New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

There's plenty to do around town this weekend, so if you're looking for some free fun, look no further!

On Saturday, Lowe's has it's latest installment of their Build and Grow program.  This Saturday from 10 am to noon, bring the kids to make a wooden snowman!

From 6:30 am Saturday through 6:30 am Sunday, experience the fifth annual Draw-A-Thon at the Green Project.  Check out performances by various artists, children's art activities, music and games, and draw all over the walls of "The Drawing Room".

From 11 am to 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, head to Plessy Park for Family Fringe as part of the New Orleans Fringe Theater Festival.  See performances for children, arts and crafts activities, and watch the parade pass on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking of parades, if you've never experienced a New Orleans second line parade, Saturday morning is your chance.  A parade to honor the memory of musician and music teacher Walter Payton Jr. will follow a brief memorial service at Preservation Hall on Saturday morning at 10:30 am and wind from Preservation Hall down St. Claude, pass McDonough No. 15 where he taught, and back through the French Quarter back to the start.

Santa Claus himself, along with Mrs, Claus, Rudolph, and Frosty, will lead another second line parade through Lakeside Mall in Metairie as he arrives on Saturday at 9:30 am. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

On the westbank, check out the Westwego Cypress Swamp Fest that runs from Friday through Sunday.  Admission is $2 for those over 10 years old, and 10 and under are free.  Enjoy food, rides, games, and a showcase of crafts at this weekend festival.

Take a drive to the northshore on Saturday or Sunday for the Three Rivers Art Festival in downtown Covington.  In addition to the myriad works of art available for sale, enjoy live music and a children's activities and entertainment at this free weekend festival.

Celebrate National Neighborhood Toy Store Day with a visit to Magic Box Toys on Magazine Street.  On Saturday from 11am until 5 pm they will be celebrating the day and their 15th anniversary with book signings, face painting, music, and more.  What a fun way to entertain your kids, support local business, and get a jump on your Christmas shopping at the same time!  10% of all proceeds will go to Children's Hospital.

At 11am at Borders, bring the kids to Build-A-Bear Storytime.  Geared toward kids ages 3 to 8, the Build-A-Bear Storytime will feature the new Build-A-Bear book: Holly & Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure.  Check the Borders website to see if a store near you is participating.

On Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm, why not stop by the Po-Boy Festival on Oak Street?  36 po-boy vendors will be on hand with such offerings as Maine lobster with Crystal hot sauce or grilled shrimp with blackened avocado, in addition to the "staples" we know so well.  A children's area and live music on multiple stages throughout the day make this free festival a winner!

Also on Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm is the Congo Square Rhythms Festival at the Old US Mint on Esplanade.  Enjoy world music, crafts, a children's area, and food at this free festival.

Take advantage of the Saints' bye week and the beautiful weather - enjoy the weekend with your family!

Wednesday's Events in New Orleans

Wednesday marks another installment in this season's Harvest the Music Festival in Lafayette Square.  Head downtown at 5pm to enjoy a free concert by Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Good Enough for Good Times.  Admission is free, and food and drinks are available for purchase.  Proceeds benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.

And don't forget, since it's Wednesday, that means free admission for all to the New Orleans Museum of Art!

Have a great Wednesday!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Are your kids fans of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series?  If so, you'll want to take them to Octavia Books on Saturday.  The "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" Truck Bookstore Tour will make it's stop there from noon to 1:30pm on Saturday to celebrate book 5 in the series.

Your musically-inclined kids have yet another chance to play with a real jazz band!  On Saturday from 11am to noon, kids can drop in at the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park with their own instruments and play with the Storyville Stompers Brass Band!

On Sunday, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is hosting its annual free fair.  From 10am to 3pm, take the family to the Ogden for a "Coastal Celebration" which will include music, dancing, craft-making, and of course, art!

