Oct 1, 2025 - Things to Do
25+ scary good ways to celebrate Halloween in New Orleans
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New Orleans Halloween is all about costumes and spooky vibes. Photo: Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images
For a holiday dedicated to overindulgence and costuming, you can bet that New Orleans is going to be perfect at celebrating Halloween.
Zoom in: That's just part of what makes this city a delightful place to be during spooky season. We've also got ghosts, vampires and lots of family-friendly fun.
- Here are some of our favorite ways to celebrate this year.
🍴 Get a scary good meal.
- Several French Quarter restaurants are reputed to be haunted by spirits. Check them out and see if you feel the spirits of those who came before.
- If hanging with the undead is more your speed, stop by the Vampire Cafe for a blood bag cocktail.
- The spooky Black Lagoon pop-up returns Oct. 8 to Anna's, too.
👻 Get spooked at a haunted house.
- A stop at The Mortuary or New Orleans Nightmare should do the trick.
- I took my preteen goddaughter to New Orleans Nightmare last year, and I swear I even saw her starting to speed up through some of the scares. Go deeper.
🎃 Find the perfect pumpkin.
- The New Orleans area has plenty of locally owned spots to pick up a pumpkin perfect for painting, carving or just hanging out on your porch. The New Orleans Moms blog has a full guide to local patches.
💐 Get crafty.
- Get into the spirit of things by learning to make your own fancy Halloween-themed cookies with pastry chef Matt Serkes. Details.
- Or join Fat Cat Flowers in making your own seasonal floral centerpiece. Tickets.
🦁 Be a party animal.
- Boo at the Zoo is the Audubon Zoo's annual spooky extravaganza, and it returns Oct. 17–19. The family-friendly fun includes trick-or-treating, photo-ops and a haunted house.
- Another option is Ghosts in the Oaks at City Park's Carousel Gardens, which runs Oct. 16–19. This year's "Monster Mash" edition has a new trick-or-treat pathway.
- For a free celebration, head to the French Market's Boo Carré, a family-friendly event Oct. 25 with trick-or-treating, live music and a spooky second line. Costumed kids get a free tote bag, too.
☠️ Snap a selfie at the Skeleton House.
- It's not fall in New Orleans until the Skeleton House gets all dressed up. Pop by 6000 St. Charles Ave. to see the punny decorations that change every year.
- The Kraken House at 6274 Memphis St. in Lakeview is also a fun stop.
- Other festive homes.
- Worth noting: Ghost Manor is taking a break this year while there's construction on Magazine Street.
🍬 Take the family trick-or-treating.
- Every neighborhood has its own traditions, so ask around to find what's near you.
- If going door-to-door isn't your jam, try trunk-or-treating in Lafreniere Park at 6pm Oct. 18, or walk the Riverwalk Outlets at 4pm on Oct. 25.
- Fontainebleau State Park also has trick-or-treating events. The Times-Picayune has a full North Shore guide for Halloween.
🐩 Show off your perfect pooch.
- More of a dog parent? Get Fido all dressed up for Dat Dog's Howl-o-weenie dog costume contest Oct. 25.
🎉 Hit the streets.
- The Krewe of Boo Halloween parade rolls at 6:30pm on Oct. 25.
- Or roll sustainably with the Krewe of Krampus as it celebrates Swampus with a walking parade through the French Quarter on Oct. 4.
🧛 Hear a spooky story.
- Take a ghost tour or visit one of New Orleans' famous cemeteries.
🍻 Leave the kids at home and find a party.
- Grab a costume and head to one of the many adults-only events to celebrate the season, like City Park's Brews and Boos, and the AllWays Lounge has both a Rocky Horror Striptease Show and Blood & Glitter Burlesque. GrrlSpot is hosting a queer women's Halloween party, too.