Music Box Village

Second time visiting, two very different but very amazing experiences. First was an open hours where you have the opportunity to wander and explore all the fun things. The second and most recent visit was during a Mother’s Day market, which was such a cool experience with all the vendors throughout the grounds. Highly recommend for any occasion.

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!! I showed up all excited to enjoy the museum with my partner and dog and no one was there at all. They have no phone number to call them either to try and ask about tickets and whether they are open. We just stood outside waiting for anyone to come to the front for 30 minutes!!!! (No one ever showed up) Which that didn’t feel very safe to be in the area completely alone. This was during their open hours around 2pm as well. And I triple checked their calendar too. I also reached out to them via social media since I could see they were active and they just completely ignored me. Very upsetting since we were only in NOLA for a day and wasted good time trying to go to this attraction. Would have loved to see them try to reach out and remeby this mistake but they Clearly don’t care. Thank god we were going to buy the tickets once there cause I’m sure they would just take your money and not refund. The fact that they are accepting payments online for a place that was basically abandoned ( I also saw house less people doing drugs by the “enterence”) is so scammy. Just don’t go. So many other amazing places that we did get to see.

This place is amazing! If you have kids who like to make noise or are a kid yourself who likes to tinker, you have to check it out! Musical instruments made out of all kinds of discarded items. They host musical events but the place itself is worth the visit. Also, just below the levy so you can walk up and walk along the the levee.

First of the atmosphere of the music box village is a 6/5 they have music quite often and you can just explore the place.

Fantastic place to go. Everything you touch is created to play music. Even to the railing up stairs. If you go make sure to touch everything, I guarantee you won't he disappointed. We took our three kids and they had a ball. Plus we got to see some amazing live bands as well. Such a hidden treasure and really friendly staff bringing it all together.

Attended the Ghost Note(amazing fusion band I can't even describe)here during jazzfest. Being from the frigid northeast, walking into this joint at night in the humid Nola air was wild. Made me feel like being a lost boy in Neverland. The show was over and I didn't want to leave 😄

A friend of mine wanted to take me here after she had previously taken her cousins. My nephews tagged along and we all had an awesome time. Creative musical uses of broken and old parts of an array of items. The rustic colors and doors add something extra special to this location. I’m disappointed that I had never heard anything about it previously. Another must see spot here in New Orleans. I will definitely visit again.

This out of the way and a bit hard to find Village is worth the adventure finding it. Built by Artisans who makes small houses that are each their own musical instrument is open to the public on special days for everyone to play. Outside, they had a wonderful little artist Market with lots of unique items. Admission was free and once you go in be sure to go to the bar to get a delicious cocktail. We had two! Then roam around and play all the instruments.

The Music Box Village is a great place to go to bring children who love music and are curious/inquisitive. We took 5 children ages 1.5-5 and they had a blast. The set-up was a little difficult with rainy weather as there was a lot of mud but I love the idea of the outdoor music artsy museum-ish play space. Some of the instruments were not working or had sharp pieces. The bathrooms are artwork themselves, especially the sink and mirror. Great place to visit with kids.

Excellent place for the kids! My husband and I brought our 6 year old and 4 year old to this attraction and did not disappoint. It's a huge playard with sections to make music or noise. Kids can touch everything and make as much music as they want. The pictures don't do it justice. It's outside and also has a place to buy drinks. This was a great recommendation by a local! Adults will have fun too. Great for the music enthusiast too.

Music Box Villiage is totally worth the treck out to the Bywater when youre in town. Its a $7ish donation - they take cash and credit card. they have a small bar and small snack shop. plenty of parking and for the most part, the ubers will find the location. the bathrooms are so cool! I came here in the winter and i was thinking - it must be super hot during summer months as its 100% outside, so keep that outside. Everything here makes a sound, music, and is interactive. you can come in groups, or just come with a friend. its fun and a great way to do something outside of the norm binge drinking on a friday night. no, the music and sound isnt too loud. its truly intimate and pretty. 1 of the musicians helped me work one of the tree houses with the mics that were connected to it.i would love to come back and have a party here!

One of the most mysterious and whimsical places I've been to in New Orleans. A hidden gem nestled into the bywater, this venue seems like is a cross between a children's fantasy land and an abandoned circus town. The venue is enormous---probably numerous acres, and is entirely outdoors. I'm not sure if it is always like this, but for the show I attended, there were musical instruments everywhere, including chimes, drums made of buckets, and much more. Make sure to climb up the treehouse! Come early, and explore the area, as there is a lot to see. I'm definitely looking forward to returning. Again, I can't speak for every performance there, but the one I attended had a bar and a window to order food from.

