Search
(08/12/26) BATON ROUGE, La. — As summer ends and school returns, fall events at the Burden Museum & Gardens celebrate the new season with learning opportunities and family fun.
To start off the season, the LSU Rural Life Museum will welcome the Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association on Aug. 22 as a part of the museum’s Community Days From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., blacksmiths will demonstrate historic forging techniques and have unique creations on display at the museum’s historic blacksmith shop.
This event is included with general admission. For more information, contact the Rural Life Museum at rlm@lsu.edu.
Learn about an underappreciated period in Louisiana history with an Evening Exchange online book talk on Sept. 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. with author Frances Kolb Turnbell. During the virtual event, Turnbell will speak about her book “Spanish Louisiana: Contest for Borderlands, 1763 – 1803,” which focuses on Louisiana during the American Revolutionary War, exploring how the Lower Mississippi River Valley became a strategic frontier where Spain, Britain, American revolutionaries, Native nations and enslaved people influenced the course of history.
Turnbell, a professor at the University of North Alabama, is a historian of Early America with a specialization in the 18th century Lower Mississippi River Valley.
This event is free and open to the public. The link to join is https://lsu.zoom.us/j/93660955068, and the meeting ID is 936 6095 5068.
In honor of its 247th anniversary, the Rural Life Museum will host the inaugural Anniversary Siege of Fort New Richmond. This will be a living history event to commemorate Bernardo de Galvez’s capture of British-held Baton Rouge in 1779.
From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sep. 19 and 20, attendees can see military drill and battle reenactments, Revolutionary-era music and dance, open-hearth cooking, colonial games, living history demonstrations and a look at the daily lives of civilians and soldiers during the American Revolution.
Admission is free for members and $10 to $12 for non-members. For more information, contact Christina Brown at cgbrown@lsu.edu.
Have a look into the 19th century with Harvest Days at the Rural Life Museum on Oct. 3 and 4. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., this family-friendly event will host skilled artisans, musicians and living history interpreters that bring the past to life through hands-on demonstrations and engaging performances.
There will be demonstrations of blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, woodworking, spinning, soap making, quill pen writing, music and dancing. There also will be tractor rides through the grounds and delicious foods, including homemade cracklins, cane syrup and kettle corn made on site.
Tickets are free for children 3 and under. For ages 4 to 11, they are $10, and tickets are $12 for attendees over 12. They are available in advance at http://www.tinyurl.com/harvestdays26 or at the door. For more information, contact Christina Brown at cgbrown@lsu.edu.
Every weekend in October, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden will host the Corn Maze at Burden. On each day, there will be multiple two-hour sessions full of fun for all ages. Visitors can see the sunflower field, traverse the maze, take a hayride, explore the corn crib, visit the petting farm and even pick a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch.
The schedule is as follows:
Morning session: 9 to 11 a.m.
Afternoon session: 12 to 2 p.m.
Evening session: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are free for children 2 and under, $15 for children 3 to 12 and $17.50 for ages 13 and up. Tickets can be bought at https://bit.ly/CornMaze26. Pre-sale is encouraged; a very limited number of tickets may be available at the gate and are not guaranteed.
On Oct. 30, there will be a special Night Maze at Buden from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy the maze by moonlight along with marshmallows by the campfire, games, local vendors and food available for purchase. Live music will be provided by Swampland Revival, and visitors are welcome to come jam with the band.
This night also will feature a hay mountain, corn crib, giant games and more.
Tickets are $20 per person and free for children 2 and under. For more information, contact LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at botanicgardens@agcenter.lsu.
Celebrate Louisiana culture with the Red Rooster Bash at the Rural Life Museum on Oct. 15. From 6:30 to 9 p.m., the Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum will host an event that features the signature Red Rooster beverage, local cuisine, craft beers and live musical entertainment.
Tickets are available through the Rural Life Museum. For more information, contact Christina Brown at cgbrown@lsu.edu.
On Oct. 19, Raymond Berthelot, historian and park manager, will be leading Lunch & Learn at the Rural Life Museum. From noon to 1 p.m., Berthelot will speak about the impact Spain has had on Louisiana culture and speak on the institutions, traditions and place names that remain today.
The event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a packed lunch and watch the presentation.
The event also will be streamed on Zoom, which can be accessed on the Rural Life Museum’s website at a later date. For more information, contact Christina Brown at cgbrown@lsu.edu.
For families who want to celebrate Halloween with a twist, Haints, Haunts & Halloween bring the holiday the old-fashioned way. On Oct. 25 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., guests can stroll through the Rural Life Museum grounds and listen to old stories, enjoy cake walks, play traditional games and do some trick-or-treating. Costumes are encouraged for children and adults alike.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are free for children 3 and under, $6 for children 4 to 11 and $12 for ages 12 and up. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.tinyurl.com/Haints26. For more information, contact Christina Brown at cgbrown@lsu.edu.
Experience the magic of the season at Poinsettias & Prosecco, an exclusive 21-plus event hosted by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. This special evening will take place at Louisiana Lights on Nov. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. Wander through the stunningly lit Windrush Gardens while enjoying delectable small bites and perfectly paired drinks from local restaurants. Delight in live music on the porch of the Burden family home and enjoy delicious desserts.
