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Military Family Fall Bucket List: New Orleans Edition
Fall may look a little different in South Louisiana—our sweaters sometimes stay in the closet a little longer, and the changing leaves take their time—but October is still one of the best times of year to get out and enjoy everything the New Orleans area has to offer.
For military families, the calendar can fill up quickly with duty schedules, school, activities, and everything else that comes with military life. So this fall, consider intentionally setting aside a few days to explore, make memories, and enjoy being stationed somewhere that does October particularly well.
Here are a few ideas to add to your family's New Orleans Fall Bucket List.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
You don't have to travel far from New Orleans to find pumpkins, hayrides, fall photo spots, and plenty of family fun. The 2026 season includes several options throughout the metro area and beyond.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church Pumpkin Patch — Harvey
3245 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey
This is one of the closest options for families on the West Bank and an easy choice for an after-school or weekend pumpkin outing.
St. Paul's Episcopal School Pumpkin Patch — Lakeview
6249 Canal Blvd., New Orleans
Open October 10–30 with pumpkins ranging from small varieties to pumpkins weighing more than 40 pounds, plus plenty of fall photo opportunities.
First Presbyterian Church Pumpkin Patch — New Orleans
5401 S. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans
A convenient Uptown option for picking out a pumpkin without committing to a full-day farm trip.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Pumpkin Patch — New Orleans
Oak Street area
Another close-to-home option for families looking for a traditional neighborhood pumpkin patch and fall photos.
Sugar Roots Farm — New Orleans
10701 Willow Dr., New Orleans
For more of a farm experience without leaving the city, Sugar Roots Farm offers seasonal pumpkin activities and opportunities to experience a working urban farm.
Montz Pumpkin Patch at Perilloux Farms — Montz
17834 River Road, Montz
About 35–45 minutes from New Orleans, this is a more traditional farm-style pumpkin patch. Families can take a tractor-pulled wagon ride and choose from traditional pumpkins and Louisiana Creole varieties.
Mrs. Heather's Pumpkin Patch — Hammond
11215 Lee's Lane, Hammond
If you're looking for a full fall outing, Mrs. Heather's is worth the drive. The farm's 2026 pumpkin season runs September 23–November 8 and typically includes pumpkins, mazes, games, rides, picnic areas, and fall photo opportunities.
Liuzza Land — Amite
56453 Holden Circle, Amite
The 2026 Fall Festival runs October 3–November 21 and offers another option for families wanting to turn pumpkin picking into a larger fall-day adventure.
Check Out What's Happening on Base
Before you fill the calendar with trips into the city, don't forget about what's happening right here at NAS JRB New Orleans.
MWR has several activities scheduled this October, including family events, fitness activities, and programs for Sailors.
Harvest Huzzah
MWR's Harvest Huzzah brings a medieval twist to fall festivities. The event is free, open to anyone with base access, and designed for all ages.
Keep an eye on the MWR calendar and social pages for the final event time and details.
Navy Birthday 5K — October 17
Celebrate the Navy's birthday by getting the whole family moving.
The Navy Birthday 5K takes place October 17 and includes a youth category, so younger family members can participate too. Registration is free through MWR.
October Fitness Events
The NAS JRB New Orleans Fitness team also has a full schedule of themed workouts throughout October. MWR says the activities are free, making them a great opportunity to try something new or get active with friends on base.
Liberty Spooky Season
The Liberty program has a full month of October activities planned for eligible patrons. Liberty is available to single and unaccompanied E-1 through E-6 service members, and the program recently moved to Building 261 at 400 Russell Avenue.
Check the monthly Liberty calendar for individual activities and dates.
Don't Forget the Everyday MWR Options
Even if you can't make one of the scheduled events, fall is also a great excuse to use some of the recreation already available on base, including:
Bayou Fun Time Bowl
Plaquedilla Park
Outdoor Gear Rental
Fitness Center
Youth Center and School Age Care activities
Tickets & Travel
Because installation event schedules occasionally change, families should check NAS JRB New Orleans MWR before attending.
Find Your Fall Festival
October is packed with festivals, which makes it easy to find something for almost every age and interest.
Gentilly Fest — October 9–11
Held at Pontchartrain Park, Gentilly Fest is free to attend and features live music, food, vendors, and community activities throughout the weekend.
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival — October 9–11
Head to Lafayette Square for a free weekend filled with blues, R&B, barbecue, local food, and art.
