So, you want to have some fun in the Red Stick, but you can’t be spending money like an unaccountable fat cat. We get it. Lots of people want to know what to do in Baton Rouge, some of the fun Baton Rouge activities might take a little digging to know about since some of Baton Rouge’s best features might not be obvious. We love to fight the idea that there’s nothing to do in Baton Rouge (in fact, we have a whole section dedicated to this very topic!) Here are 7 fun things to do in Baton Rouge that are either free, low cost, or are discounted (who doesn’t love a discount?) allowing you to get out there and enjoy part of what Baton Rouge has to offer.
Walk and Explore Highland Road Park
Big, beautiful, and full of facilities, Highland Road Park is one of the Red Stick’s many great parks that’s not to be missed. Highland Park can nearly meet any mood you might be in. The center of the park has an even, paved walking surface. The middle of the park (and some surrounding woodsy areas) features an active disc golf course. Tennis courts and pickle ball are located next to a fun playground and a seasonal splash pad.
Beautiful stately trees can be seen all over Highland Park. Small but elegant bridges make traversing rivulets a breeze. An analemmatic sundial is located at the crossroads of several walking paths. While it has seen better days as of now, we’re confident it will get a refresh as the park is improved.
One of the cool things about Highland Road Park is that the park boundaries actually cross Highland Road, creating the effect of two parks next to each other. The portion of the park to the south of Highland Road has sports fields and a modern boat launch, perfect for kayaking or canoeing on Bayou Fountain. (And before you leave, take note of Highland Road Park Observatory next door. The Observatory regularly runs programming to teach all ages about outer space.)
Y’all know we love the parks in Baton Rouge and Highland Road Community Park is the perfect example of fun, active, outdoorsy, and worth a visit when you’re looking for something to do.
Giving directions to Highland Road Community Park is a little particular, depending on what you want to do. For example, the driving directions will be different if you are going to the kayak launch versus going to visit the splash pad. Highland Road is particularly busy near the park and it is NOT recommended to cross on foot. Check out the BREC website link to see how to best get to your desired facility. The grand pavilion at Highland Park is located at 13653 Highland Rd, as well as the main parking area.
Highland Road Community Park | 13653 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 | https://www.brec.org/facility/HighlandRoadCommunityPark
LSU Museum of Art
Located in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, the LSU Museum of Art hosts periodic lectures, events, and rotating exhibits. The regular collection includes a number of works, including paintings by Clementine Hunter. The central location of the Shaw Center makes this a great stopover if you are walking downtown or visiting some of the other museums and landmarks nearby.
Cost: Adults $5 (age 13 and up.) Lots of free admission options including: children 12 and under; museum members; LSU students and staff (with ID); educators; military members and their family (with ID.)
First Sunday of every month: free admission. Fridays, 5PM-8PM: free.
Idea: enjoy a casual getting-to-know-you date—visit the LSU museum on a Friday evening, followed by an elevator ride to one of the best views in Baton Rouge, the Tsunami restaurant roof top (above the LSU museum.) Sip a cocktail or mocktail and take in the Mississippi River and other downtown views.
LSU Museum of Art | 100 Lafayette Street, Fifth Floor Baton Rouge, LA 70801 | https://www.lsumoa.org/
Baton Rouge Zoo
For over 50 years BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo has delighted the Baton Rouge with their displays of big cats, primates, exotic birds, snakes, reptiles, and other majestic animals. A favorite of families, a visit to the Baton Rouge Zoo is a great way to enjoy an educational and enriching Baton Rouge destination.
Many people like that the Baton Rouge Zoo is big enough to house some prominent animals (like zebras or cheetahs) but small enough to enjoy the whole park in less than a day. Catch a ride on the zoo train that travels through the park!
Check the zoo’s calendar for special events like art shows, animal meet-n-greets, parties, and kid’s camps.
Discount: Wednesday afternoons the zoo offers $1.50 off admission. In November, military members and their families are free during the zoo’s observed Veteran’s Day celebration. Group discounts are also available.
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo | 3000 Zoo Circle, Baton Rouge, LA 70807 | https://brzoo.org/
Stroll and Shop at Perkins Rowe
An attractive and well-kept shopping area, Perkins Rowe is reliable for good restaurants or a treat (like the in-demand Caroline’s Cookies) and retail shops ranging from national chains to local favorites like Sweet Baton Rouge. The reason Perkins Rowe lands on this particular list is that in addition to walking around and visiting stores, Perkins Rowe frequently hosts free live music, pop-up markets, educational events like sidewalk astronomy, food truck round-ups, and crossover events with other organizations like Wild Day at Perkins Rowe, an event with the Baton Rouge Zoo (also on this list.) Perkins Rowe lists all their special events on their website calendar here.
