New Orleans runs on live music, street culture, and a strong tradition of public gatherings, and many of its best offerings cost nothing. Expect free parade throws during Carnival season, outdoor concerts, festival entry days, and community giveaways. You will also find curbside furniture, free museum days, and neighborhood swap listings.
What's free in New Orleans this weekend, in one email every Thursday.
Free events, museum days and outings, day by day.
Nothing on that day. Try another day.
Wednesday · Every Wednesday
Weekly line dancing lessons in New Orleans, with no ticket needed and no cost listed. Drop in on any Wednesday. The details come from a Facebook group post that doesn't spell out the venue, start time, or whether there's a bar minimum, so confirm those on the post before you go.
Thursday · Every Thursday · 📍 Ogden Museum
Louisiana residents can walk into the Ogden Museum in New Orleans without paying on Thursdays. The Helis Foundation sponsors the access through its Art Access initiative. Bring ID showing Louisiana residency to be safe, and check the museum's website for hours and holiday closures. It's not aimed at kids specifically, but it's a low-cost option for a family outing.
💰 $10+ valueLouisiana residency
Get this list every Thursday. What's free in New Orleans this weekend, in one email.
Storytimes, family days, free classes and kid-friendly freebies.
Any day
A roundup of free school supply giveaways across the New Orleans area, plus a health fair hosted by Ochsner Children's. Each event has its own sponsor, date, and location, and most of that detail is in an image in the article, so open it before you head out. Supplies tend to run out at events like these, so earlier arrival is safer.
Second Sunday of the month
Louisiana residents can get into the City Park museum at no charge on the second Sunday of alternating months. Not every second Sunday qualifies, so confirm the next free date on the museum's online calendar before you go. Admission is full price on all other days, and it's worth confirming what proof of residency they want at the door.
💰 $10+ valueLouisiana residency
Any day
New Orleans City Park has no-cost outdoor space for families, including playgrounds, walking trails, the Big Lake area and the Sculpture Garden. Just show up, since no signup or ticket is mentioned. Storyland and Carousel Gardens are paid attractions, though the park lists some exceptions for young children and height limits, so check its free activities page before you go.
Any day · 📍 New Orleans Libraries
Kids from birth to age 5 and their caregivers get a session of stories, songs, conversation, writing and play at no cost. Sessions run at branches across the city. Check the event page for each branch's schedule, and see whether registration is needed before you go.
Any day · 📍 New Orleans Library
Online tutoring, test prep, e-books, audiobooks, e-comics and videos are all available through the New Orleans Public Library's digital collection, and kids get homework help too. Music downloads come through Freegal. Start from the library's e-resources page, and expect to need a library card. Check there for sign-up rules and any download limits.
Any day · 📍 Music Class New Orleans
A free trial music class for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, with no purchase mentioned. Book through the New Orleans page on The Music Class website, or email or call the center to schedule a spot. Class times and age groupings aren't listed, so confirm those when you book.
💰 $10+ valueSchedule through the website, by email (info@themusicclass.com) or by phone
Wednesday · Every Wednesday · 📍 Blue Oak BBQ
Children 12 or younger get a free meal on Wednesdays, up to two kids' meals for each adult entrée you buy. One paying adult covers two kids, but the adult meal is not free. No signup or app is mentioned, so ask the restaurant about dine-in rules and which locations take part.
With purchase · Kids 12 & under; two kids meals per one adult entrée purchased
Thursday · 4pm · Every Thursday · 📍 Dot's Diner
Kids get a free meal on Thursday evenings between 4 and 8 p.m. Whether an adult has to buy an entree isn't stated, so confirm with the staff when you order. Check the number of kids per adult and any age limit while you're at it.
With purchase
Tuesday · Every Tuesday · 📍 Hooters and Denny's Metairie
Kids' meals cost nothing on Tuesdays at Hooters and at the Denny's in Metairie, Louisiana, but an adult has to buy an entrée at Denny's, so it's a kids-eat-free deal rather than a free meal. Hooters' terms aren't spelled out, so ask about a purchase requirement, age limit, and hours before you go. Denny's applies it on Tuesday evenings only, and you'll order in person at the restaurant.
With purchase
Every day
You get live tutors, essay review you can submit and have returned later, test prep, and self-paced study materials. It covers students from kindergarten through college, plus adult learners, through the Homework Louisiana program. Start from the library's page and check there for any login or library card requirement. An older post listed tutoring as running afternoons until midnight every day, so confirm current hours.
