Fourteen Fantastic Ideas for a Friday Family Fun Night

With work, sports, and school, by Friday night families are fried! What better way to pull yourselves together than a bit of bonding time at some of the awesome establishments on the Northshore? Whether it’s bowling, bouncing, or beach bumming, these fun family night fiestas are sure to help you shed the stress of the week and just enjoy time together.  

Sandy and Sweet

Enjoy live music and your favorite fruity beach drink, while the kids play in the sand.  You can all dine together on your favorite selection from their vast menu of burgers, salads, seafood, Mexican, pasta, po-boys, and more!  But save room for dessert at the Candy Bank – give each kid a few dollars and let them pick their own dessert from the many sweet treats on display. You’ll feel like you’ve won a golden ticket to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

The Beach House

124 Girod Street

Mandeville

followed by 

The Candy Bank

201 Carroll Street

Mandeville

80s Flashback Night

Start out the evening with onion rings, burgers and fries, and let go of any calorie counting for the night. You’ll burn it all off anyway when you slide on over to Skater’s Paradise!

Bring on the feelings of déjà vu as your slide on your skates and roll around the rink with your kids.  It’s like a flashback to the 80’s (in a good way) complete with arcade games galore.

Lee’s Hamburgers

1541 Gause Blvd W

Slidell

followed by

Skater’s Paradise

1421 Gause Blvd W

Slidell

All the Classics

Start out with some of the best pizza in town at Neely’s Pizzeria, offering both pizza and many other Italian favorites.  Then you’ll really score big when you take the family to Tiffany Lanes for a night of bowling.  You can even have them raise the gutter rails if you’re feeling a bit self-conscious about your bowling score.

Neely’s Pizzeria

4700 Hwy 22

Mandeville

followed by 

Tiffany Lanes

4400 Hwy 22

Mandeville

Action Packed Adventures

Repel down your rope as you climb from rock to rock together with the whole family!  Follow it up with some casual and delicious New Orleans-style cuisine from Southside Cafe. 

Slidell Rocks

39543 Hwy 190 East

Slidell

followed by

Southside Cafe

3154 Ponchatrain Drive

Slidell

Something New; Something Old

Another rock climbing opportunity combined with zip lining and an obstacle course.  Get there early because they are only open from 4 to 6 on Fridays, and enjoy pizza and some classic arcade games after at Norma’s Pizza Shack.

XFusion

1455 Collins Blvd.

Covington

followed by

Norma’s Pizza Shack

103 West 30th Ave.

Covington

Surf and Flick

Start out down Highway 22 and stop by Madisonville’s locally owned Crabby Shack for some seafood po-boys, platters or pasta, including a kids menu of classics.  Then head towards Target to hit up the Regal Movie theater on Highway 21 to catch a family friendly flick.

Crabby Shack

305 Covington Street

Madisonville

followed by

Regal Cinemas

69348 Hwy 21

Covington

Back to Basics

Grab your rod and reel and head out to Sunset Point for an evening of fishing with the family.  At sunset drive down Lakeshore Drive to McClain’s pizza where you can sit on the balcony and enjoy the beautiful Lake Pontchartrain views.  There are also arcade games on the first floor to satisfy your second wind.

Sunset Point

Massena Street and the Lake

Mandeville

followed by

McClain’s Pizzeria

115 Girod Street

 

2203 Florida Street

Mandeville

Energy Extravaganza

Your kiddos will jump for joy when they hear they’ll be bouncing the evening away at Elevation Station.  Follow it up with some Five Guys burgers and fries!

Elevation Station

250 Northpoint Ct

Covington

followed by

Five Guys

70415 Hwy 21

Covington

Teen Friendly

With a diverse menu of Mediterranean munchies, even the pickiest palate can find something to enjoy at Zoe’s Kitchen.  And nothing makes a family closer than embarking on a mission to solve a mystery!  Visit the 2016 trip advisor award winner, Covington’s Escapology.  Children must be 7 and up to participate.

Zoe’s Kitchen

69627 Stirling Blvd.

Covington

followed by

Escapology

3025 Pinnacle Parkway

Covington

Big Fun  for Everyone

Head over to Hammond to enjoy hamster balls, a little laser tag, indoor climbing, and video games at Safari Quest. You can dine in by ordering from the restaurant next door, Isabella’s. Top it off with a real treat from the newly opened Sweet Rolls in downtown Hammond. Grab your dessert to go so you can enjoy a stroll through the charming Cate Square Park.  

Safari Quest

200 Hewitt Road Ste. A

Hammond

followed by

Sweet Rolls

119 East Thomas Street

Hammond

 

Cate Square Park

200 West Charles Street

Hammond

Perfect for Children Who Hate to Sit

For a relaxed and low key evening together, head over to Nan’s for some classic New Orleans cuisine.  You won’t even have to get into the car because just across the patio is Just Chillin’ Too.  Let the kids pick their favorite flavor as the decorate the deck and patio with sidewalk chalk art.  

Nan’s New Orleans Café and PoBoy

700 Florida Street

Mandeville

followed by

Just Chillin’ Too

700 Florida Street

Mandeville

Treats for Everyone

Although there are now locations in both Hammond and on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, you can enjoy the original Tacos and Beer location on 1st street in Slidell.  Then you can really hit your sweet spot at the Old Town Slidell Soda Shop with milkshakes, malts, snowballs, sundaes, and banana splits!

Tacos and Beer

2142 1st Street

Slidell

followed by

Old Town Slidell Soda Shop

301 Cousin Street

Slidell

Newfangled Experiences

Take a trip with your family into the digital world at Holotech Virtual Reality Arcade, which opened in Slidell in September 2017.  Follow that up with some Pho or other Vietnamese cuisine at Phonomenal Seafood & Grill.  Kids not into foreign foods?  They also offer basics like chicken fingers, fried seafood, and sandwiches.

Holotech Virtual Reality Arcade

710 Brownswitch Rd.

Suite 5

Slidell

followed by

Phonomenal Seafood & Grill

1503 Gause Blvd

Ste 105

Slidell

The Easy Choice

Of course what family fun list would be complete without Movie Tavern.  Offering dinner, dessert, and a show, this is your all-in-one stop for Friday night entertainment.

Movie Tavern

201 N Highway 190

Covington