(08/29/24) BATON ROUGE, La. — Harvest — not to mention spooky — season is among us, and Burden Museum & Gardens is set to ring in autumn with many fun activities for the entire family.

With more than 320 species of birds — including common species such as northern mockingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, seven woodpeckers, waterfowl, wading birds and a variety of resident migratory songbirds — Birding at Burden is a bird watcher’s dream come true.

Beginning in September and continuing one Saturday per month between 7 and 9 a.m., attendees will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of some of these species on a two-hour guided tour led by different birding specialists through the birding loops at Burden.

Admission is $10 with a maximum capacity of 15 guests for each excursion.

The events will be held on Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16.

Those interested can register at Eventbrite.com.

Parents and children alike will cherish the memories made at StoryTime at Burden, held one Saturday per month from 9 a.m. until noon. Youngsters will enjoy arts and crafts, listening to stories and meeting other kids. They also will receive a book to take home with them.

Switching between stories and crafts every half hour will keep young children interested and engaged.

StoryTime at Burden is best suited for children ages 3 to 8 years of age, but all ages are welcome.

Admission is free, and no registration is required.

This season’s dates are Sept. 14, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9.

The annual Corn Maze at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden is always a crowd favorite!

The event will be open each Saturday in October: Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26. There will be a morning, a midday and an afternoon session each day. Session times are 9 to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The ever-popular Night Maze will be on Oct. 26 only from 6 to 9 p.m.

Each two-hour Corn Maze experience is full of fun activities where all ages can traverse the maze, meander through sunflower fields, ride a hayride and pick satsumas with family and friends.

In addition, attendees can climb a hay mountain, explore the corn crib, try their hand at gargantuan games, meet a variety of animals at the Goula Paradise Farms petting farm. There also will be a pumpkin patch where visitors can take pictures and pick a pumpkin to take home.

As always, fun festival foods will be available for purchase from a variety of local vendors like Grammy’s Kettle Corn, Ole Mississippi Smokehouse and Kona Ice.

Tickets are $15 per person, and admission is free for children 2 and younger. Tickets are presale only and will not be offered at the gate. All ages must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are limited and available at https://bit.ly/CornMaze24.

Experience the history of 19th-century rural Louisiana at harvest time at the annual Harvest Days event on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6.

The weekend will be filled with live demonstrations of period trade work and activities, including open-hearth cooking, basket weaving, woodcarving, leatherworking and more. Enjoy live music and festival food. Don't miss this unique opportunity to step back in time and explore the rich heritage of Louisiana!

The events begin at 9 a.m. and last until 4:30 p.m.

The events are free for children up to 3 years of age, $10 for those 4 to 11 and $12 for anyone 12 and older.

Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/RLMHD2024.

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and activities of an old-fashioned country fair at the LSU Rural Life Museum for Haints, Haunts and Halloween.

Join our staff and volunteers on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. for a safe and fun Halloween event designed for families. Enjoy storytelling, cake walks, games and trick-or-treating on the beautiful museum grounds.

This event promises a delightful and memorable time for kids and parents alike.

The event is free for children up to 3 years of age, $6 for those 4 to 11 and $12 for anyone 12 and older.

Tickets available at https://bit.ly/RLMHHH2024.

The annual Red Rooster Bash presented by the Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum is always an evening to remember. It returns this year with a delightful fusion of delectable cuisine, craft cocktails and classic tunes from Louisiana’s premier ‘60s tribute band, The Remnants.

This year’s event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The Red Rooster Bash is a 21-and-older event, and admission is $65 per person. A $1,000 sponsorship includes a reserved table for eight and recognition at the event. Registration is required.

Advance tickets are available at https://bit.ly/RLMRR2024.

It began as a simple wish to make Baton Rouge a holiday tourist destination for families and friends to make memories that would last a lifetime. Now, as Louisiana Lights: Where the Holidays Shine is set to debut in November, that wish is coming true.

The immersive, multinight lightshow will illuminate the historic Windrush Gardens at Burden Museum & Gardens. The natural beauty of the gardens will dazzle the senses through artistic uses of light to create a winter wonderland that will need to be seen to be believed!

Louisiana Lights will be held every Thursday through Sunday from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29. Each night’s first session will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the last will start at 8:30 p.m. Onsite parking will be $10.

Visit DiscoverBurden.com/LaLights to purchase tickets beginning Sept. 15.

Continuing activities

The birding loops at Burden trail system consists of six loops that wind through Burden’s 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 at Burden and Windrush Gardens.

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden 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 semi-formal gardens of the Burden family.

Admission to the Botanic Gardens and Trees and Trails is free of charge and open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Rural Life Museum, including Windrush Gardens, is $12 for adults 12 to 61; $11 for seniors ages 62 and over; $10 for children 4 to 11; free for kids under 3; $10 for LSU faculty, staff and students with ID; and $10 for members of the military with ID. The LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens are open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on major holidays.

A young girl tries her hand at traditional candle-making while visiting Harvest Days at the LSU Rural Life Museum at Burden. Photo by Eye Wander

The entrance to Corn Maze at Burden invites visitors to take a journey through the crazy, mazy fun. Photo by Kim Meadowlark

The dazzling, majestic oaks of the “Holiday Hallway” introduce visitors to Louisiana Lights and invite them to experience the radiant beauty of historic Windrush Gardens at Burden, exquisitely lit for the holidays. The event premiers Nov. 29and will be held every Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 29. Photo by Kim Meadowlark