On Tuesday, April 22, Swing in the Oaks returns to City Park’s Peristyle. The annual spring tradition allows music enthusiasts the complimentary opportunity to experience the GRAMMY® winning ensemble in the comfort of the Park.

“These events are more than just concerts, they are a chance to connect with the community,” said City Park Conservancy President and CEO Rebecca Dietz. “This partnership with the LPO is something we truly cherish at the Park, and we cannot wait to see what they have in store for April.”

The free outdoor event begins at 6pm with a performance by over 100 LPO Academy students. At 7pm, the full orchestra takes the stage for a diverse program. Parkgoers are encouraged to bring their own chairs or lawn blankets to the Great Lawn for optimal experience.

“The LPO is thrilled to join City Park in welcoming audiences back to another Swing in the Oaks in one of our city’s most enchanting landmarks,” said LPO Executive Director Anwar Nasir. “This annual free concert is a highlight of our season, an opportunity to create a space where family, friends, and neighbors can come together and experience the magic of live orchestral music. We look forward to presenting a beautiful evening of musical favorites for our communities to enjoy.”

The concert will feature 13 pieces, last approximately 90 minutes with one intermission, and be conducted by LPO Music Director Matthew Kraemer. As a sweet bonus, Creole Creamery will be on site distributing 1,000 free scoops of ice cream – first come, first served – to attendees.

The 2025 Swing in the Oaks at City Park is brought to you by Raymond James. For more information, visit lpomusic.com.

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Community Meeting: Mixing the Gumbo is part of a series of iterative planning meetings that use a “Making Gumbo” metaphor to describe the planning process, and will be held on Wednesday, April 9 at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters. Because of the large turnout at past meetings, participants are asked to choose between a morning session at 11:30am or an evening session at 6pm. Refreshments and food will be provided. The Park asks attendees to please RSVP now for their preferred session to ensure there are accommodations and planning materials for everyone. 

In this meeting, participants will combine the Foundational Planning Themes and Placemaking Ideas from past meetings to begin the co-design process for the City Park Plan. This session will focus on aligning these ideas with the Core Intentions established during previous sessions and transforming them into actionable integrated planning designs for the Park’s future.  

“This meeting is going to be very informative for our community members,” said Rebecca Dietz, CPC President and CEO. “This is where the concepts that the public has shared with us are becoming a part of the Park’s actual design plan. We’re excited to show people how their ideas are coming to life.”  

At the last Community Meeting in January, residents and stakeholders engaged in a collaborative placemaking activity to shape the future of City Park. Using a structured reference sheet with Existing and Future Placemaking Ideas as a guide, participants categorized key proposals into three areas:  

• Improve (what we have): Attendees highlighted the need for better wayfinding signage, enhanced lighting for safety, and trail improvements to ensure accessibility and ecological sustainability. 

• Revive (what was lost): Community members advocated for the restoration of water features, the renovation of historic bridges, and the revitalization of picnic areas and walking trails, emphasizing the importance of preserving City Park’s heritage while making it functional for modern use.  

• Add (what is missing): Ideas included a City Park Museum, additional sports and recreational facilities, biking trails, and an increase of public art installations highlight the desire for a City Park rooted in New Orleans history and culture.  

 Youth priorities were a key focus, ensuring that teen-friendly spaces, inclusive playgrounds, and recreational opportunities remain integral to the Park’s future. The public engagement offered valuable insights, reinforcing the community’s shared commitment to making City Park more accessible, sustainable, and engaging for all generations. 

To access the full summary of Community Meeting: Stirring the Roux, and the full summary of Community Meeting: Prepping the Ingredients, visit City Park Conservancy’s Community Input page. 

For those who cannot attend the meeting on April 9, there are more opportunities to participate – pop-up events led by Community Fellows in every council district – as well as a future community meeting on June 25. 

When complete, the City Park Plan will foster an innovative and thoughtful long-term proposal for the Park grounded in serving the greater good, addressing community needs, preserving historical and cultural context, enhancing environmental resiliency, and fostering a welcoming sense of place. 

