I’ve celebrated Halloween in a handful of great American cities, but no place does it quite like New Orleans. I am approaching my second NOLA Halloween and have come to love how seriously the Big Easy takes spooky season. With a parade to rival those of Mardi Gras and real haunted mansions open for public exploration it is easy to spend time in New Orleans on Halloween and in the weeks surrounding the occasion.
History of Haunts in New Orleans
New Orleans is known as the most haunted city in America. This label comes for good reason – it is almost hard to find a place in the city that does not have some type of chilling past. From voodoo curses to vampire legends to ghost tales New Orleans can be a spooky place. The first house that I lived in in the city was a 180 year old double and I can recall more than a few unexplained occurrences during my lease.
Why is New Orleans so haunted?
Experts on the paranormal in the city have plenty of theories, but a few stand out. First – it is the basin of the Mississippi River Delta. Over 30 states and parts of Canada all empty into the Gulf directly beside the city. New Orleans is potentially a collecting point for anything negative that may come through the river.
The city has also faced historic tragedy like the Yellow Fever epidemic, cholera, violent storms and multiple fires that destroyed entire neighborhoods. All of this devastation can lead to a decently haunted city. Another thing to consider is the above ground graves. Since New Orleans is at (and partially below) sea level bodies cannot be buried, instead they are stored in above ground mausoleums. Due to this, the city’s living inhabitants are quite literally on the same level as their deceased.
New Orleans is an old place with some architecture (and mausoleums) still standing from pre-colonial days. Even without tales of voodoo priestesses, vampires, and killers the mixture of antebellum and gothic architecture makes this the quintessential American Halloween destination. Check out my list of the 13 things you must do in New Orleans on Halloween below.
13 Things You Must Do in New Orleans on Halloween
1. Krewe of Boo
Krewe of BOO is New Orleans’ official Halloween parade. The event is self-described as “the magnitude of Mardi Gras with the macabre theatrics of all Hallow’s eve.” Check out their list of events and locations here. Wear a costume!
2. Visit an (actual) Haunted House: The Mortuary
The Mortuary is a popular Halloween attraction in the city that prides itself with being a self guided haunted house in an actual haunted house. The popular location has been featured on a handful of ghost hunting shows and is open to the public. Buy tickets here.
3. Take a French Quarter Ghost Tour
There are plenty of ghost, vampire, and cemetery tours offered in New Orleans year round, but my personal favorite company to work with is Haunted History. The French Quarter Ghosts & Legends is their most popular, but they also offer an assortment of others to check out. This time of year, going in costume is encouraged. Book a tour here.
4. Run, Walk, or Crawl in the Zombie Run
The annual 2 mile zombie run is back on October 23! Participants are tasked with escaping the”zombie apocalypse” and are encouraged to come dressed for the occasion in biohazard suits, zombie makeup and even gas masks. To make the event even more realistic, the New Orleans Rollergirls act as the Zombie Killers and chase all participants. sign up here.
5. Check out Peek-a-Boo at the Zoo
For those looking for family friendly Halloween festivities, Peek-a-Boo at the Zoo is the way to go! Running until the 24th, this attraction offers kids of all ages the chance to trick or treat, venture through the maze, take themed photos and of course see all of the animals that Audubon Zoo has to offer. More details here.
6. Visit the New Orleans Vampire Cafe
The New Orleans Vampire Cafe’s menu and theme is based on the lavish gothic vibes of if a Vampire were your dinner host. The fun is in the details, like gold cutlery instead of silver, a menu without any garlic and cocktails based on your blood type.
7. Attend an Open Air Classical Concert
Livaudais Hall hosts an open air concert in their courtyard each year featuring spooky decor and classic compilations of songs like Michael Jackson’s Thriller and The Adam’s Family, as well as haunting classical pieces. The entire venue is candlelit making for an intimate setting for those more interested in the American Gothic side of Halloween. Tickets start at $40 for both Wednesday and Thursday before Halloween weekend.
8. Watch Rocky Horror Picture Show at the NOCHI
The NOCHI hotel offers a movie series with themed dinner, and the October 30th installment just so happens to be cult favorite Rocky Horror Picture Show. Admission includes dinner and a movie under the stars at their rooftop venue. Purchase tickets here.
9. Go On a Cemetery Tour
Can you guess the one thing that Nicholas Cage and Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau have in common? They both have a mausoleum in historic New Orleans cemetery St. Louis No. 1. No, Nicholas Cage hasn’t passed yet, he just loves the city so much he’s prepared. You can walk St. Louis No. 1 yourself for a small price of admission, but the tour is the way to go in my opinion.
10. Have a Drink in the Dungeon
Traipse through a narrow alley to enter the Dungeon – a bar located a block off Bourbon Street where seating is in cages and photography is prohibited. If you’ve ever wanted to sit down for a drink in Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, the Dungeon may just become your favorite bar in the Quarter.
11. Visit the Museum of Death and the Pharmacy Museum
These two attractions are both in the Quarter and don’t require more than an hour of your time each. Therefore, I recommend doing them as a pair. The Museum of Death is fairly self explanatory – go here to check out some of the interesting methods people used to utilize to say goodbye to their loved ones. They’ve also got an extensive skull collection and a reenacted crime scene. The Pharmacy museum is a historic apothecary that was owned and operated by one of New Orleans’ most infamous serial killers. Both tell an interesting story of the darker side of New Orleans history.
12. Party on Frenchmen Street on October 31st
For decades, historic Frenchmen Street has owned the day of Halloween in New Orleans. Partying starts early in the day here, wrung in by all of the quintessential jazz clubs and musicians. Everyone tends to dress up in unique costumes – and visitors are of course encouraged to show off their own.
13. Stay a Night in a Haunted Hotel
New Orleans has so many haunted hotels that I can actually choose favorites. The Hotel Monteleone is where you go for the lavish haunts, especially if you stay on the 14th floor. If the ghostly behavior gets too overwhelming you can also grab a drink downstairs at the famous carousel bar.
My personal favorite: The Bourbon Orleans Hotel. The Bourbon Orleans has a long history of being everything from a convent to an orphanage to a Ballroom. Some of the apparitions you may encounter here include nuns, children and even soldiers. There are plenty of AirBnB’s in the city that also claim ghostly behavior, and I would not doubt them for a second.
New Orleans is unlike any other city, and they do Halloween big here. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city for Halloween be sure to check out some of these events. Like what you see? Read more on New Orleans here.
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