Looking for things to do with kids in Baton Rouge this weekend? We’ve got you covered!
From FREE festivals and markets to nature adventures, astronomy, animals, Pokémon, Louisiana culture and more, there are plenty of ways to make memories with the family around Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs and beyond this weekend, August 28–30!
As always, event details can change — especially when Louisiana weather is involved — so we recommend checking with the event organizer before heading out.
🔭 SPONSORED | Discover Something Out of This World at Highland Road Park Observatory!
There’s always something new to discover at BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory! 🌙✨
From hands-on science and STEM programs for youth to the Friday Night Lecture Series, telescope viewing, solar observing and special astronomy events, HRPO offers year-round opportunities for curious minds of all ages to explore the universe.
Whether you have a budding scientist, a future astronomer or a family that simply loves looking up at the night sky, add the Observatory to your family-fun list!
👉 Explore Highland Road Park Observatory programs & upcoming events:
https://www.brec.org/facility/HighlandRoadParkObservatory
Sponsored by BREC
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
🔭 Friday Night Lecture Series + Evening Sky Viewing
📅 Friday, August 28 | Lecture begins at 7:30 PM
🌌 Evening Sky Viewing begins at 8:30 PM
📍 Highland Road Park Observatory | 13800 Highland Road, Baton Rouge
💲 FREE
Kick off the weekend with an evening under the stars!
Highland Road Park Observatory’s Friday Night Lecture Series offers fascinating presentations covering astronomy, physics, space science and related topics.
After the lecture, stick around for Evening Sky Viewing through HRPO’s professional telescopes, weather permitting.
👉 Details: https://www.brec.org/facility/HighlandRoadParkObservatory
🔭 Tumbles East Kids Night Out
📅 Friday, August 28 | 5:30 – 8:30
📍 Tumbles East Drusilla
💲$40 for non- members / $35 for members – Pizza and snacks included!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
🦁 BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo $5 Saturday
Saturday, Aug. 29 | 9:30 AM–5 PM | Baton Rouge. This is the last $5 Saturday of the summer, making it an especially good low-cost family outing. The Zoo is largely outdoors, so I’d go right at opening before the afternoon heat/storm chance builds.
Important: Enter the Zoo through Greenwood Community Park, 13350 Highway 19 in Baker — not the old Thomas Road entrance.
🥕 Red Stick Farmers Market
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 8 AM–Noon
📍 Main Street Market | Downtown Baton Rouge
💲 FREE admission
Start your Saturday shopping local!
Pick up fresh Louisiana produce and locally produced goods while supporting area farmers and food producers at one of Baton Rouge’s favorite Saturday traditions.
👉 Details: https://breada.org/
🌿 Nature Pioneers
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 10 AM–Noon
📍 Frenchtown Conservation Area | Baton Rouge
💲 $5–$6
👧 Ages 2–6
⚠️ Registration required
This is a GREAT one for little nature lovers!
BREC Conservation invites curious kiddos to explore the outdoors through short hikes, games, storytelling, puppets, snacks, arts and crafts and hands-on nature exploration.
Each program explores a different nature theme, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
👉 Registration: https://register.brec.org/
🇺🇸 Red, White & Boots Festival
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 10 AM–4 PM
📍 Gonzales Memorial VFW Post 3693 | 42430 Church Point Road, Gonzales
💲 $5 ages 12 & under | $10 ages 13+ | Military FREE with ID
🚗 FREE parking
This one is PACKED with family fun!
Families can enjoy:
🐴 Petting zoo & pony rides
🌺 Meet Moana
🕷️ Meet Spider-Man
🦎 Reptile encounters
🏰 Inflatables
🎨 Face painting & kids crafts
🚙 Jeep show
🎶 Live music
🛍️ Local vendors
🍧 FREE snowballs while supplies last
🎁 Silent auction & door prizes
Almost all activities are included with admission, and proceeds benefit Books for Boots, a Louisiana nonprofit supporting military families.
👉 Details: https://booksforboots.org/events
💿 Totally Rad Vintage Fest
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 10 AM–5 PM
📍 Raising Cane’s River Center | Downtown Baton Rouge
💲 $8 advance general admission | $12 day-of | Early Bird option available
Take the kids on a trip back to the ’80s, ’90s and Y2K!
Totally Rad Vintage Fest brings together vintage clothing and collectibles along with a FREE-play vintage arcade and Rad Relic Museum filled with nostalgic technology.
This could be especially fun with older kids and teens — and parents might find a few things that bring back some serious memories. 😆
👉 Details & Tickets: https://www.raisingcanesrivercenter.com/
🪐 Science Academy: Uranus & Neptune
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 10 AM–Noon
📍 Highland Road Park Observatory | Baton Rouge
💲 $5–$6
👧 Ages 8–12
This week’s Science Academy heads to the outer solar system!
Young “Cadets” will explore Uranus and Neptune while learning about astronomy, physics and space science through visual presentations, hands-on demonstrations, crafts and experiments.
Each Science Academy session stands alone, so kids don’t have to attend previous programs to participate.