This plan is made possible through a lead gift from the Greg Keller Foundation. For more information, visit NewOrleansCityPark.org. 

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On Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, the 10-acre greenspace will be flush with sales booths, educational programs, arts & crafts, cooking demonstrations and more when the Spring Garden Show returns. The annual event, presented in partnership with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Master Gardeners, features over 50 vendors exhibiting common and exotic plants as well as various gardening paraphernalia.

“We love being able to share this spectacular space with the entire community, and this is the perfect time of year to do so,” said City Park Conservancy (CPC) Botanical Garden Director Kyre Rassamni. “This popular event allows us to educate and expand our reach throughout the region, and we are so thankful to LSU AgCenter and our exhibitors for joining us this weekend.”

 Educational activations include USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service, NOLA Herb Society, NOLA Parks and Parkways, NOLA Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board, NOLA Orchid Society, NOLA Old Garden Rose Society, The Native Plant Initiative, and NOLA Bonsai Society. The event will also feature a flower show in the Pavilion of the Sisters highlighting arrangements crafted by local garden clubs and high schools. In addition to vendors and CPC personnel, LSU AgCenter specialists and Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer questions.

Advance tickets available here. By purchasing a ticket, guests contribute to the continued care of New Orleans City Park’s 1,300 acres. Friends of City Park – CPC’s principal membership program that provides the Park year-round support – Members receive free admission.

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Every Wednesday in April from 5-7:30pm, visitors will enjoy extended garden hours while listening to the lively beats of local Latin American artists and ensembles, all set against the lush garden landscape. Culinary creations served by Chef Pat White will be available for purchase at the outdoor Kitchen in the Garden.

Evenings with Enrique April Lineup:

• April 2: Merengue 4 (Dominican Republic)
• April 9: Arpa (Puerto Rico & Honduras)
• April 16: Margie Perez (Cuba)
• April 23: Cristina Kaminis (Mexico & Brazil)
• April 30: Asheson (Cuba & Colombia)

Launched in 2016, Evenings with Enrique is a bi-annual concert series held every April and October. The series pays tribute to renowned Mexican American artist Enrique Alférez whose sculptures can be found throughout New Orleans, including over 20 works of art at The Helis Foundation Enrique Alférez Sculpture Garden inside the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

Admission to Evenings with Enrique is free for Louisiana residents thanks to The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative, which provides free admission on select days for Louisiana residents to several of New Orleans’ most beloved cultural institutions including the New Orleans Botanical Garden, New Orleans African American Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, Contemporary Art Center New Orleans, Ogden Museum of Southern Art and Louisiana Children’s Museum.

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Additionally, there will be limited vehicular access to the south side of the Park. Please see map for full details.

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On Sunday, April 13, 36,000 eggs will be spread throughout Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland for the annual Egg Scramble. From 9:30-10am, families will enjoy balloon artists, DJ, face painting and photos with the Easter Bunny. At 10am, the hunt begins for hidden treasures including special eggs with Carousel Gardens and City Putt tickets enclosed.

“Egg Scramble is absolutely one of our favorite days in the Park – seeing kids scour the space for treats with parents and grandparents is a highlight of the season,” said CPC Director of Attractions & Visitor Services Megan Bourgault. “Just like the eggs at the hunt, tickets do get snatched up quickly, so we recommend you book early!”

Tickets are $25 for any guest over 36” tall and include unlimited Amusement Park rides – admission affords all-day access to Carousel Gardens opening to the public at noon. Friends of City Park Members receive $3 off admission.

Egg Scramble is recommended for children eight years and younger. Storyland will be reserved for toddlers. Children will be provided with bags to hold their collected eggs.

By purchasing a ticket, guests support the continued care of the Park’s 1,300 acres. For more information, and to purchase tickets, click here.

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The City Park Amusement Park – and its rides, cafes and excitement for all ages – will reopen to the public on Saturday, March 8, weekends from 11am-6pm. Guests will be able to enjoy the local landmark, including one of the country’s oldest carousels, the Historic Wooden Carousel, often referred to by many as the “Flying Horses.”

