# Free things to do with kids in New Orleans this week

> Yes, plenty is free with little kids in New Orleans this week: we found 21 free outings, including Boo Carré Halloween Haunt, Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade and Halloween Fest at Riverwalk, plus 13 library programs. Six free days and events are coming up, including three museum or zoo free days, each with its date. And seven places never charge admission, like New Orleans Public Library, Main Library and New Orleans City Park.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 21 free outings this week; 6 free days and events coming up; 7 always-free places
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/free/
- Indoor play (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/indoor-play/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/llms.txt

## Free days and free events coming up

- **Boo Carré Halloween Haunt** at French Market District (Dutch Alley), French Quarter. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 11am–4pm. Price: Free. Free trick-or-treat totes for kids in costume while they last. Official page: https://www.frenchmarket.org/event/boo-carre-halloween-haunt-4/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade** at Elysian Fields Ave. to the French Quarter, Marigny / French Quarter. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 6:30pm. Price: Free. Rolls at dusk; route on the krewe’s page. Official page: https://www.kreweofboo.com/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Fall Festival at First Baptist New Orleans** at First Baptist New Orleans, 5290 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. When: Sun Oct 25. Time: 4–6pm. Price: Free. Inflatables, face painting, games, free food and a small pumpkin patch. Official page: https://www.fbno.org/fall-festival (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Bank of America Museums on Us weekend** at The National WWII Museum, New Orleans. When: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Price: Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID). Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID. Official page: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-partners (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Art for All free day at the Louisiana Children’s Museum** at Louisiana Children’s Museum, City Park. When: Second Sunday, every other month, 11:30am–4:30pm. Price: Free admission. Official page: https://lcm.org/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Museums for All at the Louisiana Children’s Museum** at Louisiana Children’s Museum, City Park, 15 Henry Thomas Dr. When: Any open day. Price: $4.95 + tax per person, up to 4 people (ages 12 months+), with a Louisiana SNAP EBT card and photo ID. Official page: https://lcm.org/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-19)

## Free this week

- **Boo Carré Halloween Haunt** at French Market District (Dutch Alley), 900 block of N. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 70116. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 11am–4pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–99. A kids’ Halloween party in the French Market with live music, children’s activities, a Spooky Second Line and trick-or-treating. Official page: https://www.frenchmarket.org/event/boo-carre-halloween-haunt-4/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade** at Krewe of BOO! parade route (Elysian Fields Ave. to the French Quarter), Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 6:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–99. New Orleans’ official Halloween parade, with spooky Kern Studios floats and throws. Grab a curb spot early with little ones; it rolls at dusk. Official page: https://www.kreweofboo.com/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Halloween Fest at Riverwalk** at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, 500 Port of New Orleans Pl., New Orleans, LA 70130. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 4–6pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–12. Trick-or-treating through the mall, face painters and balloon artists. Come in costume. Official page: https://riverwalkneworleans.com/events/halloween-fest-2/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Fall Festival at First Baptist New Orleans** at First Baptist New Orleans, 5290 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. When: Sun Oct 25. Time: 4–6pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–12. A free Sunday-afternoon fall festival open to everyone: big inflatables, face painting, cotton candy and snowballs, carnival games with candy prizes, free food and a small pumpkin patch. Official page: https://www.fbno.org/fall-festival (checked 2026-10-19)
- **LPO’s Musical Story Hour (Hubbell Library)** at Cita Dennis Hubbell Library, 725 Pelican Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10:30–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–6. A Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra musician plays along while a classic picture book is read aloud. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17358701 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Playtime: Let’s Play Kitchen (Main Library)** at Main Library, 219 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am–noon. Price: Free. Ages: 2–5. Pretend kitchen and dining toys for little cooks to make and serve their favorite dishes. Child-led play for 2 to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17229965 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Community Helpers Playtime (Smith Library)** at Robert E. Smith Library, 6301 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am–noon. Price: Free. Ages: 2–5. Dress-up clothes for all kinds of community helpers, for child-led play. Ages 2 to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17230153 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Little Stompers: Big Easy Rascals (East New Orleans Regional)** at East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70127. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10:15–11am. Price: Free (registration required). Ages: 1–2. New Orleans music and culture for 12 to 24 months, part of a six-week series. Registration required. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17262258 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Storytime (Alvar Library)** at Alvar Library, 913 Alvar St., New Orleans, LA 70117. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. Read, sing and play together in a session built for babies and their grown-ups. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17094089 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Storytime (Latter Library)** at Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. Songs, books and play for babies and caregivers in the Latter mansion on St. Charles. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17326096 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Evening Playtime (Central City Library)** at Central City Library, 2020 Jackson Ave., Suite 139, New Orleans, LA 70113. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 5–6pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–5. After-dinner pretend play with library toys, dress-up clothes and puppets, on this month’s theme. For 2 to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17229784 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Algiers Regional)** at Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Dr., New Orleans, LA 70131. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Read, sing, talk, write and play together, for birth to 5 and their caregivers. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17325040 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Smith Library)** at Robert E. Smith Library, 6301 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. A Tuesday morning storytime for birth to 5 in Lakeview. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17597382 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Spooky Bubbles (Latter Library)** at Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 4–5pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–8. Bubble play with a spooky Halloween twist. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17045852 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Music & Movement (Children’s Resource Center)** at Children’s Resource Center Library, 913 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 4–4:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–5. Dance, wiggle and stretch to music while practicing early literacy skills. For 2 to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17497456 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Evening Storytime (East New Orleans Regional)** at East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70127. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 5–6pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. An evening storytime for working families, for birth to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17111796 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Central City Library)** at Central City Library, 2020 Jackson Ave., Suite 139, New Orleans, LA 70113. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Books, songs and play for birth to 5 on Jackson Avenue. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17111580 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Afternoon Storytime (Main Library)** at Main Library, 219 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 3:30–4:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. An after-nap storytime downtown for birth to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17279304 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Hubbell Library)** at Cita Dennis Hubbell Library, 725 Pelican Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. An Algiers Point storytime with reading, singing and play for birth to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17111231 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Children’s Resource Center)** at Children’s Resource Center Library, 913 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Storytime for birth to 5 at the library branch built for children on Napoleon Avenue. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17497466 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Playtime (Alvar Library)** at Alvar Library, 913 Alvar St., New Orleans, LA 70117. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–5. Child-led play with library toys, dress-up clothes and puppets on this month’s theme. For 2 to 5. Official page: https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/17256836 (checked 2026-10-19)

