Free festivals, plays and more things to do this weekend in New Orleans

🎻 The Crescent City Chamber Music Festival continues its free concerts tonight at Dixon Concert Hall. The shows, hosted in various venues across the city, run through Oct. 22.

🌳 "Le Code Noir" premieres in Congo Square Friday night. The "Louisiana outdoor historical drama" runs through the weekend.

📚 Johnette Downing celebrates the release of her new book, "My Parrain Is the Loup Garou," with a storytime at Garden District Books on Saturday at 11am.

🐈 The Louisiana SPCA's inaugural Carnival takes place at its Algiers campus on Saturday.

🐕 Heaven's Pets hosts a 5k through Lake Lawn Cemetery supporting regional no-kill animal shelters on Sunday.

🗺️ A giant puppet named Little Amal has been journeying across the country as a symbol of human rights. Her adventure continues Sunday with a play at the Music Box Village.

🎭 Harold Ellis Clark's play "Back in The Day" premiered Thursday at the André Cailloux Center for Performing Arts and Cultural Justice. Shows continue through Oct. 22.

🎃 Black Lagoon continues a spooky pop-up at Anna's Bar this weekend. Drop in between now and Halloween for ghoulish vibes.

🥃 Belly up to your favorite bar for Old Fashioned Week. Elijah Craig is donating $1 from the sale of each to the Southern Smoke Foundation.

Next week:

🇦🇫 Saint John and nonprofit Home Is Here NOLA host a special evening of Afghan cooking on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

📖 Cleo Wade stops at Baldwin Books with Nicole Richie, Brandan "BMike" Odums and Stevona Elem-Rogers on Thursday, Oct. 19.