Krewe of Boo headlines a weekend of Halloween fun
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Krewe of Boo has a nod to most creepy things in its parade. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
The monsters come out to play this weekend in New Orleans, with a Halloween parade, vampire royalty and parties galore.
Why it matters: It's time to break out your costume and hit the streets.
The big picture: Krewe of Boo starts in the Marigny at 6:30pm Saturday, bringing monsters, music and spooky mayhem to downtown New Orleans.
- The parade will have 15 floats and 45 marching, dancing and riding subkrewes, a press release says.
- The krewe's throws lean heavy toward edible items — CheeWees, Zapp's, MoonPies, pralines, coffee and gumbo mixes.
- New this year: A "BOO Runner Red Beans" throw by Blue Runner.
- The krewe's costume afterparty, the Monster Mash, is open to the public.
Zoom in: Anne Rice's son, Christopher Rice, and her friend, Eric Shaw Quinn, are this year's grand marshals to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her most famous novel, "Interview with the Vampire."
- The book introduced the world to the vampire Lestat and cemented New Orleans' place in vampire lore.
- The parade features an "Interview with the Vampire" float and branded go-cups.
- On Sunday, the Prytania Uptown will screen "Interview with the Vampire," starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas.
- Alys Arden, host of the Anne Rice Vampire Ball, will introduce the film and do a Q&A with Christopher Rice and Quinn about the book.
- Rice and Quinn have several other local appearances through Halloween.
More Halloween events this weekend
Adults only
- The Queen's Labyrinth Ball: A full costume is required.
- Nightmare Circus: A dark cabaret featuring aerial performances and creepy clowns at The AllWays Lounge.
- Rave till the Grave: Halloween-themed rave at The Rabbit Hole.
- Blood Barge: A vampire-themed cruise on the Creole Queen paddlewheeler.
For the kids
- Riverwalk's Halloween Fest has balloon artists and trick-or-treating.
- Boo Carre in Dutch Alley has a pie-eating contest, petting zoo, music and trick-or-treating.
- Fall Fest at Parc des Familles has a pumpkin patch, hayride and a corn maze.
- There's a sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat in Metairie, along with a regular trunk-or-treat at Lafreniere Park
- The free Halloween festival at the Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center has a haunted escape room.
Fun for all
🎃 Glass-blowing: Make your own pumpkin at Yaya Arts Center.
🧟 Zombie Run: The Zombie Killers (aka Big Easy Roller Derby) chase the walking/running dead through the Warehouse District.
🔫 Zombie paintball: Hunt the undead at NOLA Motorsports Park.
🤣 Boo Ha Ha Ha: Halloween-themed sketch comedy at Big Couch.
🧛🏻♂️ Teen vampire ball: Free event for young vamps at the East Bank Regional Library.
⚰️ Creole death and mourning tour: Learn about 19th-century mourning rituals for Creole Catholics at Gallier House.
🤒 Saffron Scourge: Yellow fever killed a tenth of the city's population in 1853. Join the Ghostly Gallivant tour to learn more.
Plus, we've got spooky bar pop-ups, shows at Ghost Manor and selfies at Skeleton House.
The bottom line: Festivities will continue almost daily through the end of the month.