There are so many things to see and do for Halloween in New Orleans.
As the manager of Tours By Foot New Orleans, I want to inform you of these events and the activities that take place annually.
I, and local Tours By Foot tour guides, including Andrew in the video below, love Halloween and we know how special our city is to celebrate it in.
Almost all of us at Tours By Foot are members of various krewes.
We attend parades and events, create costumes and floats, and show visitors how to party.
We all really help put on Halloween in New Orleans.
Being so heavily involved has helped me forge this guide so that you know how to best prepare yourself for this time of year.
Sightseeing Tours
There are a lot of tours available in New Orleans that cover the haunted and often creepy history of the city.
We currently provide a Dark Side of New Orleans Ghost Tour which is available twice a night at 7:30 pm and 8:15 pm.
We also offer Voodoo tours in New Orleans Thursday through Monday at 3pm.
You will learn a lot of information dissuading Hollywood stereotypes of the religion.
High Priest Robi also offers a 10am experience in Congo Square on those days as well.
There are so many things to do for all visitors during the spooky Halloween Season.
Single-Day Activities
These events are the ones that occur annually that I recommend the most.
Each of the activities that take place on one day either following up to Halloween or falling on the date of October 31st.
Some activities are family-friendly, and others are intended for adult audiences.
See the Krewe of Boo
This parade is locals favorite Halloween event.
We, locals, show up in droves in our best costumes to watch and support our friends who are in unique marching groups.
Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity, or you just want to celebrate the holiday in a big way, this is the event you do not want to miss!
The Krewe of Boo has been a New Orleans staple since 2007.
Kern Studios, who own Mardi Gras World, put on the majority of parades during the Mardi Gras Season. They are the organizers of this parade, contributing floats for it every year.
If you’re interested, you might actually want to visit their studios at Mardi Gras World.
If you want to visit Mardi Gras World I recommend it!
Krewe of Boot typically happens the weekend before Halloween.
In 2025, the Krewe of Boo will roll on October 19th at 6:30 PM.
Celebrate With the Krewe of Krampus
A relatively new parade that takes place in New Orleans yearly is thrown by the Krewe of Krampus, but it’s more of a Christmas event than a Halloween activity.
The NOLA main event takes place in December, but they hold special events in October as well.
The October events are called Halloween with Swampus, and they include a pumpkin carving contest, a scavenger hunt, and a night at the drive-in.
Find out more about all the Swampus events on the Krewe of Krampus website.
Attend the New Orleans Zombie Run
Talk about creepy! This is a race the public can sign up for or just cheer on the runners.
This is a fun running event featuring the Big Easy Rollergirls as the zombies!
Best of all, this race starts before the Krewe of Boo parade on the same day, giving you two fun and spooky things to do in celebration of Halloween.
The zombie crawl will take place on Oct 19th, 2025, at 9 AM.
Race will take place on a 2-mile zombie-infested track which will run through the Warehouse district.
Be sure to pack your makeup!
Learn more about the New Orleans Zombie Run.
Go to the Big Easy Halloween Half Marathon
If you can’t get enough spook-filled exercise, head to this marathon on Halloween Day at Louis Armstrong Park.
The race itself will take contestants along the New Orleans Lakefront at Lake Pontchatrain.
At the end of the race, there is an after-party with entertainment, food, and drinks. There is always a band at an New Orleans event!
The race will take place on Oct 27th, 2025. Half Marathon & 5K run will start at 7:30 AM, Kids one-mile run will start from 9:00 AM.
This year's party will be The Beach at The University of New Orleans.
Learn more about the Big Easy Halloween Half Marathon here.
Attend the New Orleans Vampire Ball
Known as the Endless Night Vampire Ball, this event takes place at the House of Blues, and it includes a lot of great music, dancing, and even a cirque activity.
People from all over the world visit NOLA at this time to attend.
There is a strict dress code for this event, and it’s always based on a central theme.
This ball always takes place on or around Halloween night.
2025 dates are yet to be released. Last year, the ball took place on Sep 9th.
Find out more about the New Orleans Vampire Ball.
Find the Perfect Costume
Being that New Orleans is the home of Mardi Gras, there are a lot of shops that specialize in selling and/or renting costumes.
Whether you want to buy or rent, there are a lot of great places where you can find full costumes, masks, and other materials to help make the best Halloween costume on the block.
My favorite is Uptown Costume on Magazine Street. Trixie Minx, a burlesque dancer, also has a great little shop in the Quarter.
It’s good to know that we go big on costumes for any event in our city.
It’s smart to pack some pieces no matter what time of year it is.