“After Celebration [in the Oaks] season, we quickly regroup for spring season in the Amusement Park,” said City Park Conservancy (CPC) Director of Attractions & Visitor Services Megan Bourgault. “We feel so lucky to be able to welcome the community into this cherished space, and we hope everyone is as excited as we are to reopen and explore like kids again (or for the first time)!”

Also returning this spring is the Carousel Gardens Season Pass. The digital-pass platform allows guests to purchase, register and store passes on their mobile device. Passholders enjoy unlimited rides and access to Carousel Gardens and Storyland for the duration of the season (March-November). Individual Season Passes are $85 and $265 ($66 per additional person) for a family of four.

Daily tickets, including unlimited rides and admission to Storyland, are also available on a limited basis. Pricing ranges from $13-$25 with children under 36” receiving free admission. Friends of City Park Members receive a 20% discount on 36”+ single-day tickets and $10 off individual Season Passes.

Additionally, CPC will offer Weekly Train Rides beginning March 19. Available Wednesday-Friday, from 11am-4:30pm, City Park Train rides are $5.50 per passenger and free for Season Passholders. Entrance to the train station is the Oscar J. Tolmas Visitor Center.

By purchasing a ticket of any kind, guests support the continued care of the Park’s 1,300 acres. For more information and to book, click here.

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Music lovers of all genres are welcome to enjoy an array of musicians, mint juleps and more at the venerable New Orleans City Park venue in the Botanical Garden. The 2025 concert series will be held indoors on Thursday nights from 6-8pm.

“We had such a blast with last year’s concert series, and we’re thrilled to roll out another excellent Thursdays lineup,” said CPC Director of Special Events Julie LaCour. “We truly offer something for everyone this year, and we hope everyone will join us as we pack the Pavilion.”

Admission is $15 per person per concert. Cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are available for purchase as well as weekly food specials including jambalaya, creole pasta, and red beans. No outside food, drink or pets allowed.

By purchasing a ticket, guests support the continued care of the Park’s 1,300 acres. To view the full series schedule, and purchase tickets in advance, click here.

Performance Schedule | Menu
March 20 – The New Orleans Mystics | Creole Pasta
March 27 – Little Freddie King Blues Band | White Beans
April 10 – Bon Operatit! | Mediterranean Pasta
April 17 – The Ladies of Soul | Red Beans
May 1 – Patrice Fisher & Arpa | Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
May 8 – The Boogie Men | Beef Macaroni
May 15 – The Pfister Sisters | Creole Pasta
May 22 – The Yat Pack | Mediterranean Pasta
May 29 – Gal Holiday and The Honky Tonk Revue | Hot Dogs
June 19 – Audrey LeCrone & The Crawzaddies | Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
June 26 – Paul Soniat | Creole Pasta

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CPC’s signature seasonal fundraiser, Lark in the Park, is set for Friday, March 14. The annual event treats guests to a glamorous gathering featuring live music, delectable dishes from restaurants across the city, and specialty cocktails within the New Orleans Botanical Garden and the Pavilion of the Two Sisters.

“There is no better way to start spring than Lark in the Park,” said CPC President and CEO Rebecca Dietz. “Not only does this incredible event provide important funding for all aspects of the Park, but it also provides an opportunity to reconnect with friends, colleagues and the Park itself at a special time of year.”

Lark in the Park kicks off with a Patron Party in the beautiful Botanical Garden at 7pm where guests will experience high-end beverage brands and live music outdoors. At 8pm, the gala in the Pavilion opens with an entertaining atmosphere – local favorite Where Y’acht will have partygoers dancing into the evening hours.

Since 1982, funds raised at Lark in the Park have provided year-round care for New Orleans City Park’s 1,300 acres – from the historic live oaks, gardens, and nature trails – to the cultural and recreational amenities so important to this region.

General Admission, Friends of City Park Member, and Party Flock tickets – as well as multiple sponsorship opportunities – are available for purchase. For more information and to book, click here.

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