National Fried Chicken Festival — October 9–11
Taking place at the New Orleans Lakefront, this three-day festival brings together restaurants, music, and, of course, plenty of fried chicken.
Oktoberfest New Orleans
October also brings Oktoberfest celebrations to the area, with German food, music, and cultural traditions throughout the month.
Tremé Fall Festival — October 24
A free community celebration featuring local food, music, makers, and a traditional second line.
Freret Street Festival — October 31
Celebrate Halloween with live music and more than 200 art, craft, and food vendors along Freret Street. Admission is free.
Experience Halloween—New Orleans Style
There aren't many places better suited for Halloween than New Orleans.
Ghosts in the Oaks — October 15–18
City Park's annual family Halloween celebration takes over Carousel Gardens and Storyland with trick-or-treating, amusement park rides, activities, entertainment, and plenty of costumes.
Boo at the Zoo — October 16–18
Audubon Zoo transforms into a family-friendly Halloween destination with trick-or-treating, seasonal activities, costumes, and zoo animals.
Krewe of BOO! — October 24 at 6:30 p.m.
New Orleans' official Halloween parade rolls through the French Quarter and Warehouse District with Halloween-themed floats, marching groups, candy, beads, and plenty of costumes. The parade is free and family-friendly.
You can also make an evening out of simply driving or walking through some of the area's decorated neighborhoods. In New Orleans, sometimes the houses are part of the Halloween attraction.
Spend a Day at City Park
When we finally get one of those slightly cooler Louisiana days, take advantage of it.
Pack a picnic, let the kids run around, explore the trails, visit Storyland, or simply wander beneath City Park's enormous live oaks.
Add coffee or beignets, and you have a very New Orleans version of a fall afternoon.
Bucket-list challenge: Put the phones away for an hour and let the kids choose where you explore.
Play Tourist for a Day
Sometimes we get so used to living near New Orleans that we forget people travel from all over the world to experience what is practically in our backyard.
Choose a day and pretend you're visiting for the first time.
Ride a streetcar. Walk through the French Quarter during the daytime. Stop for beignets. Listen to street musicians. Explore the French Market. Visit a museum. Let everyone in the family choose one thing they want to do.
Military life doesn't always give us control over how long we'll live somewhere. Taking time to explore your duty station while you're here can turn an assignment into part of your family's story.
Take a Fall Day Trip
Your fall adventures don't have to stay within New Orleans.
Pack some snacks, load everyone into the car, and explore beyond the city. Head toward the Northshore, find a nature trail, visit a farm or pumpkin patch, or choose a Louisiana town you've never explored.
Here's an easy family tradition: every duty station gets one "we've never been there" day.
Pick a place you've always driven past and finally go see what's there.
Have a Louisiana Football Day
College and professional football are practically part of the fall season in Louisiana.
Even if your family didn't arrive here as LSU, Tulane, or Saints fans, experiencing Louisiana football culture at least once deserves a spot on the bucket list.
You don't necessarily need game tickets. Host a family watch party, cook something Louisiana-inspired, invite another NALO family over, or find a community event where everyone can enjoy the atmosphere.
Create Your Own Fall Tradition
One of the challenges—and opportunities—of military life is that traditions sometimes have to travel with us.
Maybe your family makes chili the first night the temperature finally drops, holds an annual pumpkin-carving competition, watches the same Halloween movie every October, takes a fall family photo at every duty station, or lets each child choose one October adventure.
The location may change over the years, but the tradition goes with you.
Invite Another NALO Family Along
Finally, consider adding one more item to your bucket list:
Do something with another military family.
Military communities work best when we know one another. Invite the new family, the spouse whose sailor is away, or the family you've been meaning to get together with.
It doesn't have to be elaborate. Meet at a pumpkin patch. Take the kids to City Park. Grab coffee. Share pizza. Run the Navy Birthday 5K together. Watch the parade together.
Sometimes the smallest invitation is the beginning of the community that makes a duty station feel like home.
What's on Your New Orleans Fall Bucket List?
Whether you check off everything on this list or only manage one Saturday adventure, the goal isn't to pack more into an already busy schedule.
It's to enjoy where we are, while we're here.
So grab the pumpkins, find the beignets, enjoy the festivals, see what's happening on base, and make a few memories along the way.
Happy fall, NALO families!
Looking for even more to do this month?
