What’s New This Month

July Playtime 

Froggy Fridays: Water Play at LCM  

Throughout the months of June and July, we will beat the heat on Fridays with Splash and Play activities. For the tots, join the Splish Splash at 10:00 a.m. at our runnel near the Edible Garden and our water table in the Toddler Landscape. At 11:00 a.m., it’s Water Playtime for our guests ages 4 and older.  

More Summer Power Hours

Join us at 1:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer for Power Hour, a time of activities, games, and design challenges specifically geared toward older children. On Tuesdays, interact with art media, card and board games, and a variety of materials that will change each week. On Thursdays, in addition to these all-in-one visit options, we will also offer longer-term choices for repeat visitors like designing a comic book, publishing a zine, or designing a structure or sculpture that could be revised and reworked over several visits.   

And keep an eye out for morning pop-up events opposite some of our toddler activities so that big and little kids can be engaged at the same time.

Summer Artist in Residence: Rebecca Crenshaw

As a LCM Artist Rebecca Crenshaw fosters creativity and self-awareness through an exploration of improvisation, movement, and collective voice. In the world of improvisation, there is no right or wrong – just play! Rebecca’s residency invites LCM visitors to play with recording found sounds, their own voices, and improvised instruments in addition to exploring the connection of music and movement.

Saturday, July 27, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Marvelous Melons  

Join us in the Edible Garden as we celebrate melons and learn what makes them such healthy snacks! We will taste watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons and engage in STEM and arts activities with our melons including measuring, counting, and painting.

August Playtime 

August 1, 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Kindergarten Kickoff

It’s our 2nd Annual Kindergarten Kickoff! This event is FREE and registration is required. Starting “big school” can bring up some big feelings. You’re invited to celebrate and prepare for this milestone with your child. We’ll do it together, practicing skills that are expected in this new grade. Activities include cutting with scissors, placing folders in backpacks, balancing lunch trays, writing your names, boarding a school bus, and much more! Several Kindergarten teachers mingling throughout the Museum to answer your questions, and they’ll even host two 20-minute talks to explore some expectations for parents, caregivers, and students. Join us for three special story times with books on the topic of Kindergarten. This event is brought to you in partnership with We Scribblin’, New Orleans Public Schools, New Orleans Public Library. and Acorn, a Dickie Brennan & Co. Café.

Saturday, August 3 Satchmo Saturday  

Join us to celebrate the birthday of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, famous New Orleans trumpeter and singer. We will read biographies about his life and legacy, play lyrics and trivia games, and enjoy listening to a performance by a local band at 11:00 a.m. as they play some of our favorite Satchmo’s songs for us to sing along and dance to together. Igniting Inquiry! Explore this inspiring figure in history with primary source photographs and open ended questions

Saturday, August 3, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Picky Eater’s Nutrition Fair

Join us for the Picky Eater’s Nutrition Fair, presented by Fish in a Tree in partnership with Dominican University. This event is FREE – registration is required. Designed for families with picky eaters, we’ll address common nutrition concerns such as selective eating patterns, nutrition deficiencies, disruptive mealtime behaviors, and short attention spans. Parents are invited to ask questions and receive educational materials while children explore food through fun and interactive activities. Highlights include Food Art, Kitchen Help stations, sensory-friendly Food Play, and live food demonstrations with delicious samples. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, play, and discover new ways to make mealtime enjoyable and nutritious for your family! Register to attend.

August 8 and 15, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Sensory Friendly Playtime

LCM offers a special monthly playtime for children with sensory-specific needs. Registration is required.   

Saturday, August 10, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: 2024 Blue Blocks Olympics:

Join us on the event lawn to build your own Olympics! Using our blue blocks and your imagination, you can create your very own Olympic games. Compete in events like javelin throwing, balance beam, hurdles, and more. You will also have the opportunity to make your own medal after you finish your events!

Saturday, August 10, 10:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.: Master Naturalist Nature Walk  

Join members of the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans for a 30-45 minute nature walk of LCM’s grounds. You will learn about our mighty oak trees, our recreated wetland, our bio-islands, and much more! 

Saturday, August 10, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Textile Printing Exploration with ricRACK

Join us for an exploratory textile journey with special guests from ricRACK, a Creative Reuse Shop and Community Sewing Studio in the heart of Central City that champions the ethos of sustainability and skill sharing, encouraging the repurposing and upcycling of materials, reducing waste, and contributing to a healthier environment. RicRACK brings their sustainable, creative perspective to LCM where we will use salvaged materials to explore shape and color, through the medium of fabric and paint. 

August 17: Lemonade Poster Design Station

We’ll help you prepare for National Lemonade Day on August 20! If you plan to sell lemonade on this day, we you to join us at our Studio in the Park to make your own lemonade stands signs.

August 24, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: LCM Celebrates National Lemonade Day

August 20 is Lemonade Day. Drop by our Edible Garden to tell us all about your lemonade stand success and make freshly squeezed lemonade and engage in several STEM activities, all with nutritious, immune-boosting lemons as the focus.

End of Summer Reboot  

We are closed August 25-August 30 for our week of reset and will not reopen again until Saturday, August 31, Sunday, Sept 1, and Labor Day, Monday Sept 2. This week will give us time to refurbish and renew our facilities for you after a busy summer season. Our fall hours begin Sept 3  

Please note that our Art for All Day, courtesy of The Helis Foundation, will take place on Sunday, September 8. Tickets go live the Friday before.