Halloween in New Orleans is a globally recognized event that combines intense horror with colourful celebrations. Celebrated for its grand parades, spooky ghost tours, and intricate costumes, the city becomes a thrill-seeker paradise for people of all ages. With its haunted French Quarter streets and voodoo-themed parties, New Orleans provides a special fusion of mystery, history, and eerie fun. Indulge in spooky experiences with haunted house tours, delve into the sinister histories of the city, or just take in the elaborate costumes at vibrant street celebrations. Halloween in New Orleans is truly a carnival for the macabre and the fantastical.
The Krewe of Boo puts on the scariest parade in all of New Orleans. Every year, the French Quarter is transformed into the Fright Quarter for this celebration of the spooky season, complete with lavishly decorated floats, costumed riders, and marchers. All evening long, they take to the streets with tricks and treats!
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, the Krewe of Boo parade will take place, inviting everyone to participate in one of the largest parades in the city. Another entertaining Krewe of Boo tradition is the New Orleans Zombie Run, which takes place in the French Quarter just before the parade that evening. Make sure to avoid the zombie-hunting Big Easy Rollergirls.
For a night of truly shocking experiences, check out the Museum of Death or the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. These are two October activities that will definitely make you shiver. The Museum of Death has some gruesome highlights and history, including crime scenes, a skull collection, body bags, and a history of cannibalism. Alternatively, choose the historic apothecary located in the French Quarter, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. Its compilation narrates the history of medicine over several decades, including some terrifying but now-outdated practices.
The history of hauntings in New Orleans is well known. There are ghost stories about the origins of the spirits that are said to float through the streets, restaurants, and hotels all over the city, and taking a tour is the best way to hear them. Haunted group tour options abound, particularly in the French Quarter, where nearly every building is said to be haunted by ghosts and goblins. Check out the brief Creole death and mourning tours offered by the Gallier and Hermann-Grima Houses during the day or at night for an additional dose of local history.
In New Orleans, holiday house décor is as popular as costumes. Take a walk through any neighborhood to observe how the people celebrate Halloween. To see the magnificent homes on St. Charles Avenue with their exquisite decorations, make sure to stroll around the Garden District/Uptown. Houses with frightful and festive decorations can be found in almost all districts in the city. Because of its eerie and humorous décor, the Skeleton House (6000 St. Charles Ave.) is a yearly favorite. While Ghost Manor on Magazine Street (2502 Magazine St.) also goes all out with an electronic light show synced to eerie music, the Kraken House (6574 Memphis St.) is renowned for its enormous tentacles.
In addition, the Buckner Mansion (1410 Jackson Ave.) is a popular Halloween destination, known for its terrifying appearances on Disney's Haunted Mansion and the hit FX series American Horror Story. Remember to dress up and take pictures in front of the gates to fully enjoy the festivities!
Haunted houses make their eagerly awaited yearly return to New Orleans every autumn. At The Mortuary and New Orleans Nightmare, expect to be terrified as you make your way through several floors filled with goblins, ghouls, and actors dressed in costume.
To get into the Halloween spirit, think about spending a night in a haunted hotel. There is a legend that there is paranormal activity on the 14th floor (which is actually the 13th floor) of the Hotel Monteleone. The hotel's resident ghost child, Maurice Begere, is said to have left behind small footprints that guests have heard. Go here to learn more about haunted hotels.
Visit the Audubon Zoo to see Boo. The cherished family Halloween tradition offers a plethora of family-friendly events, delightful treats and décor, and life-changing animal encounters. Additionally, spend a weekend at City Park for Ghosts in the Oaks, which includes trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and hot dog roasting over a campfire. Alternatively, explore the French Market District for live music, kid-friendly activities, trick-or-treating, and a Spooky Second Line at Boo Carré Halloween Haunt.
There are plenty of upcoming events in New Orleans' thriving performing arts scene to get you in the Halloween mood! On Thursday, October 24, take in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at The Mahalia Jackson Theater! Alternatively, take in the ideal spooky atmosphere at Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, which features many other options in addition to performances at Sazerac House.
The fun and scares only get better over Halloween weekend when the sun goes down! At the adult-only Halloween celebration, Brujeria Carnaval at Brews and Boos in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, bust out your scariest costumes and dance routines. Experience Zombie Paintball at NOLA Motorsports Park, where you and your hunting companions will board a battle bus and ride through an interactive Zombie Apocalypse where you can fire zombies. Apart from Zombie Paintball, there's also go-karting, axe throwing, food trucks, promo nights, live music, face painting, a pumpkin crafting station, and more.
One of the most storied Halloween celebrations in New Orleans also supports a local charity. Throughout the weekend, Halloween New Orleans (HNO), an LGBTQ Halloween extravaganza, is known to throw some of the biggest parties in the city. Over its 40 years, Project Lazarus, an assisted-living facility for HIV/AIDS patients, has benefited from more than $5 million in donations raised by the event. You won't want to miss a single eerie, glittery moment between the Queen's Ball, the costume/dance party, the tea dance, and the second line.