Things to Do in Hammond

Spanish moss drops from the branches of Afton Villa Gardens’s 250 live oaks, brushing the shoulders of Apollo, Diana, and other faded statues of Greek gods. The vitality of the greenery stands in stark contrast to the remnants of past grandeur dotting the landscape. A Gothic Revival mansion stood in the center of Afton Villa Gardens 130 years ago, but crumbled in a 1963 fire. But signs of the estate remain: classical statues carved from Italian stone dot the 250 acres of fertile land, and the mansion’s brick foundation now supports English wallflowers, wild ferns, and exotic Post-it notes.

As the newest residents and caretakers, the Trimble family pays homage to the past not only by preserving the ruins, but by nurturing plants typical to 19th-century southern gardens and West Feliciana parish. Camellias and sweet olive border a formal boxwood parterre, and honeysuckle and silverbell compete for the affections of bumblebees beneath cherry trees. Visitors are welcome to tote along food and beverages to savor a picnic lunch on the idyllic grounds.

Thrown by professional hostesses in a fully decorated room, each My Lil’ Tea Party transports children to an afternoon of clinking china and unfettered imagination. Almost every two-hour open party is dedicated to a different Disney character, letting up to 20 young princes and princesses gossip while enjoying tea and light refreshments. Girls try on makeup and boys stamp their faces with temporary tattoos, and each child transforms into either a princess or a rock star in one of My Lil’ Tea Party’s provided costumes. A tyke-size fashion show lets wee ones model their new alter ego among lighting effects, music, and animatronic paparazzi. Finally, children can pose for a complimentary professional 4"x6" photo with the day's Disney princess or dance to show off their progress in popping and locking before heading home for a nap.

The vibrant mural stretching across the side of National Art & Hobby’s building serves as a symbol of the creativity-fueling items held inside. The shop’s cozy interior is packed with shelves of fine art materials, craft supplies, and jewelry-making equipment, as well as an extensive collection of glitter, sequins, rhinestones, and feathers often used by local Mardi Gras Indians to decorate their ornate costumes. Owner Nat Ward and a friendly staff stand by to answer customers' questions and shed artistic advice, from product suggestions to thoughts on which nontoxic paste is the tastiest.

Each spring, Frisco Fest welcomes more than 100 Louisiana crafters and artists to the picturesque grounds of the San Francisco Plantation, creating a unique environment where regional history and modern creativity converge. Setting up shop in the shadow of centuries-old live oaks, participants peddle everything from handmade jewelry and pottery to homemade jams, and master gardeners host plant-advice clinics to impart tips to green thumbs looking to revive once-lush landscapes or get their azaleas accepted into a private college.

Each year, activities that occupy the big curiosity and little hands of children abound, such as pony rides, petting zoos, and rock climbing, and adults detour from the crafty wares long enough to enjoy a classic-car show and live music by Leroy St. Pierre. Local chefs sizzle up piquant piles of Cajun and creole cuisine to tempt artistic appetites of all ages, and competitive appetites are twice-satisfied during a Chef's cook-off and cracklin contest.

Since 1924, Gray Line Tours has introduced guests to the sights of New Orleans through an eclectic collection of tours, from leisurely walking tours to heart-pounding ghost tours. In addition to taking immersive history or plantation tours, participants can climb aboard an authentic steamboat, which preserves its engine room and original cartoon-mouse captain in a museum-quality exhibit, for a dinner jazz cruise.

The learned guides of Spirit Tours New Orleans escort visitors through the Big Easy's streets, illuminating its rich history of mysticism, culture, and architecture. After examining obscure burial methods in the city's oldest cemetery St. Louis Cemeterey #1, cemetery and voodoo tours turn guest attention to tales of voodoo practitioners, such as Marie Laveau. Spooky-story fans listen intently to tales of slave owners and creoles while wandering through the French Quarter, and strolling film buffs judge how accurately films such as Interview with the Vampire and the critically panned Tuba from the Black Lagoon portrayed their locales. In addition to offering a garden-district tour, which highlights plantation-style mansions and elegant Saint Charles Avenue homesteads, Spirit Tours combines several of its tours into a combo package that covers voodoo, ghost stories, scandals, and bar hopping during one French Quarter jaunt.