Have a wonderful weekend!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Friday through Sunday, head downtown to celebrate the 10th annual Satchmo Summer Fest!  In addition to 4 stages with live music, this free festival includes various seminars and discussions, as well as a children's area with activities such as making a second line umbrella and decorating a Zulu coconut!  The festival runs from noon to 7pm through Sunday.

Head to the Maple Street Book Shop Saturday from 11:30am to 1pm, to meet Rosemary Smith, children's book author, as she signs her book Lizzie Walks On the Wild Side. 

If art's your thing, leave the kids with a sitter and head out to the warehouse district Saturday night dressed in your stylish white linen to celebrate Whitney White Linen Night.  The party starts at 6pm with live entertainment and free admission to the art galleries in the Arts District.  If you go, remember to not wash your white linen afterwards so you'll be ready for next weekend's Dirty Linen Night on Royal Street!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Creative Way to Help the Gulf

Channel the artist within and create a masterpiece that will help the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program!  On Saturday, July 26th, from 10am until noon, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art will hold it's next Ogden Playdate: "Beach Blanket Bingo".  Admission to the playdate is an 8.5" x 11" piece of art created by YOU!  Come to the playdate dressed in your swimsuit or as your favorite Gulf creature, and be ready to dance, dance, dance!  Susan Cowsill will be on hand for entertainment, and milk and cookies will be served (and cocktails for the grown-ups!).

If you're able to attend, RSVP by calling Ava Sever at 504-523-4883

Wednesday Fun - If you can stand the heat!

Ok, judging by the temperature and heat index, summer really arrived a little early! If you can stand the sweltering conditions, here are a few events happening Wednesday to keep you entertained and on budget:

The last installment of the YLC Wednesdays at the Square is from 5pm to 7:30pm. Galactic and The Soul Rebels are closing out the season, rain or shine. This event is free, and proceeds from refreshments sold will benefit the Young Leadership Council.

If you're an Audubon Zoo member, Wednesday means Zoobilation! From 4:30pm to 7:30pm, members can enjoy the zoo after hours. Enjoy live music, animal feedings, animal open houses, free rides on the swamp train, and free simulator rides. There will be plenty of kids' activities, and author Cornell Landry will be on hand to sign his new book, "Happy Jazz Fest."

Since it's Wednesday, remember the New Orleans Museum of Art has free admission for all and is open late (until 8pm) on Wednesdays. And they have air conditioning!

Have a great Wednesday, and remember if you're going to be out in the heat - stay hydrated!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

There are so many free and frugal events this weekend in the New Orleans area, it's enough to make your head spin!

Are you ready for some football? Practice, anyway. If so, head out to the Saints practice facility in Metairie where you can ogle the beautiful Lombardy trophy and watch our beloved Saints in an outdoor minicamp practice! The trophy will be on display at 1:30 pm Friday, and practice will start at 3pm (gates to the field open at 2:15pm). The trophy will again be on display 8:30am Saturday before practice at 10:15am (gates open at 9:15am).

Show your support for local oyster harvesters by attending the first ever New Orleans Oyster Festival this weekend in the French Quarter. This free festival runs Saturday (11am to 7pm) and Sunday (11am to 6pm) and in addition to great music features an oyster eating contest, largest oyster contest, and a kids' root beer float eating contest! Some of the best restaurants in the area will be on hand to sell you some delicious oyster dishes, so go hungry and eat up! Proceeds from the festival will go to "Save Our Coast".

Another way to help our coast is to head to Kenner to the Back to the Beach Festival, which also benefits Save Our Coast. Beginning Friday at 6pm, the festival runs through Sunday and features great music, food, and a car show and motorcycle rally. The cost is $10 for adults and $4 for kids, but members of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (which is $50 for a family for a year) get free admission - and admission to the Patron Party in a few weeks.

Want to learn how to dance like a cajun? On Saturday, head over to Maison on Frenchman for a Cajun/Country Fais Do-Do! Dance lessons begin at 3:30pm, and the bands start to play at 4pm. Admission is free, children are welcome, and food is available for purchase.

