New Orleans is the best place to celebrate Halloween
There are only a few places in the US — or even the world — where you can feel Halloween in the air everywhere you go. And New Orleans is exactly that kind of place. If you’re looking for the ultimate Halloween experience, this is where you want to be. The city celebrates from mid-September all the way through early November — so come during this time to soak it all in! Below, I’ve listed tons of things to do that I personally tried over my month and a half there.
Spooky tours
As you’ve probably gathered from my earlier story, New Orleans is a goldmine of spooky legends. The city is full of ghost, vampire, witch, voodoo, and even cemetery tours — take your pick. However, keep in mind that truly dark places, like the infamous Delphine LaLaurie Mansion, where the cruel mistress experimented on her slaves, are off-limits — it’s private property. So, the best you can do is stand outside, listen to the chilling tales… and feel the goosebumps rise.
Cemeteries
Cemeteries in New Orleans are unlike anywhere else. The dead are buried above ground in stone tombs. There are two reasons for that: first, it prevents the “resurfacing” of bodies during frequent floods in this swampy city; and second, because of the heat, these tombs practically act like ovens — within a year, a body turns almost entirely to ash, making room for the next family member. Efficient, right?
Today, cemetery tours are among the city’s most popular attractions. Here, you’ll find the resting place of the legendary “Voodoo Queen” Marie Laveau — a free woman of colour, who, as locals claim, still grants wishes to those who leave her offerings. You’ll also see graves of local politicians, musicians, and writers… and, fun fact, Nicolas Cage has already bought himself a pyramid-shaped tomb here.
“Supernatural” stores
New Orleans is the birthplace of voodoo, magic, and all things supernatural — or so claim the owners of countless voodoo shops and witchcraft stores scattered across the French Quarter. Around Jackson Square, you’ll find fortune tellers, tarot readers, astrologers, psychics, and numerologists ready to reveal your destiny — all for a small fee and a lot of fun.
And whatever you do, don’t skip the Vampire Shop! I once bought a candle there that was supposed to “extend friendship.” Well, the friendship’s still going strong — so I guess it works. They also hand out maps of the city’s most magical spots and, if you’re lucky, a secret password to a hidden witch bar (more on that below).
“Supernatural” bars
When was the last time you drank blood from a bag? I highly recommend the Vampire Café — a gothic-style spot with a menu to match its eerie charm. If the waiters take a liking to you, they might just hand you a pass to a secret bar a couple of streets away!
You won’t find this bar on the map. The entrance hides inside a jazz bar, where a mysterious man with peculiar eyes checks your ID and whispers for the password. Only then — and only then — can you climb to the second floor and step into a secret witchy haven. Its balcony overlooks Bourbon Street, and the dark, spellbound interior makes you feel like you’ve wandered straight into a coven movie.
Haunted places
There’s probably not a single house in the entire French Quarter that hasn’t seen something mysterious or tragic. You can stay in a hotel with ghosts, have a drink in a bar where a murder happened decades ago, and the owners will swear that strange things still occur there…
Oh, absolutely. I believe every word of it.
My favourite haunted restaurant is Muriel’s. During Halloween, you can even visit their séance room — it’s wonderfully atmospheric. The owners claim several spirits reside there, but it all began with Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan (yes, French, of course). He built the house of his dreams and loved it deeply… until he lost it in a card game. Realising his terrible mistake, Pierre took his own life in the same room where séances are now held.
Since the restaurant opened in the 2000s, staff have often seen glasses flying and shattering against the walls. The owners once brought in a medium, who said that Pierre was angry — everyone was laughing and drinking, but no one ever invited him.
So now, a special table is always set just for Pierre, and anyone who wishes can dine with him. How sweet.
Take a stroll through the Garden District
Of course, it’s no surprise that the wealthiest neighbourhood has some of the most impressive Halloween decorations. Just take a stroll here, and you’ll see the incredible imagination (and dedication) of the locals. The Garden District is full of Victorian mansions, so the mysterious atmosphere is guaranteed. Don’t forget to check out the Coven house from American Horror Story — even though it’s private property, you can still admire it from a distance.
Skeleton House
One of the main attractions in the Garden District during Halloween is the Skeleton House. You’ve probably noticed that New Orleanians love decorating their homes with skeletons, but this house takes it to a whole new level. Hundreds of skeletons gather in the yard — not just ordinary ones, but characters, memes, and fairy-tale figures. Many have funny captions, some even move, and you could easily spend an hour exploring every detail.
In 2024, ahead of Taylor Swift’s concert, the yard featured the Terror Swift installation, dedicated to the singer’s iconic looks. Check out my review.