Tickets are $100 per person and $80 for members of Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. They can be found at https://bit.ly/Prosecco26.
For more information, contact Malorey Uzee at muzee@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Louisiana Lights returns for the holiday season and will captivate visitors of all ages. A dazzling lake, scintillating stream, Moravian stars and other stunning surprises will light the way against a backdrop of brilliant, majestic oaks, twinkling crape myrtles and the luminous landscapes of Burden Museum & Gardens.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the show at various locations, courtesy of Crowne Plaza. Savor Louisiana favorites like crawfish empanadas, jambalaya, chicken-and-sausage gumbo and more. Plus, raise a glass to the season with selections from a full-service bar.
The Lights will be shown Wednesdays through Sundays from Nov. 27 to Dec. 30, with additional openings on Dec. 21, 22, 28 and 29. Timed entry sessions begin every 30 minutes, with the first entry at 5:30 p.m. and the last at 8:30 p.m. Once inside, guests are welcome to explore and enjoy the show at their own pace in Windrush Gardens at Burden.
There also will be special nights, starting on Dec. 2 with Mistletoe & Moss. This is an opportunity for visitors to get their holiday shopping done early at a festive outdoor market featuring local vendors set up right inside the light show. Find unique gifts, handmade goods and seasonal treats as you stroll through the glowing gardens.
Barks & Bright Night will be on Dec. 9 and 16 when visitors can treat their pets to a magical evening under the lights. An additional $5 fee per dog will be applied.
Every Sunday, children will have the chance to make a special memory at Sundays with Santa and capture holiday photos while having their Louisiana Lights experience.
General admission tickets are between $16.95 and $24.95, and children 3 and under are free. Tickets must be purchased in advance. There are a limited number of tickets available at the gate that will be sold at an upcharge. Parking is free. Tickets do not go on sale to the public until Sept. 1. The site is currently open for a member-only pre-sale.
Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/LaLights26.
For more information, contact Malorey Uzee at muzee@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Continuing activities
The birding loops at Burden consist of six loops that wind through formal and informal gardens, grasslands, croplands, wetlands and forest. The loops are designed for both beginners and advanced bird enthusiasts. Kiosks about the birding loops can be found at the Rural Life Museum Visitors Center and the Ione Burden Conference Center.
Trees and Trails, a 3-mile system of pedestrian, recreational and educational trails in the Burden Woods, provides opportunities for hiking and interpretive and educational activities for youth and adults. The Mosaic Boardwalk at Black Swamp guides visitors through a hardwood swamp more than 200 years old. The trail system is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
The Children’s Garden offers a place to learn about gardening and nutrition. This model garden also provides a location for youth-related organizations and individual families to experience the outdoors, focusing on vegetable, herb and butterfly garden plantings.
The Rose Garden is part of the American Garden Rose Selections program, a nationwide network of approved public gardens, and the American Rose Trials for Sustainability program, maintaining an inventory of 1,100 plants representing 150 varieties. Starting each April, the Rose Garden offers an exclusive preview of the coming year’s outstanding new varieties.
Windrush Gardens comprises majestic live oaks and ancient crape myrtles to create a shady canopy over azaleas and camellias, evoking a sense of tranquility and peace. Steele Burden, who was influenced by the gardens of Europe and the surviving gardens of 19th-century Louisiana plantations, designed Windrush. The winding paths are ideal for strolling and enjoying the 25 acres of landscaped spaces.
About Burden Museum & Gardens
Located at 4560 Essen Lane, just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, Burden Museum & Gardens is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes the LSU Rural Life Museum, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens.
The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens is an expansive collection of specialty gardens, woodlands, wetlands and arboreta. Trees and Trails offer 3 miles of serene walking paths through the Burden Woods. The Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and All-America Selections Display Garden showcase the beauty of plants and flowers and provide educational experiences for gardeners of all ages. No admission is charged to tour the gardens.
The LSU Rural Life Museum focuses on the ways of life of rural Louisiana during the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also provides educational and research resources that advance an understanding of the material and cultural heritage of the region. Adjacent to the Rural Life Museum, the historic Windrush Gardens comprises 5 acres of semiformal gardens of the Burden family.
Admission to the Botanic Gardens and Trees and Trails is free of charge and open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Rural Life Museum is $10 for adults 12 to 61, $9 for seniors and $8 for children 6 to 11. Admission to Windrush Gardens is $3 per person. Both are free for kids under 6. The LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens are open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on major holidays.
Visitors step back into 18th-century Louisiana as they join costumed volunteers for traditional dancing and hands-on fun during Harvest Days at the LSU Rural Life Museum. Photo provided by Eye Wander
Adventure awaits at the Corn Maze at Burden, where young guests climb Hay Mountain before exploring the maze and other favorites such as the pumpkin patch, hayrides, sunflower garden, corn crib and petting farm. Photo provided by Rebecca Warren
A family captures a magical holiday moment at the entrance to the dazzling light tunnel during Louisiana Lights. Photo provided by Maya Miller