Bring your little artists over to the Alex Beard Studio on Saturday from 10am to 12 noon to draw and paint with artist and author Alex Beard. The event is free, but you need to RSVP by calling 504-539-9616. Sponsored by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, refreshments will be served.

Also on Saturday, support the Success Preparatory Academy on Bienville Street at their Success Fest 2010! From 3pm to 7pm, enjoy food, music, a waterslide, and space walk. Admission is free, but the school will accept donations if you want to donate!

Do your kids enjoy the Amusement Park and Storyland at City Park? Friday night from 7-10pm is the kickoff party for the new summer hours at the park. Admission is free, but ride tickets/bracelets cost extra. Enjoy storytelling, games and prizes, face painting, and a DJ for your entertainment.

And don't forget Librarypalooza on Saturday at the East Bank Regional Library!

So, as you can see, there is simply NO reason to be sitting at home this weekend - make it a great one!

Happening this Wednesday in New Orleans

Remember - Wednesdays are free admission for everyone to the New Orleans Museum of Art (thinks to the Helis Foundation's generosity), and hours are extended until 8pm as well. Check out the opening of the Swamp Tours: Exploring the Louisiana Contemporary Collection exhibit at 6pm. Included in the free admission is a drop-in community art-making studio for adults this Wednesday from 6-8pm. Art materials and instruction from art therapists are included!

It's also the second to last chance for you to enjoy a free concert at YLC's Wednesday at the Square. Performing this Wednesday is The Boogie Men and The N'awlins Johnnys.

Have a great Wednesday!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend and not looking to spend too much? Check out these free and frugal events happening in the New Orleans area this weekend:

If you're heading to the East, check out the Town of Pearl River Family Fest. The Fest will be held from 10am to 10pm, Saturday, and it's family-friendly, nonalcoholic, and free! Plenty of events are scheduled, including great music, a "water world" for the kids, train rides and carnival rides, and fireworks at 8:30pm.

Closer to home is ReFest - a festival on Saturday promoting the newly designated ReUse District in town. Head to ReFest to learn more about using recycled materials in your everyday life. ReFest is coinciding with the Elysian Fleas market, where you can find great local food, arts, and crafts.

From 9am to 4pm on Saturday, head over to the Symphony Book Fair to pick up some books, music, or art to benefit the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Speaking of books, as part of Children's Book Week, several children's authors will be on hand at Tale of Two Sisters Bookstore in Metairie to sign their works this weekend. On Saturday, Skipper Jenkins will be signing "Which Way is Which?" from 10am to noon; Cornell P. Landry will sign "Happy Jazz Fest" and "Goodnight NOLA" (one of our house favorites!) from 11am to 1pm. On Sunday, Pat Roig and Joanne Mehrtens will sign their works, including "Counting on the Neutral Ground" from 2-4pm.

On Sunday, once again Target is providing free admission to everyone at the Louisiana Children's Museum.

Have an incredible weekend!

What to Do on Wednesday?

You don't have to wait for the weekend to find plenty of things to do around here.

The Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus clowns will be at three of the branches of the New Orleans Public library on Wednesday to help celebrate Children's Book Week. Check here for locations and times.

From 4:30pm to 8:30pm, head over to Lakeview for the Harrison Avenue Marketplace, which offers food, drink, and plenty of kid-friendly activities.

The New Orleans Museum of Art is open late on Wednesday, and remember, admission is free to all visitors thanks to the Helis Foundation.

Looking to enjoy some great music? Head down to Lafayette Square for the latest installment of the YLC Wednesday at the Square series. The lineup this Wednesday? The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (yay!) and Happy Jack Frequency.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Another Freebie for You

I have yet another freebie to tell you about, and this one is an ongoing one. Every Wednesday from noon until 8pm, the New Orleans Museum of Art is offering FREE ADMISSION to ALL! That's right - not just Louisiana residents who enjoyed free admission last year - but ALL visitors will be admitted free on Wednesdays! A special thanks to the Helis Foundation for providing admission to everyone.