Cinemark movie theater also calls Perkins Rowe home, offering discounts on Tuesday. (Cinemark is known for special movie series and performance showings like Fathom Events presentations. More here.)
To make everything even more economical, Perkins Rowe offers oodles of free parking adjacent to the Rowe. Psst! Perkins Rowe does a great job decorating for holidays like Christmas and Mardi Gras. Add Perkins Rowe to your list for place to see great decorations.
Perkins Rowe | 10000 Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge LA 70810 | https://perkinsrowe.com/
Visit Mike the Tiger (and See LSU, Too)
Got your purple and gold on? (Of course you do.) Then it’s time for a nice trek through LSU! Outstanding architecture, lots of courtyards with ornamental trees, and sports, sports, sports. Beautiful churches line Highland Road at the western gate of campus. The open field of the Parade Ground sits placidly in front of the Campanile (Memorial Tower is the bell tower’s official name.) Keep your eyes peeled for many of the Italianate architectural style buildings throughout LSU. Walk by the Swine Palace and check out the modern Business Education Center (the eye-catching rotunda makes the building worth a look.)
For our purposes here, head over to the LSU Tiger Stadium (AKA Death Valley—the seventh largest stadium in the world) and take a look at Mike the Tiger’s habitat. Mike, a real tiger, can often be seen in his habitat lolling around. He’s a pretty kitty and it’s fun to see him romp.
For free activities, did you know that some LSU sports are free to watch? For example, LSU’s awesome beach volleyball complex is home to the “Sandy Tigs” (rhymes with figs) and the exciting, fast-paced games are free and open to the public. Talk about a unique event to attend and a fun way to get that geaux spirit. More about LSU beach volleyball here: https://lsusports.net/sports/bvb/
Mike the Tiger’s Habitat | 16 N Stadium Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | https://lsu.edu/
Find a Festival
Oh cher, we like a good festival in Baton Rouge. You can have buku fun and enjoy the community as well. Depending on the time of year, festivals can be reliably found in the Red Stick. Due to the excessive and humid heat in the summer, most Baton Rouge festivals are held in the Spring and Fall. Mardi Gras is dominant at the start of the calendar year. Christmas celebrations start in November through December.
Some festivals to get on your radar include…
- 225Fest
- Live After 5 (free music concerts in downtown Baton Rouge—maybe not exactly a fest, but c’mon you get the idea)
- Hot Art Cool Nights
- White Light Night
- Louisiana Book Festival
The Visit Baton Rouge website is a great resource for festivals and events throughout the year: https://www.visitbatonrouge.com/events/ We have our own Baton Rouge Mardi Gras guide here: https://redstickstrong.com/baton-rouge-mardi-gras-guide/
Main Library at Goodwood
Have we ever mentioned how great the libraries are here in Baton Rouge? (If you’re new here, we mention the libraries in nearly every post—the EBRPL libraries are just that good!) We’re going to shine the spotlight on the Main Library at Goodwood this time. Chock full of features and other interesting places to visit nearby, the Main Library has so much to experience if you’re looking for something to do.
The Main Library has everything: art gallery? Yes. Gorgeous views? Yes, you can park yourself in the many comfy chairs on the second floor and read by the floor to ceiling windows. Special events? Yes. Lots of free events are held at the library thanks to the ample and accommodating community rooms. See library’s event calendar here. Oh, and did we mention? You can take free classes at the library, too.
But wait! There’s more. History buffs can learn more Red Stick history in the Baton Rouge Room. Teens can hang in their own dedicated space; job seekers can get some help in the career center. Finally, the Main Library at Goodwood in not limited to indoors. There’s a spectacular rooftop terrace and in front is a public plaza, complete with LED screen (periodic movie screenings are free to the public.)
Adjacent to the library is a wonderful Baton Rouge Botanic Garden, tended and loved by volunteers (who host their own events and programs. Contact here.)
It’s easy to wile away some lovely time at the Main Library at Goodwood.
Main Library at Goodwood | 7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 | https://www.ebrpl.com/locations/main-library/
Conclusion
Did any of these freebies or fun ideas strike your fancy? Are you still gripping on to the idea that there’s nothing to do in Baton Rouge? How about you give at least one of the above a try and report back. We didn’t even get to some of the other free activities Baton Rouge is known for like the observation deck in the State Capitol building (free) or a trip through the gorgeous Old State Capitol building (free.) Also, we’d love to hear your favorite low cost or free things you like to do in the Red Stick. Because like everyone else, we want to know how to have fun in Baton Rouge.
Information about discounts and other pricing provided in this blog post was accurate at the time of writing. However, details can change, so for the most up-to-date information, please visit the official websites of the destinations mentioned.
