Voodoo, hauntings, and cemeteries: New Orleans lends itself to Halloween. The connection between the city and the holiday feels natural. New Orleans—moody in its architecture, music, and history—pairs perfectly with the mysterious, haunting atmosphere of Halloween. It is most evident in the month of October that there is always something to do in New Orleans. If you wanted to be booked and busy starting October 1st till the end of Halloweekend—you could do it. However, for the sake of simplicity I am sharing just a few Halloween activities happening in October.
Image via People Magazine
Decoration Walk
New Orleanians are good decorators. In both Uptown and the Garden District if you walk along residential streets you can see excellent Halloween decorations, in combination with already beautiful houses. But most importantly, you can see Louellen Berger’s home—6000 St. Charles Avenue—better known as the “skeleton house.” Each year Berger decorates her front lawn with skeletons and an overarching theme. Last year, in honor of Taylor Swift performing at Caesar’s Superdome, the theme was “Terror Swift: The scERAS tour.” Skeletons were dressed as Swift’s different eras. Past themes also include “Maison Masquerade” and “E.T. Bone Home.”
Costumes
Halloween often constitutes people buying cheap accessories and costumes they will throw away after one use. However, New Orleans has many quality costume shops and second hand shops at which you can purchase fun, unique costumes and pieces; pieces you can save for one of the other hundred New Orleans events that permits a costume. In the French Quarter Fifi Mahoney’s has wigs and other head pieces to enhance your costume. On Magazine Street is both Uptown Costume and Dancewear and Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothing and Costumes. Magazine Street also has good vintage and second hand shops like Funky Monkey and Buffalo Exchange for purchasing elements of your costumes.
Image via Grace Wood
The Prytania
Any film enthusiast can appreciate the Prytaia at Uptown—New Orleans’ oldest theatre. It has one single room, however, throughout the month of October it will show dozens of Halloween movies including Halloween, The Exorcist, The Corpse Bride, The Haunting, and Frankenstein. Tickets range from eight to thirteen dollars.
Image via New Orleans Ballet Theatre
New Orleans Ballet Theatre: Dracula
The New Orleans Ballet Theatre is putting on a production of Dracula from October 24th to the 30th. While I would not normally associate ballet with Halloween, the dark music in combination with such expressive yet refined dance seems perfect for the occasion. Tickets start at forty-three dollars and guests are encouraged to wear costumes to the showing.
Image via kreweofboo.com
Krewe of Boo
Because no celebration in New Orleans is complete without a parade, Krewe of Boo is the official Halloween parade of New Orleans. This year it will take place on Saturday, October 25th beginning at 6:30 p.m. The parade assembles at Elysian Fields Avenue and walks through the French Quarter close to the Mississippi River. It briefly turns into Canal Street and then finishes at Andrew Higgins Drive. Costumes are not a suggestion but a requirement.
The Mortuary Haunted Mansion
If you are the haunted house type, The Mortuary is a pretty mansion, built in 1872, located in the Garden District. The building operated for eighty years as an actual mortuary (a funeral home or morgue). However it is now, of course, haunted by a daughter of Eden. This daughter—the Queen of the Night—created evil and resides in the Mortuary. She supposedly “knows what scares you.” If you are not sure what scares you you can find out with a general admission ticket of twenty-five dollars.
Spooky Sips at The Press Room
If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, The Press Room located in the Eliza Jane Hotel is offering Halloween themed cocktails from October 17th through November 2nd. Cocktails include Apple of My Eye, The Séance, Blood and Smoke, and Full Moon Martini.
Image via frenchmanstreetlive.com
Frenchman Street, October 31st
With countless ways to celebrate throughout October, Halloween night in New Orleans is just as busy. If you are hoping to exit the Tulane bubble, Frenchman Street in the Faubourg Marigny is filled with crowds (all in costume) and lots of music. While you could plan your night around a specific event—it is most easy (and probably most fun) to simply walk with the crowd and let the natural parking that is New Orleans and Halloween guide you.