This place is phenomenal. An kid AND adult playground with an industrial artistic vibe. Whether you're playing in the musical installments or admiring the eery beauty of the compound, it's truly a magical place. Highly recommend for every type of person and with the friendly staff bringing you in, what could be better?!

If you're looking for a way to get in some "play", don't skip this place! Each creation is made by different artists and gives you a variety of opportunities to make 'music'. Some are obvious, some are very surprising. Don't miss a button or a beat! A truly unique experience that will make you feel like a kid again!

My daughter plays percussion so I had to bring her here. When we pulled up I thought I made a big mistake, hahaha. This place doesn't look like much from outside but it is more than meets the eye. Once we got on the inside it is indeed a musical village. You can make music with almost everything there. They even provide drum sticks. My daughter was so good on the tree house drum said that one of the employees recorded her and played her music on a loop over the speaker system. I definitely won points with my kid for this trip. Very family friendly but even if you don't have kids you will enjoy this place. Your inner child will thank you.

Traveling off the other parts of Nola and found this beautiful music village! It's something straight out of HOoks movie and I just love the fact that it's tucked away but still obvious that it's a site to enter. they have so many contraption and cool inventions around the whole place that it took me a couple of hours to enjoy every little piece!

Music box is a wonderful place to spend an evening or day! Every thing there is musical! Everything there can make sound or music. It's a great place for the family as well if you were interested in getting your children interested in music and he keeps them occupied because it literally is a venue full of magical sounds. I went there for a concert and thoroughly enjoyed myself. They had beer and wine reasonably priced, and it was $25 to get in. Depending on who's performing you may want to get your tickets in advance because getting them at the start or near the start of the event will have you know very long line. Have a lot of places to sit if you don't mind sitting on things that don't seem like a chair but is beautiful the ambience is amazing and I would recommend anybody to go.

Ok, let's starts with what to wear. Keep in mind that it's an outdoor, unpaved venue. Wear accordingly. I had on a sundress and a t strap sandal and still was sweating profoundly from the humidity and got sand all over my feet. Note to self to wear a pair of Converse next time and bring a hand fan. Next is parking. They have limited parking spots so I would advise carpooling, bike or Uber there. Now to the fun part of walking through a forest like feel just to get to the entrance. We were walking and all I can think of is that someone or something will jump out and kill us. I kid you not, it's creepy as hell. There was a DJ today for the celebrating of opening day so you will hear music playing before you make it to the entrance. The whole place is like a musical funland for all ages. My favorite was the swinging cage. If I didn't had a dress on, I would've been swinging on it. I really wanted to try the drum set they had but didn't have the guts to do it so next time I come back, the swing and the drum is what I'm aiming for. I've been here in the daytime but the I like how the place looks so pretty with all the light decorations around the venue. If I remember correctly, it's free tours for residential and they accept donations. They do have Artists and musicians plays at the venue which you will then has to pay to catch the show. They set up an area bar offering water, cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks. I was so glad they offered ice cream also. I had the mint lemon curd. It was different but in a good way.

My boyfriend and I stumbled across this on accident while trying to find the German restaurant nearby and we got caught up in the line of traffic heading towards this place. A person directing parking asked if we were here for the event and when we told him we didn't know what he meant, he excitedly insisted we stop in if we had the time. They were having a small market with vendors selling new clothing, vintage clothing and décor, unique jewelry, artwork, etc. As we walked u there were vendors all around the outside of the building, which is just a tall circle of metal siding. When we walked in the entrance (which is in the back), there were people to greet us, answer questions, hand out future event flyers and point out the food and beverage stands. They were selling wine, craft beer and non-alcoholic drinks and a few food items. The structure doesn't have a roof, however it is mostly covered by the canopies of several large trees. Inside the 'village' there are a dozen or so sound art installations--structures put together in a way so they create sound, including: a wooden keyboard floor where you can step on the keys, various bells, a pergola surrounded by horns/metal tubing attached to air compressors controlled by levers, etc. It's quite the wonderland of mystery, there aren't any signs explaining which pieces do what, so anything you see could possibly be moved/pushed/etc to make sound. It's kid friendly and I believe I saw a few dogs on leashes inside. From the event flyer I noticed they host various markets small concerts, poetry readings and can be booked for private events. They are closed for the summer months so be sure to check their schedule before going!

Holy moly! This is the coolest spot for a truly unique + special + interactive music experience. Really felt at one with the sounds and the performance. Such a cool venue in a magic location. The interactive sculptural instruments are amazing!

Defiantly check out the music box. If you can't catch a show step in just to play around. Nothing says New Orleans like the art and ingenuity used to make this fabulous playground for adults and kids.

Awesome adjective. causing or inducing awe; inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear: an awesome sight.

