Things To Do in Baton Rouge This Weekend (April 17

Spring weekends in Baton Rouge are packed with outdoor fun, festivals, and hands-on activities for families! From nature hikes and train exhibits to movies in the park and local fairs, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for Things To Do in Baton Rouge This Weekend, here are some great events to check out.

Weekend Weather in Baton Rouge for Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday: Upper 70s with sunshine
Saturday: Cloudy with a high of 86
Sunday: Morning rain. Upper 70s with a mix of sun and clouds

Disclosure: Event details can change due to weather or other circumstances. We always recommend checking with event hosts or official websites before heading out.

Things To Do in Baton Rouge This Weekend

Evening Sky Viewing

HRPO houses a 50-cm reflector, a 40-cm reflector, and several smaller telescopes to bring the majesty of the night sky to the public. Trained operators, sharing duties via a rotating roster, work year-round in shifts with a pre-planned list of celestial objects to highlight. Requests will also be taken—if time allows and once everyone has viewed the previous target.

📍 Highland Park Observatory
🕐 8:30 – 10:00 PM (April 17)

https://hrpo.lsu.edu/calendar-of-events-2025/

BREC BioBlitz

📍 BREC Parks (various locations)
🕐 April 17–18 (various times)
👶 All ages

Details: Join scientists and community members for this exciting, fast-paced nature event where participants work together to identify as many plant and animal species as possible. Activities include night hikes, insect blacklighting, bird and plant hikes, aquatics exploration, reptile and amphibian hikes, and a family-friendly Nature Explorers hike. Saturday also features arts and crafts, a biodiversity fair, and a species ceremony.

Learn more: https://www.brec.org/bioblitz

St. Jude Church Fair

📍 Highland Rd at Gardere Ln
🕐 April 17–19 (various times)
👶 All ages

Details: This classic Baton Rouge church fair is packed with family fun! Enjoy carnival rides, games, fair food, live entertainment, and a fun community atmosphere all weekend long. Admission is free, with tickets available for rides and food.

Learn more: https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/st-jude-fair/

Movie in the Park: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

📍 T.D. Bickham Jr. Park
🕐 5:30–7:30 PM (April 17)
👶 All ages

Details: Grab your blankets and lawn chairs for a free movie night under the stars! Families can enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog 3 along with snacks and a fun community atmosphere. The movie begins at 6:00 PM.

Learn more: https://www.brec.org/calendar/detail/mip-tdbickham

Train Day at the Museum

📍 Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM)
🕐 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (April 18)
👶 All ages

Details: Join LASM on Saturday, April 18, from 10 AM to 2 PM for a fun-filled, family-friendly celebration of trains and transportation. In partnership with the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders, enjoy hands-on activities, model train demos, live steam trains, exhibitions, and planetarium shows inside a historic railroad depot.

Highlights include:

• Operate model trains including “Thomas and Friends”

• Live steam train action

• Interactive STEAM activities

• Train displays, vendors, and door prizes

• Special exhibitions celebrating Baton Rouge’s railway history

Train Day admission and full day access to the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium are included with regular museum entry and are free for members.

Don’t miss this exciting day of history, creativity, and hands-on fun for all ages!

Learn more: https://www.lasm.org/events/train-day-at-the-museum/

Let’s Geaux Tie Dye

📍 Independence Community Park (Pavilion 1)
🕐 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (April 18)
👶 All ages

Details: Get creative at this fun, hands-on event where kids can design their own tie-dye creations. Bring your own shirts, bags, or fabric items, and enjoy a colorful day of crafting at the park. Dye is provided and no registration is required.

Family Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day with hands-on activities for the whole family at the River Road African American Museum.

Join us for a fun and educational day in the Freedom Garden where children and parents can learn, create, and connect with nature together. This family-friendly event is designed especially for younger kids and offers simple, meaningful ways to care for the earth and our community.

Plant your own herbs to take home

Learn easy composting tips for everyday life

Explore and engage in the Freedom Garden

Mindful Movement simple yoga for the whole family

Participate in a brief ancestral reflection honoring the land and those who came before us

This event is free and open to the public. Bring your family, enjoy the outdoors, and celebrate Earth Day in a way that connects history, community, and the environment.

📍 River Road African American Museum 511 William St, Donaldsonville, LA
🕐 10 AM (April 18)
👶 All ages

Stem Expansion

This program features advanced demonstrations, topic extensions, and all-new activities designed for an older crowd. Participants will explore archived experiments—some not seen in over fifteen years—alongside cutting-edge demonstrations and concepts. Enjoy games, giveaways, and door prizes while earning certificates and experiencing science like never before.

📍 Highland Park Observatory
🕐 2:30-6:30 p.m. (April 18)
Ages 12- 16

Registration deadline: Friday before each session
April = “Rocket Engineering”