French Quarter Halloween 2023: Bourbon Street & Beyond
A French Quarter Halloween has so much to offer. From kid-friendly activities, to ghost tours, to music festivals, and everything else in between, New Orleans has something for every ghoul and goblin! Keep reading and discover how to make the most of your French Quarter Halloween.
Table of Contents
- Why Spend Halloween in New Orleans?
- Family-Friendly Halloween
- Festivals and Events
- Beads, Beads, and More Beads
- Activities and Things to Do
- Carriage Rides and Tours
- Plantation Tours
- Cemetery Tours
- Ghost Tours
- Pub Crawls
- Visit Frenchmen Street
- French Quarter Halloween: What to Know Before you Go
- Weather and Preparedness
- Accessibility
- Booking Activities
Why Spend Halloween in New Orleans?
Family-Friendly Halloween
Many people when they think of New Orleans only think of Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street, but the city is so much more than that. Full of history and culture, the Big Easy has so much to offer to all ages and interests!
Bringing the family to the French Quarter for Halloween? Check out these popular annual Halloween activities the whole crew will enjoy:
Festivals and Events
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience: The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience is a multi-day music festival held in City Park in New Orleans on Halloween weekend, and has been nominated twice for Pollstar’s Music Festival of the Year! In 2018, the total attendance hit 180,000, so you can expect the French Quarter to come to life once the concert is over! For more information about Voodoo Fest, please visit https://www.voodoofestival.com)
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience debuted on Halloween weekend in 1999
New Orleans Zombie Run: This unique, 2-mile race through New Orleans’ Warehouse District attracts hundreds of zombies every year. Don’t forget your zombie make-up and costume, and have a thriller of a time! For more information about the Zombie Run, please visit http://www.neworleanszombierun.com.
Escape the Zombie Apocalypse at the New Orleans Zombie Run
Beads, Beads, and More Beads
Krewe of Boo Halloween Parade: The Krewe of Boo Halloween parade is one you don’t want to miss! This is a great family-friendly parade where the little monsters can collect beads, toys, pralinettes, and more! This parade begins in the Marigny, rolls up Decatur Street to Canal, and ends at Tchoupitoulas.
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Time: 6:30pm
The Krewe of Boo Halloween Parade is the Official Halloween Parade of New Orleans
Jim Monaghan’s Halloween Parade: Jim Monaghan’s Halloween Parade takes place on Halloween night, making it the perfect spooky start to your French Quarter Halloween night! The great thing about this parade is that anyone can be in it by purchasing a ticket from Molly’s at the Market, where the parade begins. If that’s not your style, that’s okay, too! Just arrive in your costume and get ready to catch some moon pies!
The parade begins at Molly’s at the Market located at 1107 Decatur Street in the French Quarter
Activities and Things to Do
Besides seasonal events, New Orleans offers activities year-round that celebrate their haunted heritage. Check out these popular New Orleans activities and things to do to make your French Quarter Halloween as spooky as possible:
Carriage Rides and Tours
With carriage ride coupons available, this is a fun and unique way to see the French Quarter on a budget
Let the good times roll on a New Orleans carriage ride! This is a great way to sit back, relax, and get an up-close-and-personal experience of the French Quarter, without all the walking. Tours are available during the day and at night, so you can choose how spooky you want it to be.
{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Carriage Rides Online}
Plantation Tours
A plantation tour is an incredible source for the area’s history and hauntings
With incredible beauty, vast history, and supernatural influence, visiting a plantation home is the perfect Halloween activity for all interests. Travel through time as you visit the plantation, and get a more thorough understanding of why this area of Louisiana is so haunted.
{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Plantation Tours Online}
Cemetery Tours
This pyramid-shaped tomb is the future resting place of actor Nicholas Cage located in St. Louis Cemetery No.1
Whether you’re traveling to New Orleans for Halloween, Mardi Gras, or any time of year, taking a New Orleans cemetery tour should be at the top of your to-do list. The unique, above-ground tombs are a signature of New Orleans, and have a very interesting story behind them.
{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Cemetery Tours Online}
Ghost Tours
St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square in the French Quarter
Visitors love looking for ghosts. From walking tours to paranormal investigations, and from topics of vampires to voodoo, the options are practically endless!
With a paranormal expert as your guide, journey through the French Quarter and beyond. Search for orbs, red eyes, and all varieties of ghosts in New Orleans.
{Read Reviews & Book Ghost Tours Online}
Pub Crawls
Group enjoys cocktails on their haunted pub crawl with Ghost Adventures Tours
Ghosts, ghouls, and great drinks make for the perfect French Quarter Halloween! A pub crawl visits the most historic, and haunted, best New Orleans bars, and is a great way to enjoy a delicious cocktail while learning about the French Quarter and its history.
{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Pub Crawls Online}
Frenchmen Street
Image by SnippyHolloW via Flickr
Every year, Frenchmen Street in New Orleans hosts one of the biggest Halloween parties in the country, as tens of thousands of people hit the streets for a night of spirits and spirits! With live music and entertainment at every corner, there’s an endless amount of fun to be had!
French Quarter Halloween: What to Know Before you Go
Weather and Preparedness
Weather can be unpredictable in New Orleans, and it is recommended to check the forecast before packing for your trip
Preparing for a major event, such as Halloween in New Orleans, can at times be stressful and overwhelming. One important thing to keep in mind, however, is the weather. For example, if there is rain in the forecast, with parts of New Orleans being below sea level, packing some rain boots may just save your favorite shoes from getting ruined in standing water.
Another thing that inclement weather can cause is cancellations. Keep this in mind when booking activities. It is recommended to spread activities out and try to be flexible in case the need to reschedule arises.
Accessibility
Be prepared for bumpy and uneven roads when visiting New Orleans
Another important thing to be aware of is that whenever you’re in the French Quarter, there will be quite a bit of walking. It is important to remember to bring comfortable shoes, and be careful when walking these historic streets.
The city’s history and deep roots, however, are quite literally bursting at the seams, causing cracks in the sidewalks and uneven roads. This, along with construction throughout the city, can make for a hazardous walk. If you or anyone in your party has any accessibility issues, please let your TripShock booking agent know, and they will help find the tours and activities that best meet your needs.
Booking Activities
TripShock Customer Service Representatives are available 7 days a week to assist in making your New Orleans vacation as seamless as possible
When booking activities for your French Quarter Halloween Extravaganza, it is important to keep a few things in mind:
- Book in advance. This may prevent any future headaches caused by scheduling conflicts and activities being sold out.
- Check your TripShock Voucher. The voucher you receive after booking will have all of the important information you need to know such as when to arrive, where to go, and what to bring.
- You may not have cell phone service. With thousands of people in town for the holiday, cell service won’t be at its best. It is recommended to screenshot your voucher or any other important information you may need before heading to your next adventure.
- Travel Time. It is recommended to get to each activity in advance, and this calls for some planning when it comes to travel time. Again, with so many people in town, it may take longer than anticipated to get to your tour/departure location. Please allow yourself extra time to get to and from each activity.
Halloween in the French Quarter is an experience like no other. With parades, pub crawls, and everything else in between, getting your spook on is easy when in New Orleans, LA! If you’re looking for fun and cheap things to do at night in the French Quarter, check out our recent article covering the French Quarter after dark!