Entry No. 69 — the New Orleans file — filed under: after-dark
Kenner Planetarium & Megadome Cinema Late Nite Laser
Inside Kenner's Rivertown Space Science Complex, the planetarium tilts a 50-foot domed screen over 118 stadium seats and throws Late Nite Laser concerts on Friday evenings, with animated lasers choreographed to rock and disco. The same dome runs immersive astronomy shows by day, and the complex includes a life-size NASA International Space Station prototype to walk through. The summer 2026 schedule lists Friday-night laser shows and Saturday star programs.
The story
You don't expect to find a high-wattage retro laser spectacle tucked inside a municipal science center along Fourth Street in Kenner, but that is precisely why it works. By day, Rivertown's Space Science Complex caters to school tours and astronomy buffs with educational sky projections and a full-scale, walk-through NASA International Space Station prototype. But on select Friday nights, the facility flips the switch for Late Nite Laser—turning the 50-foot domed ceiling into a dark canvas for synchronized laser beams and animated vector art.
Inside, 118 stadium seats lean back into the dark, angling you straight up into the curve of the Megadome Cinema screen. Instead of modern CGI, the laser tracks lean into classic, pulsing visual choreography— think geometric grids, dancing line figures, and sweeps of bright light dancing overhead in lockstep with rock and disco soundtracks. It is an unpretentious, surprisingly surreal trip out to Jefferson Parish that feels delightfully frozen in time.
What it's like
Head to 2020 Fourth Street in Kenner's historic Rivertown neighborhood on a Friday evening (summer showtimes frequently line up at 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 PM). Grab one of the 118 stadium recliners, wait for the house lights to drop, and let the bass and laser beams wash over the 50-foot dome above you. A quick tip: box office hours during the day are brief—typically running 10:45 AM to 3:00 PM—so always confirm the current week's show schedule online before making the drive out.
The move: Grab two reclined seats under the 50-foot dome for a Friday Late Nite Laser show and let the music and lasers wash over you in the dark.
📍 Before you go Late Nite Laser shows run on select Friday evenings (summer 2026 schedule lists July Friday concerts); box office at 2020 Fourth Street, generally open 10:45 AM-3 PM. Confirm the current week's lineup before going.
- 📍 Metairie
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2020 Fourth Street, Kenner, LA 70062
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Pickle N Pins — Less than three miles away in Metairie, you can swap reclined laser gazing for duckpin bowling and axe throwing at Drew Brees's game hall.
- Metairie Cemetery (Lake Lawn Metairie) — Spend the late afternoon walking among the grand marble tombs built on a former 1838 racecourse before heading west into Kenner for a night under the dome.
- Prytania Theatre Midnight Movies — If you want a full nocturnal screen double-header, pair your planetarium light show with a cult midnight movie at Louisiana's oldest single-screen cinema.
Good to know
What kind of shows are featured during Late Nite Laser?
The planetarium runs animated laser light shows choreographed to classic rock and disco playlists projected directly across the 50-foot domed screen.
What else can you see at the complex during the day?
By day and on Saturdays, the complex offers immersive astronomy programs and gives visitors access to a walk-through, life-size prototype of the NASA International Space Station.
How do tickets and showtimes work?
Laser shows run on select Friday evenings, often with multiple hourly showtimes like 7, 8, and 9 PM during summer programming. The daytime box office operates from 10:45 AM to 3:00 PM, so checking show listings ahead of time is recommended.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kenner.la.us · visitjeffersonparish.com · nola.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-23