Check this list of the best costume shops in New Orleans to find a store near you.
Attend the Halloween LGBTQ Party
New Orleans has a pretty amazing LGBTQ community.
They have their own annual Halloween party to celebrate the season.
This Halloween party has been held for over 39 years now, and all proceeds from the events go to Project Lazarus, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people who live with HIV/AIDS.
Events will take place from Oct 18th - Oct 20th, 2025. Each day will host a different event.
For more details, check the Halloween New Orleans website.
Party on Frenchmen Street
If you really wanna celebrate in true New Orleans fashion head to Frenchmen Street where revelers party in the streets.
From individual parties in the bars to brass bands playing in the streets it’s the best time.
If you’re looking for somewhere to party, but you can’t pick just one place to visit, Frenchmen Street is one of the best places to visit on Halloween night.
Multi-Day Activities
These events typically take place over multiple days, and sometimes even more than one week leading up to Halloween.
Most of these activities are family-friendly.
Take the Kids to Boo at the Zoo
Audubon Zoo typically holds this event annually, and it’s often held over multiple days and weeks.
It’s fun to experience even if you don’t have kids with you.
Activities include trick-or-treating for younger visitors, arts & crafts activities for older kids, and of course plenty of fun and festive decorations.
2025 dates TBD. Last year, the event took place from Oct 21st - 23rd from 10 AM - 5 PM.
Tickets:
- Members: Children $8, Adults $5
- Non Members: $30 for both
Learn more about Boo at the Zoo.
Ghosts in the Oaks
City Park hosts this family-friendly celebration of Halloween at Carousel Gardens and Storyland.
There are usually a lot of fun things to see and do at this event.
In addition to trick-or-treating, you can also expect plenty of arts & crafts activities and even a pumpkin patch!
The rides are usually open for older kids as well.
If you want to make it a full day at the park, make sure to check our guide to City Park for even more family fun.
Learn more about Ghosts in the Oaks.
Go to the Mortuary Haunted Mansion
Let’s be honest a lot of houses in New Orleans are haunted.
But, this is one location you can definitely count on to provide a good scare and a scream!
The Mortuary is more of a traditional haunted house, the type that is carefully curated and filled with spooky sights, odd experiences, and well-dressed actors.
Many of the actors have worked there for years. It is a high quality well oiled machine.
This year, The Mortuary is celebrating its 151st Anniversary.
2025 dates TBD. Last year, the tickets were on sale from Sep 16th to Oct 31st (Not all days host events). To learn more about dates, timings & tickets, click here.
If you want to be scared and can’t imagine Halloween without it, head to The Mortuary at the end of Canal Street.
Take the Family to a Pumpkin Patch
There are a lot of farms within driving distance of New Orleans, and many of them offer pumpkin patches during the Halloween season.
The closest one will be at City Park as part of their Ghosts in the Oaks event!
That said, if you’re looking for even more options, check this list of pumpkin patches near New Orleans.
Go to the Cajun Country Corn Maze
Note: Information about 2025 event not available as of Feb 2025.
Check their website as many Louisiana events don’t get announced until the last minute.
This attraction has been a community staple for over 40 years, and it’s a great family activity to enjoy with your kids.
Check Out Halloween Decorations
The Garden District loves to decorate for almost every holiday -- including Halloween!
You can expect to see a lot of spooky decorations on the beautiful houses in this area.
The French Quarter also loves to celebrate Halloween with plenty of great decorations, so you might also want to walk around this area to see some spooky decor.
Voodoo Activities
Aside from our own Voodoo walking tours, there are a few other voodoo attractions and activities you can enjoy in New Orleans.
Go to the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Every October, New Orleans gets into the festive Halloween spirit at the Voodoo Music and Arts Experience, also known as Voodoo Fest.
In addition to concerts featuring some of the best musical artists in the world, this event also celebrates local artists, community, and food.
Learn more about Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.
Visit the Voodoo Museum
Located on Dumaine in the French Quarter, the Voodoo Museum is home to several interesting artifacts, allowing visitors to learn all about the history and culture of voodoo.
They currently offer both self-guided tours of the museum and a tour of Congo Square, Marie Laveau’s house.
Learn more about the Voodoo Museum.
Check Out a Voodoo Shop
There are quite a few voodoo shops in New Orleans that sell a variety of different items related to the subject.
Our favorite shop, that we include on our tours, Voodoo Authentica, doubles as both a cultural center with their own collection of artifacts and a shop where you can buy items like a voodoo doll, gris-gris bags, potion oils, and more.
Check this list of Voodoo Shops in New Orleans to find a location near you.
