Special Monthly Programming 

All programming is complimentary for LCM Members and included in general admission unless otherwise noted. Advance timed-entry tickets are required for all guests, LCM Members and non members. Please reserve your advance timed-entry tickets on our tickets page.

March

March is Women’s History Month   

We will have special story times in which we read books that describe the accomplishments of women in our community and beyond. We will also read some that celebrate girl power! Visit our library in our Make Your Mark Gallery for our engaging selection.   

Spring Season Nature Observation in Studio in the Park  (March and April) 

Visit our Studio in the Park as we bring the outdoors inside to our Nature Observation table! The Spring Equinox (the official start to the season) falls this year on March 19th, so join us as we look for signs of spring in the natural world around us and in our cultural traditions. Take some time to record observations of live plants and springtime elements in our Studio Journals and try your hand at painting botanical artwork with watercolor pencils.  

Nature Journaling Series   

Each Saturday in March. Meet in the Museum Atrium at 9:45am 

Join us for a new programming series each Saturday in March as LCM Education Directors lead museum guests in nature observation and journaling explorations. Participants will explore nature, art, culture, and personal wellness through their own journals using their own unique perspectives. This series includes facilitated prompts, activities, and experiences for children and families. Discover ways to increase mental and physical wellness while connecting to the world around you and learning through art, science, and writing. 

Meet in the Atrium at 9:45am sharp each week to travel as a group to a journaling location somewhere on the Louisiana Children’s Museum campus. We will provide community journals for use by participants, but we suggest individuals bring their own journals to build a foundation of a personal practice worth cultivating! 

Black Children’s Book Week Special Story Times  

Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  

Created by Veronica Chapman of Black Baby Books, Black Children’s Book Week is a global celebration of Black children and those who make sure they are represented in books and stories. This special week starts on the last Sunday in February every year and will run until March 2. For more information, visit https://blackbabybooks.com/bcbw/.  

Plant and Play Program  

Thursday, Friday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Join us in the Edible Garden to learn about growing a garden, from Aphids to Zinnias. Learn about our garden tools, composting, and all of the living things that call our garden home. Did you know we are a nationally-certified butterfly garden? Come dig, explore and grow with us.  

Sensory Friendly Playtime is now offered twice a month! 

Thursday, March 7th Sensory Friendly Playtime 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 At LCM, we are committed to building stronger, connected communities through active engagement. We welcome all families and children, of all backgrounds and circumstances. We offer a playtime for families that provides a low-sensory experience where children with sensory-specific needs can explore the Museum without the noise, crowds, and stimulation of typical open hours. We limit the number of families who can attend, turn down sounds and lights, and provide adaptive equipment such as noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests. When available, specialists will be on hand to help facilitate activities and provide resources. Space for this playtime is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, please click HERE.

Acorn Food Demonstration: Spring Mix Salad 

Saturday, March 16th 2:30 p.m.  

Step into spring with us in the Edible Garden. Our March food demo will feature some of our tastiest spring vegetables and herbs growing in the garden. Families will have a chance to learn more about how we grow these vegetables, try new kitchen techniques, and taste a fresh, healthy snack, all while enjoying the spring weather.  

Backyard Sunday 

Sunday, March 17th 11:30 a.m.    

March 19th is National Backyard Day. Since we are not open that day, we will celebrate Sunday! What better way to celebrate than by exploring our own gigantic backyard? Play a tune on our steel drums in the music hummock, plant and play in our garden, stroll through our cloud grasses, use our view finder to spot egrets, turtles, and other lagoon wildlife, “cook” some stone soup in our Toddler Landscape. There’s so much to explore out there! Then join us for our Spring Fling Wiggle Party on our Courtyard at 2:00!  

Spring Fling Wiggle Party  

Sunday, March 17th 2:00 p.m.  

We will celebrate the first day of spring (one day early) with dancing, playing instruments, and chasing bubbles at our Spring Fling Wiggle Party. Let’s dance around like pollinators, sway like a willow in the breeze, or hop around like grasshoppers. We want to see your best spring moves!  

Sensory Friendly Playtime is now offered twice a month! 