👉 Register: https://register.brec.org/
☀️ Solar Viewing at Highland Road Park Observatory
📅 Saturday, August 29 | Noon–2 PM
📍 Highland Road Park Observatory | Baton Rouge
💲 FREE
☀️ Weather permitting
You don’t have to wait until nighttime to use a telescope!
Safely observe our closest star through specialized solar telescopes while learning about sunspots, solar flares, prominences and other fascinating solar activity.
👉 Details: https://www.brec.org/facility/HighlandRoadParkObservatory
⚜️ Acadian Cultural Heritage Day
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 1–4 PM
📍 LSU Center for River Studies | 100 Terrace Avenue, Baton Rouge
💲 FREE
Celebrate the culture and traditions that make Louisiana so special!
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual Acadian Cultural Heritage Day connects families with Louisiana’s rich Acadian heritage through cultural organizations, activities and opportunities to tour the incredible LSU Center for River Studies.
It’s educational, uniquely Louisiana and completely FREE.
Details: https://coastal.la.gov/
🚀 STEM Expansion: Icy Reaches of the Solar System
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 2:30–6:30 PM
📍 Highland Road Park Observatory | Baton Rouge
💲 $15–$18
👦 Ages 12–16
⚠️ Registration required
Older kids and teens can take their space exploration to the next level during HRPO’s STEM Expansion program!
This month’s topic, Icy Reaches of the Solar System, dives deeper into astronomy and physics with advanced demonstrations, hands-on challenges, NASA and space-exploration content, engineering, robotics, strategy games and more.
Current BREC registration shows this session as available.
Register: https://register.brec.org/
🎒 KidStrong Back-to-School Supply Drive & Open House
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 3–6 PM
📍 KidStrong Juban Crossing | 10076 Crossing Way #540, Denham Springs
💲 FREE – RSVP required
Head to Juban Crossing for a fun afternoon of open play, meeting KidStrong coaches, local businesses and a community school-supply drive.
Families can explore the center while kids burn off some energy, and you’re invited to bring school supplies to help support local students.
Details: https://jubancrossing.kidstrong.com/
📚 FREE Saturday Storytime
📅 Saturday, August 29 | 2 PM
📍 Barnes & Noble | Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge AND Juban Crossing, Denham Springs
💲 FREE
Slow the weekend down with a cozy storytime!
Families can enjoy a special Saturday story featuring books and activities designed for young readers.
Details: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/
🌌 Saturday Evening Sky Viewing
📅 Saturday, August 29 | Evening
📍 Highland Road Park Observatory | Baton Rouge
💲 FREE
☁️ Weather permitting
End Saturday looking up!
HRPO opens its professional telescopes for public viewing of the Moon, planets, stars, star clusters, nebulae and other objects visible in the Baton Rouge night sky.
Because sky viewing is weather dependent, call HRPO at 225-768-9948 before heading out if skies look questionable.
Details: https://www.brec.org/facility/HighlandRoadParkObservatory
SATURDAY + SUNDAY
🃏 Louisiana Card Con
📅 Saturday & Sunday, August 29–30
📍 Lamar-Dixon Expo Center | 9039 S. St. Landry Avenue, Gonzales
💲 $5 admission per day | Cash at the door
🚗 FREE parking
Calling all Pokémon, sports card, comic and collectible fans!
Louisiana Card Con takes over Lamar-Dixon for two full days with a whopping 600 tables of collectibles.
Look for:
⚾ Sports cards
⚡ Pokémon
🦸 Comics
🎴 Trading card games
🏆 Memorabilia
✍️ FREE autographs
🎁 Kids’ mystery packs for the first 100
🃏 FREE graded cards for the first 100
🛍️ Hundreds of vendors
This is an especially good pick for older kids, tweens, teens and collector parents.
👉 Details: https://www.lamardixonexpocenter.com/events/
💦 Liberty Lagoon
It’s still plenty hot enough for a water park! BREC’s Liberty Lagoon is scheduled to be open Saturday and Sunday from Noon–6 PM, making it another option for cooling off during the final stretch of summer.
👉 https://www.brec.org/facility/LibertyLagoon
☀️ WEEKEND WEATHER WATCH
We’re still firmly in Louisiana summer, so plan for heat, humidity and the possibility of pop-up thunderstorms.
Friday currently carries the greatest rain concern, while Saturday and Sunday are expected to reach the low 90s with the possibility of spotty afternoon storms.
For outdoor events, pack the water bottles, sunscreen and hats — and check radar before leaving home. Astronomy programs and sky viewing at HRPO are particularly weather dependent, so call ahead if skies are questionable.
📌 SAVE THIS WEEKEND GUIDE!
There is SO much happening around Baton Rouge and Southeast Louisiana this weekend!
Whether your family wants to explore nature, meet reptiles, discover Louisiana culture, shop a farmers market, geek out over Pokémon cards, become a junior astronomer or simply enjoy some FREE family fun, we hope you find something here that gets your crew out making memories together. 💜💛
Event details are subject to change. Please verify dates, times, admission and weather-related updates directly with the event organizer before heading out.