What to Do in NOLA With the Family This Fall

Summer may be winding down, but outdoor dining, live music and food festivals don’t have to. New Orleans keeps the fall family fun going. Between the fall weather and increasingly beautiful foliage, New Orleans is actually best visited after the summer heat begins to cool.

Eat, Drink and Fest

Food festivals are an ideal way to explore the city while enjoying classic Creole-Southern cuisine from seafood and Po-boys to craft brews and fried chicken. Check out the National Fried Chicken Festival Sept. 22–23, for live music, walks along the water and food trucks, or head to the Oak Street Po-Boy Fest, Nov. 11, for a free festival lining Oak Street with food vendors. More into barbecue? The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest boasts live jazz and BBQ vendors filling Lafayette Square Park, Oct. 12–14.

While in New Orleans, a beverage or two may be in your future. Try some local brews for your 21-and-older family members at NOLA on Tap Sept. 22, or head downtown for an al fresco libation. The weather couldn’t be better for a drink on a rooftop overlooking the city. Peruse the list of downtown lounges with a view.

WWII Museum in New Orleans © Chon Kit Leong | Dreamstime.com

Back to the all-ages itinerary, history buffs head to the National WWII Museum’s Air, Sea, and Land Fest, Oct. 12–14, at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Thrill-seekers, hop in a PT-305 tour plane for a flight.

For those heading to New Orleans sooner or later, check out the full list of festivals for the whole family, no matter the season.

Seafood fans, rejoice: Oyster season arrives in September. Find fresh Gulf Coast oysters featured on nearly every waterside dining menu, including oyster happy hour offers at NOLA staples like Luke and The Blind Pelican. After days of free festivals and cheap local eats — oyster happy hour can cost as little as 25 cents, per shell — your family will get far on your buck.

Now, for Some Music

New Orleans may be synonymous with a lot of things — beads, booze and parties — but none more so than the vibrant music scene. The city is littered with music venues and activities. Head to a few free events while you’re in town, enjoying the local culture, beautiful landscape and live music.

Enjoy the city’s beautiful outdoor spaces with Jazz in the Park every Thursday in the fall at Armstrong Park. You may have to split your Thursday evenings as Thursdays at Twilight begins in the fall in City Park Botanical Garden. This weekly concert includes local musicians playing under the stars. Over in center city, Paradigm Gardens boasts a charming garden space, hosting live music performances alongside fall food and drinks options.