Welcome to Fall, well almost. If pumpkin spice lattes are available again I feel like it’s safe to talk about my favorite season with joy de vive! In New Orleans that means cooler weather is coming, hurricane season is winding down and all those New Orleans Fall Activities Great for Kids are winding up. So pull up that latte and lets get’s inspired about all the fun family events heading our way.
The Quick List…
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
My kids still get excited when they see our favorite pumpkin patch sprout up in early October. Piled high, the orange pumpkins and yellow gourds get us to slow down each time we see them. Throughout New Orleans many of the private schools hold pumpkin patches as a fund raiser for their school. And if you are looking to do a day trip, there’s nothing funner than an afternoon at Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch complete with hayrides and a corn maze. One word of advice, I once told my tween daughter that we would buy any pumpkin she could carry out to the car. Turns out she is really strong and we ended up with one of the largest pumpkins in the patch. Visiting a pumpkin patch is still on top of the list of fun fall festivities for kids!
City Park Pumpkin Patch at Storyland
- Address: Storyland, City Park, 5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
- Website: New Orleans City Park
- Details: The pumpkin patch is typically set up during the “Ghosts in the Oaks” event in October, which includes trick-or-treating, crafts, and other Halloween activities.
2. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Pumpkin Patch
- Address: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1031 S. Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Website: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
- Details: This church hosts an annual pumpkin patch in Uptown New Orleans. The patch usually runs throughout October, and the proceeds support church programs and local charities.
Sugar Roots Farm
- Address: 10701 Willow Dr., New Orleans, La 70131
- Website: Sugar Roots Farm
- Details: The 4th annual Pumpkin Festival in late October (20th +27th) includes live music, pony rides and pumpkin-picking as a fund raiser for this non-profit farm.
Day-trip Pumpkin Patch from New Orleans
If your kids are good with a short car ride, pack them up with some snacks and hit the road to one of the bigger pumpkin patches just outside of New Orleans that offer an entire day of fun.
Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch
- Address: 11215 Lee’s Ln, Hammond, LA 70401
- Website: Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch
- Details: A popular spot for families, featuring hayrides, a corn maze, zip lines, a petting zoo, and pumpkin picking. The pumpkin patch can get quite busy, check out this article on Nola Moms Blog about Making the Most of Your Visit to Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch
Cajun Country Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
- Address: 40833 LA-16, Pine Grove, LA 70453
- Website: Cajun Country Corn Maze
- Details: Features a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, and other fall-themed activities.
Coastal Ridge Farms Sunflower Patch
- Address: 27230 Rd 221 Picayune, MS 39466
- Website: Coastal Ridge Farm
- Details: Although they don’t have pumpkins, there are fields of sunflowers, zineas, mums and more flowers ready for the picking. Bring your own hedges and a bucket to fill up. Admission is $18 for 12+ and up and children under 11 are free.
Festivals and Events For Families this Fall
Every weekend in October and November is jammed packed with events that are perfect for kids and adults alike with plenty of fall festivals in New Orleans. And a strong recommendation to check out “pretzel night” at Oktoberfest at the Deutsche Haus. Check out these family-friendly attractions in some of the funnest neighborhoods in New Orleans:
Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus
- Address: Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Website: Deutsches Haus
- Details: Held on weekends from October 11th to October 26th, this Oktoberfest features German music, food, and fun activities.
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- Address: Lafayette Square, 602 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Website: Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- Details: Scheduled from October 11th to 13th, this free festival offers live blues music and delicious BBQ. This is one of the funnest fall festivals in New Orleans.
Krewe of Boo Halloween Parade
- Address: French Quarter and Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA
- Website: Krewe of Boo
- Details: Held on October 21, this Halloween parade features floats, costumes, and throws, making it a fun family-friendly event. It’s just scary enough, making it one of the top kid friendly things to do this fall.
Boo at the Zoo (New Orleans)
- Address: Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Website: Audubon Zoo
- Details: Scheduled for October 18-20, this family-friendly Halloween event features spooky decorations, trick-or-treating, and fun activities for kids.
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
- Address: Oak Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Website: Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
- Details: Scheduled for October 27th, this festival celebrates New Orleans’ iconic sandwich with a variety of po-boys, live music, and family fun.
Ghost Manor on Magazine Street
- Location: 2502 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Website: Ghost Manor
- Dates: Throughout October
- Details: Ghost Manor is a private residence that goes all out for Halloween, featuring an animated light and music show with spooky characters and decorations. The show is free to watch from the street, making it a popular spot for families to visit.
Day-trip From New Orleans Festivals Great for Families
Wooden Boat Festival (Madisonville)
- Address: Madisonville Riverfront, Water St, Madisonville, LA 70447
- Website: Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum
- Details: Held on October 19th and 20th, the Wooden Boat Festival features a variety of boats, live music, a children’s area, and craft booths.
Monster Mash at Bogue Falaya Park (Covington)
- Address: Bogue Falaya Park, 213 Park Dr, Covington, LA 70433
- Website: St. Tammany Hospital Foundation
- Details: On October 19, enjoy a day of Halloween-themed fun with games, live music, and activities for kids.
Thanksgiving and Fall-Themed Events in New Orleans
Celebration in the Oaks
- Location: City Park, 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
- Dates: Late November through early January
- Details: Starting in late November, City Park transforms into a holiday wonderland with twinkling lights, decorated oak trees, train rides, and holiday-themed displays. It’s a magical experience for kids and families to kick off the holiday season and one of the kid friendly things to do this fall.
- Website: Celebration in the Oaks
Thanksgiving at the Farm at Paradigm Gardens
- Location: Paradigm Gardens, 1131 S Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70113
- Date: November (Exact dates vary)
- Details: This family-friendly farm hosts events around Thanksgiving featuring live music, local food vendors, and hands-on gardening activities. It’s a great way for kids to learn about nature while celebrating the season.
- Website: Paradigm Gardens
Algiers Bonfire and Concert
- Location: Algiers Ferry Landing, Algiers Point, New Orleans, LA 70114
- Date: December 7th, 2024
- Details: This holiday event features a traditional bonfire on the Mississippi River levee, live music, and local food vendors. It’s a great way for families to celebrate the holiday season while enjoying New Orleans’ unique culture.
- Website: Algiers Economic Development Foundation
Photo Perfect Events for New Orleans Families this Fall
As a family photographer, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what great memories you will be creating at these events and don’t forget to take pictures! In fact, here are a few opportunities that lean into photos at many of these fun fall festivities for kids!
Garden Spot of Mandeville Pumpkin Patch Photos
- Location: 2110 9th St. Mandeville, LA 70471
- Date: Oct. 12th and Oct. 20th
- Details: The 12th Fall Festivity for this garden center that includes a pumpkin patch and wagon backdrop with a professional photographer. Contact the Garden Spot to book a spot with their professional photographer.
- Website: Garden Spot of Mandeville
ST. Martin’s Episcopal Church
- Location: 2216 Metairie Rd. Metairie, LA 7001
- Date: Oct. 18th
- Details: The powerhouse photographers of Red M Studio will be offering free professional photos at the pumpkin patch between 3-6pm with every non-perishable food item donation to Second Harvest.
- Website: St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Want to see more kid friendly things to do this fall? Check out the New Orleans Moms Blog Guide to Fall Fun with over 75 ideas!
And if you plan on doing Fall Photos in New Orleans with your family, check out the Best Spots in New Orleans for Family Photos Here!
If a mini session is more your speed, the line up for fall events at Twirl Photography is epic but going fast: The Best Mini Sessions in New Orleans!