Ghost Manor
Yes! Another performance house, this time on Magazine Street – Ghost Manor. The owners put on free shows all October right on the porch of their Victorian mansion. The performance features lights, artificial fog, projections, and even robotic skeletons.
The show lasts about half an hour, and during that time you’ll see singing and dancing skeletons — all created by one person, a “mad scientist”! Check out my review.
The Mortuary Haunted Mansion
An attraction right next to a cemetery in a century-old house that used to be a morgue. What? Yes! Spending just 10 minutes in this house will cost around $40, and every single second is worth it.
The Mortuary Haunted Mansion is New Orleans’ most famous Halloween experience! Every year they create a new horror theme and completely change the decorations. What awaits inside? Who knows. Just make it from start to finish — you’ll encounter live actors and incredibly intricate sets. Horror fans and adrenaline junkies, this is for you! You can even bring kids — I screamed louder than they did.
Throughout the month, they also host séances, cocktail parties, and immersive shows.
Хэллоуинский парад Krewe of Boo
Every October, the Krewe of Boo Parade takes place – the largest Halloween parade after Mardi Gras.
Along the main streets of New Orleans, dozens of horror-themed floats roll by, accompanied by hordes of zombies, skeletons, vampires, Beetlejuices, ghostly cowboys, and all sorts of supernatural creatures. And the costumes of the parade-goers themselves? Simply incredible – no one puts this much thought into their outfits like New Orleanians do.
Locals take these celebrations seriously – to be part of the parade, you need to plan your look down to the smallest detail, assemble a team, and, of course, join the fun.
Krewe of Boo is a chance to experience a slice of Mardi Gras – beads, candies, and souvenirs are tossed from the floats into the crowd. Perfect (and free!) keepsakes.
Check out my parade review here.
Halloween at Algiers Point
I wrote about Algiers Point, just across the Mississippi from the French Quarter, here. In short, it’s the coziest and safest neighborhood in New Orleans, full of colorful houses and creative locals. In October, literally every street becomes a Halloween attraction. But that’s not all – the area hosts some of the coolest private Halloween parties in the city!
Boos and Booze: The Official Algiers Point Halloween Crawl
If you’re lucky enough, you might find the date for the Adult Trick-or-Treat online. It’s basically an incredible booze-filled house crawl across Algiers Point, where every host tries to feed, drink, and amaze you. The party usually happens around mid-October – keep an eye on announcements.
Just imagine: you pay $10 and get a map of the neighborhood, where stations with drinks and snacks await. Everyone roams from party to party, and literally every costume is a work of art. Seriously, we even saw a full-size wine box costume. Fully functional. Bring activated charcoal – you won’t stay sober! Afterwards, there’s an after-party and a contest for the best costume at the local pub. Check out my review.
Boos and Booze 🎃🕸🕷 The Official Algiers Point Halloween Crawl!
October 31st – The True Halloween in Algiers Point
You’ve watched the movies, you’ve been waiting for THAT atmosphere. Kids in costumes go door-to-door yelling “Trick or treat!”, houses are decorated, pumpkins everywhere – all the classic Halloween vibes.
I lived in Algiers Point for a few months and know that for several years now, people from all over New Orleans come here for trick-or-treating. Almost every house welcomes guests, there are drag shows, live music, and, if you’re lucky, a chance to join someone’s private party. Simply the best Halloween experience of my life.
Check out my Algiers decorations review.
Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos
If you think the spooky celebrations end after October 31, think again – New Orleans hosts a Latin American Day of the Dead parade (usually November 1–2). Unlike the Krewe of Boo, anyone can join the procession.
If you loved the movie Coco, this is exactly that vibe! I always dreamed of experiencing Día de los Muertos in Mexico, but New Orleans, with its rich Latin heritage, left me equally impressed.
The costumes are incredible – not as scary as Halloween, but just as creative, with vibrant Latin-inspired designs. The parade features countless Catrinas – skeletons with flowers on their heads – plus drummers creating a solemn yet festive rhythm. There’s even a giant glowing Catrina!
A traditional Day of the Dead altar with candles and photos of deceased loved ones accompanies the procession.
Each year, the parade takes a slightly different route but always ends at a cemetery, honoring the memory of ancestors. At the cemetery, the procession pauses for a moment of silence at the altar, followed by a mariachi ensemble performing traditional Spanish songs – the celebration continues on sacred grounds.
The parade is organised by Krewe de Mayahuel, so check their page for exact dates and routes.
See my review here.