Thursday, March 21st Sensory Friendly Playtime 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 At LCM, we are committed to building stronger, connected communities through active engagement. We welcome all families and children, of all backgrounds and circumstances. We offer a playtime for families that provides a low-sensory experience where children with sensory-specific needs can explore the Museum without the noise, crowds, and stimulation of typical open hours. We limit the number of families who can attend, turn down sounds and lights, and provide adaptive equipment such as noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests. When available, specialists will be on hand to help facilitate activities and provide resources. Space for this playtime is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, please click HERE.

Saturday, March 26th Science Fun with Xavier University’s Chemistry Club 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Don your safety goggles and stop by to join Xavier University’s Chemistry Club for science experiments that are safe for all ages! It might be elephant toothpaste, chromatic butterflies, or baking soda and vinegar rockets, the possibilities are endless!

March 28 and 29, April 1 and 2 “Our Own Backyard” Spring Break Camp is designed for children ages 4-8. Campers will dig, plant, and investigate soil and learn about native plants and flowers of New Orleans. Featured activities include creating a landscape design and planting in our Edible Garden.   

April

April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and highlight the contributions and talents of Arab Americans. Come enjoy our wonderful selection of books that honor Arab American authors and illustrators.

April is National Poetry Month! Reading and writing poetry helps children to have fun with language. When reading poems of others’ experiences, children can experience an increase in empathy and learn about someone else’s life. When writing their own, children can express themselves and have fun with this creative outlet. Join us at LCM to learn about and read haikus, free verse, cinquains, and more. You will also have an opportunity to add your poem to the LCM Poet-Tree near our Studio in the Park!

April 1 and 2 Spring Break Camp continues. “Our Own Backyard” Spring Break Camp is designed for children ages 4-8. Campers will dig, plant, and investigate soil and learn about native plants and flowers of New Orleans. Featured activities include creating a landscape design and planting in our Edible Garden.

April 6-12 NAEYC Week of the Young Child

Each week is the week of the young child here at the Museum, but we want to take time to recognize the official celebration spearheaded by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Each day of this special week, we will find new ways to celebrate children and we will highlight the play and learning of our young guests in different activities around the Museum.

Saturday, April 6 Mud Fest all day! 10 a.m.—4 p.m.

Mud Fest is a one-day festival that focuses on playing with one of nature’s messiest resources: mud! New Orleans and coastal Louisiana demonstrate a perfect blend of earth and water, and Mud Fest will highlight the importance of that relationship through fun, dirty, hands-on activities. Numerous studies show that immersive play in nature as children leads to pro-environmental behaviors as adults. By supporting Mud Fest, you’ll inspire kids of all ages to get outside and discover the infinite potential of their own backyard.

Mud Fest’s main feature is an enormous pile of dirt! Three trucks’ worth of soil surrounded by activity stations give guests the opportunity to explore the magic of mud. Make a mud pie, paint with mud, build a habitat, clean up at the “spa,” and more, all facilitated by LCM staff and volunteers. Or, kids can grab a pail and some tools and dig in on their own! Come get muddy with us!

Sunday, April 7 1:00 p.m. Story Time 1:00 p.m.

We will kick off this week with a special story time in our Talk and Play Center.

Wednesday April 10 Work Together Wednesday

Throughout the day, children, grown-ups, and play facilitators are invited to explore blocks of all different sizes with our popular Imagination Playground Blocks, KEVA planks, Magna-Tiles, and more!

Thursday April 11 Artsy Thursday

During your visit, stop by our Studio in the Park for a deep dive into our springtime nature observations or visit our Artist in Residence for a fun collaborative art project.

Friday, April 12 11:30 a.m. Animal Family Friday

Join us in our Dig Into Nature Gallery for Animal Family Friday as we learn about how local animals protect and care for their young. There will be fun nesting and weaving activities, too!

Saturday, April 13^th at 2:00 p.m. April Sock Hop Wiggle Party

Guests are invited to dance, play instruments, and chase bubbles at our monthly Wiggle Party. We invite you to wear silly socks or just your favorite pair!

Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 LCM Celebrates Earth Weekend!

Monday, April 22 is Earth Day! LCM will celebrate all weekend. Join us for Earth-friendly lessons on beneficial insects and on reducing, reusing, and recycling.

• Pollinators: Butterfly Release and Pollinator Bubble Activity Saturday April 20
• Predators: Ladybug Release Sunday April 21
• Bring your aluminum cans and crush away with us!
• Write a wish, hope, or dream for our planet in a fun outdoor writing activity.