*To read the updated version of this post, click here!
Halloween in New Orleans is second only to Mardi Gras when it comes to costumes, revelry, and an overall good time! It comes as no surprise that New Orleans is so rich in haunted history as it is widely known as "The Most Haunted City in America". If you thought that Halloween was just a night for the kids, think again! Here in New Orleans, like most everything else, it's different. Few cities revel in the ghastly and supernatural like New Orleans does. Check out how to celebrate the most haunting weekend of the year:
Haunted Tours
Spirits of the city’s storied and sometimes dark past are still believed to dwell in the many of the city's old buildings and graveyards. From the LaLaurie Mansion to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, there are traces of the supernatural all over the city, from the French Quarter to the Garden District. To experience these paranormal phenomena, a number of tours are offered by experienced guides. Take one, if you dare, and see why New Orleans' title of "Most Haunted City in America" is well deserved!
*Please note that under the new rules set by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, ALL visitors to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 MUST be accompanied by licensed tour guide.
Street Parties
Of course any celebration involving costumes is going to be popular in New Orleans! One of the biggest celebrations occurs on Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, a short walk from the French Quarter. Frenchmen Street will be packed with partygoers, tourists and locals alike, showing off their most elaborate, and even outlandish, costumes.
Jim Monaghan's Halloween Parade will roll again with its annual procession through the French Quarter on Monday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. Costumed riders will toss Halloween-themed throws from horse-drawn carriages, plus there will be local marching clubs, bands and dance troupes. The route begins and ends at Molly's at the Market, and the parade will pause at the Erin Rose for a costume contest.
Family Friendly Activities
If you’re looking for something a little more family-friendly, be sure to check out Audubon Zoo’s annual “Boo at the Zoo.” A local favorite, the Zoo stays open late for a night filled with entertainment, food, trick-or-treating, scary stories, fun rides, a haunted house, and more, plus an opportunity for the little ones to get up close and personal with some of the friendlier animals.
The Louisiana Children’s Museum, located in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District often stages Halloween-related events and activities for the little ones.
For music lovers, the annual Voodoo Music + Arts Festival kicks off Friday, October 28 in City Park. For a full list of Halloween festivities going on in the city, click here.
While you’re in the spirit, check out the 5 most haunted places in the French Quarter by clicking the button below!
Every female solo traveler is different when it comes to exploring a city alone at night. Some are reluctant to leave the comfort of their hotel, others are eager to hit the town, and some want to be out and about, but don’t want to drink alcohol. Our list of 7 things to do at night as a solo traveler in New Orleans has something to suit every preference!