## Always free

- **New Orleans Public Library, Main Library**, CBD, 219 Loyola Ave. The main library downtown, with free children’s programs on the system calendar. Official page: https://nolalibrary.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **New Orleans City Park**, Mid-City. A huge park with giant live oaks, Storyland’s fairy-tale play sets, Carousel Gardens rides and the Botanical Garden. Parking is free. Official page: https://neworleanscitypark.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Crescent Park**, Marigny and Bywater riverfront. A free riverfront park with walking paths and views of the Mississippi and the ships going by. Official page: https://council.nola.gov/news/july-2025/announcement-the-city-extends-summer-hours-for-cre/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Stanley Ray Playground (City Park)**, City Park, near Popp Bandstand. One of City Park’s four free playgrounds, built for ages 2–5 with low slides, baby swings and toddler-sized tunnels. Restrooms and Café du Monde are steps away. Official page: https://neworleanscitypark.org/visit-city-park/playgrounds/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden**, City Park, next to NOMA. More than 90 sculptures on about eleven landscaped acres beside the museum. Official page: https://neworleanscitypark.org/visit-city-park/sculpture-garden/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Audubon Park**, New Orleans. “New Orleans’ backyard under the oaks,” with playgrounds, open early to late every day. Official page: https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/audubon-park (checked 2026-10-18)
- **New Orleans Public Library**, Citywide. Free storytimes and playtimes at branches. Official page: https://nolalibrary.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Free library storytimes

- **New Orleans Public Library**: Weekly at 15 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Free baby storytimes, storytimes and playtimes for ages 2–5 at branches across the city. Calendar: https://nolalibrary.org/
- **St. Tammany Parish Library**: Weekly at 12 locations; Tuesday–Friday, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include KIDS Family Storytime (Tuesdays 10:30am, Bush Branch) and KIDS Creative Family Storytime (Tuesdays 9:30am, Covington Branch), with more at Abita Springs Branch, Causeway Branch, Folsom Branch and Lacombe Branch and other branches. Calendar: https://stpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s free to do with kids in New Orleans this weekend?
This week we found 21 free outings for ages 0–6, including Boo Carré Halloween Haunt, Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade, Halloween Fest at Riverwalk and Fall Festival at First Baptist New Orleans. See [free this week](https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/free/#this-week); the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

### Are there free museum or zoo days in New Orleans?
Boo Carré Halloween Haunt: Sat Oct 24. Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade: Sat Oct 24. Fall Festival at First Baptist New Orleans: Sun Oct 25. Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see [free days and free events](https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/free/#free-days).

### Where can we go for free any day in New Orleans?
New Orleans Public Library, Main Library, New Orleans City Park, Crescent Park, Stanley Ray Playground (City Park) and Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden and 2 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

### Is there free indoor play in New Orleans?
Yes: New Orleans Public Library, Main Library. See all of them on [indoor play places in NOLA](https://littlesweekly.com/new-orleans/indoor-play/#places).

### Are library storytimes free in New Orleans?
Yes. New Orleans Public Library and St. Tammany Parish Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

### How do you check these free listings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).