Halloween in the Crescent City calls for two things: a lot of fun and a lot of frights! We've got everything from haunted houses and ghost tours to spooky sights. Here’s how you can celebrate this October.

Krewe of Boo

The most petrifying parade in all of New Orleans is put on by the Krewe of Boo! This annual celebration of spooky season transforms the French Quarter in the Fright Quarter with extravagantly decorated floats and riders and marchers decked out in costumes. They take to the streets with tricks and treats all evening long! This year’s Krewe of Boo parade rolls Saturday, October 22 - so get your costumes and candy bags ready!

Before the parade that night, run (or shamble) through the French Quarter during the New Orleans Zombie Run as you avoid the zombie-hunting Big Easy Rollergirls!  

Spooky Attractions

Looking for some frightening fun? Pay a visit to the Museum of Death or the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum! These are two on-brand October outings that are sure to send a chill through your spine. The Museum of Death features some horrifying highlights and history such as body bags, a skull collection, history of cannibalism, crime scenes, and more. Or opt for the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum - a historic apothecary housed in the French Quarter. Its collection tells the story of medicine over the decades and some chilling practices that are no longer.

In addition to these two year-round stops, JAMNOLA will be featuring some spooky, special programming and exhibits for thought the month of October.

Take a Haunted History or Ghost Tour

New Orleans is known for its haunted history. Hotels, restaurants, and streets across the city are known to have spirits floating throughout, and there’s no better way to hear the eerie tales of how these ghosts came to be than by taking a tour. You’ll find an abundance of options for haunted group tours, especially in the French Quarter, which is filled with stories of ghosts and ghouls in almost every building.

For an extra dash of local history, check out the limited-time Creole death and mourning tours – both day and night – hosted by the Gallier and Hermann-Grima Houses. Or enjoy pair some historic Vieux Carre courtyards with a wine tasting at the Halloween Hidden Treasures Courtyard Tour on Saturday, October 8. Costumes are encouraged! 

See the Spooky Decorations on Homes Around the City

Holiday home decor is a specialty in New Orleans (second, of course, to costumes). Take a stroll around any neighborhood to see how locals decorate for Halloween. Be sure to walk around the Garden District/Uptown to see the stunning St. Charles Avenue mansions with amazing decorations. Pretty much any neighborhood in NOLA will be filled with houses sporting festive (and frightening) decor.

The Skeleton House (6000 St. Charles Ave.) is an annual favorite for its scary and satirical decor. Ghost Manor on Magazine Street (2502 Magazine St.) also goes all out with an electronic lightshow timed to spooky tunes. The Buckner Mansion (1410 Jackson Ave.) is also a Halloween hotspot for its terrifying feature on the FX hit series, American Horror Story. Get dressed up to snag a few shots in front of its gates.

Visit a Haunted House 

Every fall, haunted houses make their highly-anticipated annual return to New Orleans. Prepare to be spooked as you wind your way through multiple floors of ghouls, goblins, and costumed actors at The Mortuary and New Orleans Nightmare.

Stay in a Haunted Hotel 

Consider booking a night in a haunted hotel to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween season. Legend has it, the 14th floor (actually the 13th floor) of Hotel Monteleone is home to some paranormal activity. Guests have reported hearing the footsteps of Maurice Begere, the young ghost child who haunts the hotel. For more on haunted hotels, see here.

Enjoy some spooky family fun

Head to Audubon Zoo from October 21-23, 2022 for Boo at the Zoo. The beloved family Halloween tradition includes unforgettable animal experiences, festive treats and decor, and plenty of family-friendly activities.

Explore the French Market District for live music, kid’s activities, trick-or-treating, and a Spooky Second Line at Boo Carré Halloween Haunt, or enjoy a weekend at City Park for Ghosts in the Oaks, which includes trick-or-treating, arts & crafts, a pumpkin patch, and hot-dog roasting around the campfire. Costumes are encouraged for all! 

Experience performing arts, Halloween style

New Orleans’ vibrant performing arts scene has lots of upcoming events to get you in the spooky spirit! Experience the ghost stories and legends that shaped the city through contemporary dance with fantômes, presented by Mélange Dance Company, at the Marigny Opera House from October 14-16.  

Immerse yourself in perfect eerie ambiance at Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics as the Delachaise Ensemble performs an iconic setlist of Halloween favorites at Livaudais Hall.  

Check out the Halloween Nightlife 

When the sun goes down, the fun and frights only get better over Halloween weekend! Break out your best Thriller or Monster Mash as you dance the night away at Brujeria Carnaval. Don your best costume and embrace your inner child for an adults-only Halloween bash in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park at Brews and Boos. 

One of New Orleans’ most legendary Halloween events also benefits a cause near and dear to the city. Halloween New Orleans (HNO) is an LGBTQ Halloween extravaganza that last all weekend long and has been known to host some of the city’s most epic parties. In its 39 years, the event has raised over $5 million for its host charity, Project Lazarus, an assisted-living home for those suffering with HIV/AIDS. Between the Queen’s Ball, the costume/dance party, and the tea dance and second line, you won’t want to miss one spooky, sparkly moment.