Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in new orleans, LA

Best Bet: FQ Triple Play

June 12, 2009

Is there any popular local food that does not have its own festival within Metro New Orleans? This weekend we honor the creole tomato, a hybrid that grows best in these parts (some say St. Bernard offers the best soil). The creole tomato is also the state vegetable plant of Louisiana. Who knew? In addition to this festive fruit, the French Market presents the Louisiana Seafood Festival and the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Music Festival (no food there, just good music).

The three festivals run from 11 am to 7 pm on June 13th and 14th down at the river and encompasses the area from the French Market up to Dutch Alley, just before Jackson Square. There will be plenty of food and you can gawk at your favorite local chefs at the Performance Pavilion as they practice their craft. Food booths include Dunbar's (yum), GW Fins (yum), Nola and others.

I personally have never been to the Creole Tomato Festival thought I mean to go every year, something always comes up. This year we will have guests in town and it's likely that we will find ourselves in the Quarter.

Some tips for a sucessful adventure:

1. Bring plenty of water for the wee ones. It's getting hotter out there.
2. Have your preschooler try a new food whether its a creole tomato or a bite of alligator.
3. If there's any question, bring the stroller. You could find yourself a ways away from your car and carrying a stroller beats carrying a tired kid. 
4. Just because there's a festival going on does not mean that you won't have time for beignets. Just sayin'.

Best Bet: Opa!

by Kelly Leahy

May 22, 2009

My daughter's preschool is next door to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Lakeview and we have been watching them prepare all week for the 36th annual Greek Fest. Greece on the Bayou invites you to be Greek for the weekend while sipping pomegranate iced tea and eating gyros.

We attended the festival in 2006 with our then nine-month-old and we had a great time. We did the Cathedral tour (very informative) and bopped to the many versions of Zorba the Greek. Now that I have "bigger" kids I'm looking forward to taking advantage of other activities.

The festival this year looks like it's going to be huge as tents have taken over the grounds. There will be rock climbing, archeological digs, face painting and lots of bouncing.There are even canoes available to rent so you can paddle down Bayou St. John.

Pull out your blues and whites or simply don a sheet (those sporting togas on Sunday get in for FREE). We'll be there Saturday stuffing our faces and dancing around the grounds.

Greek Fest starts today and ends Sunday. Admission is only $5 and kids under 12 are free.

This Weekend's Best Bet: Tết Fest

by Kelly Leahy

January 30, 2009

A friend tipped me off to a festival in New Orleans East this weekend. The Vietnamese New Year or Tết kicks off this evening at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church (14001 Dwyer Blvd.). This three day celebration features food, games, dragons and performances. To catch it from the beginning, head on over to the Church tonight at 6:30 pm for the opening ceremonies. Tết is the biggest holiday  Read more...

Celebration in the Oaks Reopens Today

by Kelly Leahy

November 28, 2008

If you are looking for an activity this evening that does not involve shopping or football, head on over to Celebration in the Oaks at City Park. The holiday season is not complete without a walk through the transformed gardens and amusement areas of City Park. Trees encased in lights glow in the dark and light shows choreographed to music with capture your preschooler's attention. This year a  Read more...