This is an awesome place for the whole family when they have the public open house! Tree house meets gathering space meets experimental instruments. You can walk around to the different stations to try making sounds and music. But if you really wanna see what these instruments can do, be sure to make it to a performance!

Do you want to experience something different? I have been to the music box village 3 times now, and each time the shows have been so amazingly different and unique. Not all of them have been exactly to my taste, but that is the gamble you take coming to an offbeat place like this. If you don't come for the music, it is also a great place to people watch. They have bathrooms, food, and a bar. It is a fun and different way to spend an evening.

Ok. Simply put, the Music Box Village is one of the COOLEST things I have ever experienced in my life. Everyone knows that New Orleans is full of magic but I think this spot may just be the most magical and whimsical place in town. For a while, the Music Box Village used to do pop-up shows in City Park, but now their permanent location is hidden in a nook and cranny in the Bywater that is almost impossible to just accidentally stumble upon. Personally, I think that adds to the whimsy of it because it gives me a very Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe kind of vibe. Make sure to pop the address into your GPS (it's at the end of the tracks behind Bar Redux). Some other logistical notes: limited parking so only park in the lot if you have children or need assistance (there is street parking available because it's nestled in a neighborhood), tix vary from 10-35 dollars per show (worth it), they do sell beer, there's usually a food pop-up (Congreso Cubano), kids are allowed, and no dogs (unless it's a service dog). The New Orleans Airlift team has truly created a one of a kind experience. The venue is pretty large and is full of tiny house structures that are actually the instruments used in performances Truly, it's so hard to describe because of how mind-blowing it is, that you truly just need to visit it for yourself. Because of the setup, it's a completely immersive experience and there is no bad seat in the house (speaking of seats, you need to bring your own seats and folding chairs). It's the most original, innovative, and creative thing I've seen in a very long time. They have spring and fall shows that they usually put on and artists like Big Freedia, Solange Knowles, Wilco, and Tank and the Bangas have performed there over the last year. Last night, I saw Tank and the Bangas perform an original piece that they developed themselves through their experimental music/spoken word/dance/art residency at the Music Box Village. In the middle of the performance, NORAH JONES rolls out on a mobile grand piano and performed a song. It was phenomenal. I've seen Tank and the Bangas perform many times but this was something totally different and unique in the best way possible. If you are reading this, you have to check this place out for yourself. They open the village to the public during the daytime (hours and days are on their website) and I would highly suggest going, especially if you have kids. Admission is 12 bucks ($5 if you're local or a child). I highly suggest making it to a nighttime show though to fully get the magic of this spot. Even if you've seen a band a dozen times, the way the Music Box Village operates is so that the performance you are seeing there, will never/can never be replicated or done that same way again, so you are truly experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Magic. Pure magic.

Never judge a book by the cover! This place is just as distinctive as New Orleans with its culture, architecture, and music. Upon arriving, you will think your GPS led you down the wrong road. However, once you get up the courage to explore around the shifty looking structure with Jumanji-like sounds coming from within, you'll be captivated by its uniqueness. Each station brings an interactive and different approach to making music. Don't worry; no experience necessary and you won't be criticized by your lack of musical talent! This is a great experience for all, young and old. I am looking forward to returning to check out a live show or event there soon.

We came here years ago for my son's field trip. It is truly a magical place. I loved it more than the kids. Every kid born in the 70s should come. It is fantastic.

I co hosted a baby shower here. The venue is huge and beautiful. The girls were accommodating during the whole process. The venue is stunning and such a great experience. We had a small party and it's by far the best venue I've worked with. They have a bar inside the venue which took out a ton of hassle for us. The staff is to die for. They all are so personable. I'd book another event here and look forward to going back. It's such a fantastic and affordable venue.

This place is so cool. It's really fun for kids and adults alike. It's a really creative idea that even non-musicians can appreciate. They also have great events. The bar and pop-up taco stand wasn't too shabby either. I'm really glad I stopped on my last trip to NOLA. Worth every penny.

Holy crap I can't even explain how fun this place is. We came as a group of 9 adults and ran around playing for 2 hours. Interactive art installation music space. Go here!!

This place is amazing! Such a hidden New Orleans gem! This is truly a beautifully artistic music box that everyone should come, explore and enjoy!

A must Bywater stop simply for the creative openness that exudes the project. They have really gone beyond to incorporate an open, collaborative environment for musicians, artists, and bystanders alike.

This place was an escape from the real world. We took a LYFT from Canal and when we arrived it was like we entered neverland. The music surrounded us and the musicians played sounds I've never heard in my life. If there was an album I would have bought it. I will be back many times when I'm New Orleans. My only suggestion is to have nicer bathrooms, the port a potty option was not fun and didn't seem to be "kept up".