French Quarter Halloween: Bourbon Street and Beyond (2025 Guide)

From glow-in-the-dark beads and haunted balconies to candlelit rituals and full-on costumed parades, Halloween in New Orleans is a thrill ride for your senses. It’s part Gothic masquerade, part historic walking tour, and part neighborhood block party with centuries of eerie charm baked in.

Whether you’re chasing ghosts, sipping a Sazerac in a vampire bar, or dancing through the French Quarter in full costume, this guide has everything you need to make your Halloween in NOLA unforgettable—from the iconic to the downright otherworldly.

🎃 What Halloween in New Orleans Actually Feels Like

Halloween in the French Quarter is a sensory overload—in the best way. The city transforms into a Gothic dream, steeped in local legend and just the right amount of chaos.

Expect to see:

• Balconies draped in cobwebs and flickering lanterns

• Brass bands echoing down narrow, haunted alleys

• Costumed crowds dancing from dusk till well past midnight

• Candlelit rituals in courtyards older than the United States

• Street performers channeling ghosts and folklore

Whether you’re following a parade, wandering into a vampire-themed bar, or eavesdropping on ghost stories from a carriage ride, the Quarter hums with eerie energy all October long.

🧛‍♂️ Can’t-Miss Halloween Events in New Orleans (2025)

🪄 The Spirits of the French Quarter: Ghosts, Vampires, Voodoo and Cemeteries

You don’t need a costume to feel the spirits in the French Quarter—they’re already here. Most haunted tours combine ghost stories, vampire legends, voodoo rituals, and historic cemeteries into one unforgettable experience. Here’s what you’ll uncover:

👻 Ghosts of the Quarter

New Orleans is widely considered one of the most haunted cities in America. Beneath the jazz and wrought-iron balconies lies a chilling past of fires, duels, epidemics, and betrayal.

• LaLaurie Mansion: A beautiful facade, pictured above, hides a gruesome history of torture and tragedy.

• Hotel Monteleone: Reports of ghost children and unexplained elevator rides are common.

• Ursuline Convent: A hotspot for vampire lore and sealed secrets.

Spooky fact: Many buildings in the French Quarter pre-date electricity and indoor plumbing. Cold spots, flickering lights, and phantom footsteps have been reported for over a century—often in buildings where no wiring or logical explanation exists.

🧛‍♀️ Vampires in New Orleans

The vampire legends here aren’t just fiction. From early colonial tales to Anne Rice’s iconic novels, the city drips with bloodsucking lore.

• The Casket Girls arrived in the 1700s with coffin-shaped chests, fueling vampire rumors.

• Ursuline Convent attic: Still sealed to this day. Locals have... theories about this place, pictured above. Some even claim to have seen shadows move in the windows or lights flicker when no one is inside.

• Modern vampire culture thrives through secret societies and ritual balls.

Spooky fact: In 1936, two bodies were discovered in the French Quarter—drained entirely of blood, with no sign of wounds or struggle. The police never identified a suspect, and the case was never solved. Locals still whisper that it was the work of one of New Orleans’ “living vampires.”

🕯️ Voodoo: The Real Story

Forget what you’ve seen in movies. New Orleans Voodoo is a living, sacred spiritual tradition.

• Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

• Voodoo shops, like the one pictured, and shrines offer authentic tools and teachings.

Spooky fact: Visitors to Marie Laveau’s tomb often leave offerings like beads, flowers, or handwritten wishes. It’s believed that if you draw three Xs on her tomb and whisper a request, she may grant it—just be sure to return and circle your Xs in thanks if it comes true.

🪦 Cities of the Dead: Above-Ground Cemeteries

New Orleans cemeteries feature raised tombs due to the high water table, creating “cities of the dead.”

• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Home to Marie Laveau and countless legends.

• Lafayette Cemetery No. 1: Featured in films and ghost tours alike.

Spooky fact: New Orleans tombs can act like stone ovens in the summer, reaching temperatures hot enough to aid in natural decomposition—one reason why families traditionally used the same tomb for generations, with the remains of the last occupant moved to make room for the next.

🚌 How to Explore the Spooky Side of NOLA

• Walking tours offer in-depth storytelling.

• Carriage rides provide a slower-paced haunted journey.

• Bus tours cover more ground (and AC if you need it).

• Haunted pub crawls combine storytelling with spirited drinks at some of the Quarter’s oldest bars.

👉 Explore all haunted tours in New Orleans

🍸 Haunted Bars, Cemeteries and Secret Spots Locals Love

Even when it’s not Halloween, these spots serve up eerie vibes:

• Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Rumored pirate haunt and oldest bar in America (pictured).

• The LaLaurie Mansion: Can’t go in, but chilling to see up close.

• St. Louis Cathedral: Watch the shadows stretch long across Jackson Square at dusk.

• May Baily’s Place: This former bordello-turned-bar is now part of the haunted Dauphine Orleans Hotel and often included on haunted pub crawls.

🐈‍⬛ Bonus: Planning Tips for Halloween in NOLA

• Book tours early – They sell out fast, especially the week of Halloween.

• Stay in or near the French Quarter – Everything is walkable, and parking is a nightmare.

• Bring cash – Some vendors and bars are cash-only, especially during street parties.

• Hydrate – Halloween can still be hot and humid in New Orleans.

• Pack extra costume accessories – People go big on Halloween here. You might want to add something fun or dramatic last-minute.

🦇 Most Haunted Hotels in New Orleans

Want to sleep with one eye open? These historic hotels come with plenty of eerie ambiance (and in some cases, uninvited guests):

• Hotel Monteleone – Haunted elevators, ghost children, and a famously eerie 14th floor.

• Dauphine Orleans Hotel – Said to be visited by Civil War spirits and the ghost of a former madam.

• Bourbon Orleans Hotel – Known for ghostly nuns and ballroom phantoms.

• The Andrew Jackson Hotel – A popular stop on ghost tours for reports of poltergeist activity (pictured).

Book early—these fill up fast for Halloween week.

🕷️ Free Halloween Things to Do in New Orleans

Celebrating spooky season on a budget? No problem. Here are a few ways to get your fill of haunted fun without spending a dime:

• Watch the Krewe of BOO! Parade – Free to attend and a guaranteed spectacle.

• Stroll Frenchmen Street on Halloween night – It becomes one big costume party.

• Explore Halloween house displays – Residents of the Garden District and Marigny go all out.

• People-watch in Jackson Square – Costumes, performers, and vibes for days.

• Visit local Voodoo altars and public shrines – Many are accessible with no fee.

🔮 French Quarter Halloween FAQs

Is Halloween in New Orleans safe?
Yes—stick to crowds, stay aware, and drink water between cocktails.

Do people wear costumes on Bourbon Street Halloween night?
Yes. Full gear. No costume = you’ll feel left out.

Are tours available on Halloween night?
Yes, but book early. Ghost tours and pub crawls sell out quickly.

Frenchmen or Bourbon Street?
Both. Bourbon is louder. Frenchmen has better music. Wear good shoes.

Can I bring kids?
Yes, with careful planning. Stick to daytime events and PG-rated activities.

⚜️ Book Your Haunted New Orleans Experience

New Orleans doesn’t just celebrate Halloween. It becomes Halloween. With haunted streets, living legends, and celebrations that mix magic and mayhem, the French Quarter is where October finds its true form. Whether you’re here for ghosts, music, mischief, or mystery—the spirits are waiting.

🔍 Browse all New Orleans tours and experiences
🔍 Book ghost + cemetery + voodoo combo tours
🔍 Hop on a haunted pub crawl

Happy Haunting. 👻