Louisiana resident; access through HomeworkLA.org, and a library card may be needed
Any day
Louisiana public school students in grades K-12 can get state-funded private tutoring in math or reading, covered up to $1,500 per school year when the provider is approved. Eligibility is based on state criteria, and the program is run through the Steve Carter Education Program, so check with your school or the Louisiana Department of Education for how to apply and which providers qualify. The figures come from late 2024 coverage, so confirm current funding and enrollment status before you sign up.
Student must qualify as an eligible K-12 Louisiana public school student; families apply through the state program
Any day · 📍 Safe Kids Louisiana
A certified technician inspects your child's car seat and shows you whether it's installed correctly, at no cost. The New Orleans station is at 400 N Jefferson Davis Pkwy, and you need to book an appointment before you go. Check the station page for contact details and hours.
💰 $10+ valueAppointment required.
✉️ New Orleans, every Thursday
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Free meals, samples and treats from local spots.
Monday · 5pm · Every Monday · 📍 gro.nola Pop-Up Pantry
Free tastings of foods from local vendors, offered Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gro.nola Pop-Up Pantry. Expect small bites rather than a full meal. No signup or purchase is mentioned, but confirm the location and any weekly schedule changes with gro.nola before you go.
Thursday · 5:30pm · Every Thursday · 📍 Grande Krewe Wine & Spirits
Weekly wine tastings run every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., with no signup, app, or purchase needed. Walk in at the shop and pour a taste. Age 21+ is almost certainly required, and the schedule can change, so confirm with the store before you go.
💰 $10+ value
Giveaways from the city and local groups: trees, seeds, smoke alarms, tax help, swaps.
Any day
You get a free tree, with about 4,000 given out each year across nine local events that also teach planting and care. Past events were first come, first served, one tree per person, and limited to Orleans Parish residents, with many running in the morning. Check NOLA Tree Project's site for current dates, locations, and residency rules, since the latest date listed (Feb 28 at the Pitot House) may have already passed.
Past giveaways were for Orleans Parish residents only, with one tree per person or household.
Any day
New Orleans Fire Department crews will supply and install smoke alarms in your home at no cost. It's for Orleans Parish residents in need, so confirm you qualify when you apply. Submit the city's online request form or call (504) 658-4700 to schedule a visit. Coverage of past rounds says homes without alarms got two, and existing alarms were checked or replaced.
Orleans Parish resident; the program is described as for residents "in need."
Any day
Louisiana residents can get a smoke alarm installed in their home at no charge through the state's Operation Save-A-Life program. To sign up, email OSFM.operationsavealife@la.gov or call (225) 925-4911. It's a useful fallback if you live outside the New Orleans Fire Department's program area. Ask about eligibility and scheduling when you register.
Registration required.
Any day · 📍 Tulane Law's VITA Clinic
Trained Tulane law students prepare your tax return at no charge through an IRS-backed volunteer program, aimed at individuals and families who'd otherwise pay for help. Income limits and required documents apply, so check eligibility and what to bring on the clinic's page before you go. Appointment and walk-in rules aren't listed, so confirm how to sign up first.
Any day
A load of raw wood chips, delivered to your yard by a local tree service at no charge. Request it through ChipDrop's site, then wait: timing depends on when a crew has chips to unload, so you can't pick a date. The chips are untreated and mixed in size, unlike the dyed bags at garden centers, and the load is large, so clear space for a big pile.
Any day · 📍 Repair Cafe New Orleans
Volunteer fixers will work on a broken household item with you, or show you how to do the repair yourself, at no charge. Bring the item to an event; past ones were held at NOLA Works and the Broadmoor Improvement Association. Schedules vary, so confirm the next date and location through the group's Instagram page or by email first.
Any day · 📍 New Orleans Public Library
Library cardholders can pick up garden seeds and check out tools like a drill, at no charge. That covers a one-off project without buying the tool. You'll need a library card, and tools are loans, so they go back when you're done. Stock varies by branch, so ask the staff what's available before you go.
New Orleans Public Library card
Any day · 📍 New Orleans Public Library
Trade a cutting, propagation, extra plant, or spare pot for a different plant to take home. It's a swap, so you need something to bring, but no purchase or fee is listed. The library holds these seasonally, and this one marks the start of autumn. Check the event page for the time and branch.