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

On Saturday, the Treme Brass Band will be at the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park from 11am until noon to participate in the kids' workshop. Have your kids bring their own instruments and play a few numbers with a real brass band!

While you're at the Jazz Historical Park, stick around for two programs to celebrate February as Black History Month. At 1pm, learn about the Underground Railroad in Louisiana. At 2pm, listen to a performance of freedom songs during the "Songs of the Underground Railroad" program.

If you (or your children) are more the handyman-type, head on over to Lowe's for their Build and Grow project. Saturday from 10 am to 11 am, make your very own "LoweBot" (car/robot). Head to their website here and register. Even my 2 year old has fun "working" with the tools!

The Krewe of Arfus celebration will be held at Zephyr Stadium on Sunday from 11am to 4pm. The parade starts at 1pm and will feature King Buud and Queen Gretchen leading the carnival-style parade. Head over and check out the information on spaying/neutering and microchipping your pet. You may even find your next best friend there! There is a registration fee for the pets in the parade, but spectators are free.

Also on Sunday will be the Arts Market of New Orleans in Palmer Park. The market runs from 10am until 4pm and will feature an African drumming performance in the kids' tent.

Let's hope for a beautiful weekend - get out and enjoy it!

Free Concert at the Cathedral

Looking for something to do Wednesday evening? Head over to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square for a free concert by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance titled "Made in Louisiana" celebrates Louisiana's musical heritage and features works by Louisiana artists who influenced music worldwide, including Ernest Guiraud who just happens to be a branch on my family tree!

If you've never experienced the LPO, Wednesday night is your chance to do so for free! The concert starts at 7:30pm in the cathedral.

New Orleans Area Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

On Saturday, officially kick off the holiday season (as if the displays of Christmas decorations that have been up in stores since the beginning of October hadn't already clued you in) by welcoming Santa as he arrives at Lakeside Mall. Santa is scheduled to arrive at 9:30am, and where else but in southern Louisiana would you greet him and Mrs. Claus with a second line parade?

Also on Saturday, celebrate Fiesta Latina at Zephyr Stadium from 10:30am until 9:30pm. Festival admission is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and art that celebrates different Latin cultures!

Want to be a part of a community art project? Head over to the Green Room at The Green Project in Faubourg Marigny to participate in the 4th annual Draw-A-Thon. The Draw-A-Thon begins at 6:30am Saturday and runs 24 hours ending with a pancake breakfast Sunday at 6:30am. Different workshops featuring various techniques will be held throughout the 24 hour event, including drawing with a sewing machine and drawing on film. Adults and kids are encouraged to visit this paper-covered room and channel their artistic sides!

On Sunday, head on over to Oak Street and stuff yourself silly with a huge array of the area's best po-boys at the 2009 New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival. Enjoy great local tunes while munching on delicious po-boys. Just reading the list of vendors and their wares has my mouth watering - I just have to try Emeril's bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomato shrimp remoulade po-boy (would that be a "BLFGTSR"?).

Enjoy the weekend!

Intro to the arts

There are a couple of interesting events happening this weekend in New Orleans that are a good introduction to the arts for your little ones.

On Saturday at 10am at the Newcomb Art Gallery at Tulane University, there will be a free, all-ages print making workshop that corresponds with the Hatch Show Print exhibit. The workshop is free, but you do need to RSVP by emailing sboles@tulane.edu or by calling 504-865-5361.

On Sunday, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is performing a children's concert at Benjamin Franklin High School (2001 Leon C. Simon Blvd., New Orleans). The concert begins at 3pm, but there will be a "petting zoo" in the lobby starting at 2:15pm where the children can see many of the instruments up close and personal. Afterwards, the children will be treated to cookies and juice, also in the lobby. Admission is free for children younger than 12, and $10 for all others.