavenger Hunts at NewOrleansCityPark.com/in-the-park/just-for-kids. For an up-to-date activities and events list, check out NewOrleansCityPark.com
 

RIVERTOWN: PLANETARIUM, SCIENCE CENTER AND SPACE STATION

2020 Fourth Street, Kenner
Open Saturdays to the public
Hours 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Box Office opens at 10:45 a.m.; last tickets sold at 3:00 p.m.)

Kenner Planetarium & Megadome Cinema
A 50-foot domed screen and stadium seating allow the Planetarium to take visitors on adventures into space to learn about stars and planets, back to the future to discover facts about flying dinosaurs and on a musical journey with a laser show. And that’s just the beginning! The schedule is updated each month and can be found at Kenner.la.us/pages/section_5_27.asp. Admission is $6/adult, $5/children & seniors; it includes entrance to the Science Center and Space Station.

July: Late Night Laser
In addition to the Saturday daytime laser attraction that runs year-round, “Late Night Laser” shows every Friday evening in July at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Bring your blankets and lawn-chairs, and setup to see this night-time laser show experience set to the music of bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, U2 and Metallica (just to name a few). Concessions will be offered; no outside food or beverages. Tickets are $5/person.

Science Center and Space Station
At the Science Center, visitors can explore our earth’s many facets including weather, bodies of water and living creatures (past and present) through hands-on, interactive exhibits. The Space Station launches guests into the world of NASA and space exploration with a full-sized model of the International Space Station and a timeline of space exploration’s history leading up to the modern day. Exhibits are self-guided. Admission is included with purchase of Planetarium ticket. Admission to just the Science Center and Space Station is $5/adult, $4/senior (60+), $3/child.
 

RIVERTOWN: HERITAGE PARK

2015 Fourth Street, Kenner (across from the Planetarium)

Rivertown: Kenner Leisure Service Summer Programs
Multiple Dates/Times
Ages 3 and up (Adult Classes/Workshops too)

The Kenner Leisure Service Summer Programs include a wide variety of activities and workshops from arts & crafts to athletics of all types as well as performing arts. Summer programs begin as early as age 3 and continue through ages 14+.  There are parent and child classes available as well as adults classes (arts, crafts, dog obedience training, gardenings, and computers – just to name a few). In addition to encompassing a wide range of interests, the classes, workshops, and activities for children and adults are very affordable and multiple date ranges are offered for many of the classes. In fact, the list is so extensive that we cannot print them all here! For more information, please visit kenner.recdesk.com and select “Forms and Documents,” then select the “Summer Brochure.”
 


JLNO Loves Chillin’ Out this Summer in the Crescent CityJLNO Loves Chillin’ Out this Summer in the Crescent City
LEFT: A replica of a NASA spaceship at the Kenner Planetarium and Megadome Cinema. Photo provided by: Kenner Planetarium and Megadome Cinema. RIGHT: Gardening tools used at Longue Vue House and Garden for the kid garden workshops. Courtesy of Longue Vue House and Garden.


LONGUE VUE HOUSE & GARDENS

7 Bamboo Road, New Orleans
Open 7 days a week
Hours Mon – Sat, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sun, 1:00 p.m. –  5:00 p.m. LongueVue.com.

Longue Vue House & Gardens is a historic estate featuring a house museum and eight acres of gardens. It is a National Historic Landmark and hosts special events and programs that are open to the community. Docent-led tours are held every hour on the hour (the last tour is at 4:00 p.m.). Admission is $12/adult, $10/senior, $8/child (11+), $5/child (3-10). Children under 3 are free. AAM and AHS Members and Active Military are free with identification. Veterans are free on Veterans Day. To inquire about the various membership levels and benefits, visit LongueVue.com/give/membership  or call (504) 488-5488.

Yoga in the Garden for Adults and Kids
June 18, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
July 16, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
August 20, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

In collaboration with Pilates and Yoga Loft and Project Peaceful Warriors, visit Longue Vue House and Gardens for an all-level, yoga session held in one of our tranquil garden spaces. Please arrive at 9:45 a.m. Class begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. Please bring your kids! At the same time, Project Peaceful Warriors will be teaching a kids yoga class in an adjacent garden space. Guests may tour of the gardens afterwards. $10 suggested donation.

Kinder Garden
June 24, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Play, learn, and grow in this hands-on class for curious children aged 18 months to 5 years and their accompanying adult. Get up close and personal with nature through age-appropriate activities such as seed planting, vegetable tasting, math and science activities, craft-making, stories and songs, digging for worms, and more in the Lucy C. Roussel Discovery Garden for children. Sunshine only! Advance registration is not required. Program fee covers one child and one adult. $8 members; $10 for nonmembers; Siblings and additional adults discounted. Contact Lauren Rouatt at(504)293-4719 or Lrouatt@longuevue.com for information.

Mermaid Garden Workshop
July 6, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Adults and children of all ages can join horticulture staff at Longue Vue and learn to create a terrarium for mermaids! Reservations required and space is limited. Program fee covers one adult, one child and one terrarium.

Annual Ice Cream Social
July 22, 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Longue Vue’s annual Ice Cream Social invites families out for delicious ice cream courtesy of Creole Creamery, lawn games, bouncing in a bounce house and a pet adoption with Animal Rescue of New Orleans. Members* and children under 2 are free; $8.50 nonmembers.

*One complimentary admission for individual members; two for member and guest members; four for family level and higher members. Membership card must be presented at gate for free admission.
 

PRYTANIA THEATER

5339 Prytania Street, New Orleans

Kids Movie Series
Friday & Saturday mornings, 10:00 a.m.
June 9-10 through the end of July

The historic Prytania Theater is offering a summer movie series for kids! Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m., beginning June 9 & 10, The Prytania will be screening a selection of classic and contemporary films. Movies you may find there this summer are E.T., The Wizard of Oz, Labyrinth, Cars 3, Secret Life of Pets, Lego Batman – just to name a few. Admission is $6/person and includes popcorn and a drink. The schedule, along with information about season passes, will be available at the end of April. For up-to-date information, check out ThePrytania.com and follow The Prytania Theater on Facebook.

 

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