Where neighbors give away furniture and household items: kitchenware, lamps, décor, baby gear, boxes and more.
Bulk pickup days, tool libraries, free repair help and more.
Free screenings, clinics and fitness classes.
Monthly · 📍 CrescentCare Monthly Health Fairs
Free health screenings are offered at CrescentCare's monthly community health fairs, and you don't need insurance to get one. Dates and locations change from month to month, so check the news page at crescentcare.org for the next event before you go. Which screenings are available may vary by event, so confirm that there too.
No insurance required
Any day
Medical students run about 30 clinics across the New Orleans area, offering basic screenings like blood pressure and glucose testing at no charge. The clinics are organized through Tulane's Student Clinic Council. Locations and schedules differ by clinic, so check the linked Instagram post for details before you go.
Any day
Free blood pressure and diabetes screenings from St. Anna's Medical Mission, offered through its mobile clinic at 1313 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. Walk-ins appear to be accepted, but confirm with the mission before you go, since hours and the clinic's schedule aren't listed. No purchase or signup is mentioned.
💰 $10+ value
Today · Every Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & Friday · 📍 Puentes New Orleans
Walk-in HIV testing at no cost, with no appointment needed. It's offered weekday mornings and midday, plus a Saturday session every other week. Hours can shift, so call 504-658-2800 or 504-609-3500 before you go.
No appointment needed
Free classes, library resources and passes.
Any day
Library cardholders can reserve free passes to New Orleans museums and cultural sites, including the zoo, through the Culture Pass program. You need a New Orleans Public Library card, and each cardholder gets one reservation per month. Some venues admit up to four people per pass, but rules differ by site, so check the details for the place you want before booking.
💰 $10+ valueNew Orleans Public Library card; residents aged 18 and older; one pass per cardholder, reservations no more than once per month
Any day
Library cardholders can reserve free e-passes for Louisiana state museums and other state sites. You'll need a valid library card, and you can hold up to four passes at once. Each site has a limited number of passes, so book ahead by date or venue on the state library's website.
💰 $10+ valueLibrary card from a participating parish library system; adult resident cardholders
Any day
Borrow print books, music discs and movies, plus use online tools for e-books, homework help and genealogy research. The card costs nothing, but it's limited to Orleans Parish residents. The library is pushing signups during September's National Library Card Sign-up Month, and its website has the details on how to apply.
Any day · 📍 Catholic Charities New Orleans
Free ESL instruction for immigrants in the New Orleans area, with small groups sorted by skill level and one-on-one tutoring also reported. No signup cost is mentioned, but enrollment goes through the organization, so phone the office to confirm what's running now and how to get a spot. The program page is in Spanish, so ask about English-language support if you need it.
Any day
Adults can get free individual tutoring to build reading and writing skills at 813 Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans. Call 504-949-4469 to ask about enrollment and how the program works. Ask about eligibility, scheduling, and any waitlist when you call.
Free vaccine and microchip clinics, pet food and more.
Any day · 📍 One Health Clinic
Dogs can get free rabies, DHPP and Bordetella vaccines, and cats can get free rabies and FVRCP, at a clinic run by the Louisiana SPCA and the New Orleans Health Department. It's held on the shelter campus at 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd. Confirm the date, hours, and whether appointments or proof of residency are required on the event page before you go, since those details aren't listed here.
Any day · 📍 New Orleans Community Clinic
Owned dogs can get spay or neuter surgery at no charge at the Louisiana SPCA's community clinic, and you don't have to live in Orleans Parish. The clinic is at 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd. in New Orleans. Call or contact the clinic to check eligibility and book an appointment, since requirements and wait times aren't spelled out.
Pet must be an owned dog
Any day
Spaying or neutering your pet costs nothing if you're military or 65 or older and live in Jefferson Parish. Phone 504-733-5878 to get scheduled through the Humane Society of Louisiana, and confirm eligibility requirements and available clinics when you call. Everyone else gets discounted pricing at participating clinics, not free surgery.
Any day · 📍 Louisiana's Animal Shelter
Dog owners can join group socials at no charge, separate from the paid training classes, which run $150 for five sessions. Days and times change, so check the training page on the shelter's website before you go. Ask about registration or vaccination requirements ahead of time.
💰 $10+ value
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