Key takeaways
- The Krewe of BOO! rolls Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. : free to watch.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (founded 1789) requires a licensed tour : it's where Marie Laveau is believed buried.
- Pick a ghost, vampire, voodoo or true-crime tour : they're very different experiences.
- On Halloween night, Frenchmen Street and the French Quarter become a giant costume party.
New Orleans has a complicated relationship with death : and a joyful one. This is a city of jazz funerals, above-ground tombs, Voodoo shrines and centuries-old buildings with dark stories. It also loves a costume more than almost anywhere in America. Put those together and Halloween becomes one of the most authentic, atmospheric and fun times to visit.
Why New Orleans does Halloween so well
- History: Founded in 1718, the city has three centuries of fires, epidemics, duels, hurricanes and legends.
- Architecture: Creole cottages, iron balconies and candlelit courtyards look haunted without trying.
- Spiritual traditions: Catholic saints, Voodoo, Spiritualism and All Saints' Day customs coexist.
- Costume culture: Thanks to Mardi Gras, locals keep costumes ready year-round.
- Music: Brass bands, jazz clubs and street musicians provide the soundtrack.
The cities of the dead
New Orleans' cemeteries, with their rows of whitewashed tombs, are unlike any others in America. The city's high water table and its French and Spanish traditions led to above-ground burial in family tombs and wall vaults known as "ovens."
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Founded in 1789, it is the oldest existing cemetery in the city and contains the tomb believed to hold Marie Laveau, the famous 19th-century Voodoo priestess. Since 2015, visitors must enter with a licensed tour company (families of the interred excepted), after vandalism damaged tombs. Please don't mark tombs with "X"s : it's vandalism, not tradition.
Other cemeteries
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 and No. 3 : elaborate tombs and quieter visits.
- Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District : closed for restoration in recent years; check whether it has reopened before you go.
- Metairie Cemetery : grand monuments and some of the city's most impressive mausoleums.
Voodoo history
New Orleans Voodoo grew from West African religious traditions brought by enslaved people, blended with Catholicism and influences from Haiti. It is a living religion, not a Halloween costume, and the best way to learn is from practitioners and historians.
- Marie Laveau (1801–1881), a free woman of color, was the city's most famous Voodoo priestess and a respected community figure.
- The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum in the French Quarter introduces the religion's history and practices.
- Voodoo shops sell gris-gris bags, candles and herbs; many offer readings.
Approach Voodoo sites with respect; they are sacred to many people.
Ghost tours: choose your flavor
Dozens of companies run walking tours through the French Quarter every night. They differ a lot:
| Tour type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Ghost tour | Haunted buildings, tragic tales, spooky storytelling |
| Vampire tour | Local vampire legends and Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire (set in New Orleans) |
| Voodoo tour | History of the religion, Marie Laveau and sacred sites |
| Cemetery tour | Daytime history of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and burial traditions |
| True-crime tour | Darker, real crimes; usually adults only |
| Haunted pub crawl | Ghost stories with drinks (21+) |
Famous haunted sites
- The LaLaurie Mansion on Royal Street, associated with the horrific abuse of enslaved people discovered after an 1834 fire : one of the city's most infamous stories. It's a private home; view from the street.
- Haunted hotels : several historic French Quarter hotels promote their resident ghosts and host ghost-themed stays.
- Pirate's Alley and St. Louis Cathedral : atmospheric at night and steeped in legend.
- Old Ursuline Convent : one of the oldest buildings in the Mississippi Valley, linked to persistent "casket girls" vampire legends.
The Krewe of BOO! 2026
New Orleans' official Halloween parade brings Mardi Gras–style floats, marching bands and costumed riders to the streets.
- When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free to watch.
- Route: Starts on Elysian Fields Avenue in the Marigny, runs along North Peters and Decatur past Jackson Square to Canal Street, then into the Warehouse District.
Catch throws just as you would at Mardi Gras. Arrive early for a good spot along Decatur.
Halloween night itself
On October 31 : a Saturday in 2026 : New Orleans becomes a giant street costume party:
- Frenchmen Street in the Marigny draws a creative, local-leaning crowd and great live music.
- Bourbon Street is louder and more chaotic.
- Garden District and Uptown homes go all-out with decorations; families trick-or-treat on famous blocks.
- Many bars and clubs host costume contests and themed parties.
Family-friendly options
- Boo at the Zoo-style events at the Audubon Zoo (check current dates).
- Daytime cemetery tours focused on history rather than horror.
- Trick-or-treating in Uptown and the Garden District.
- City Park and its seasonal attractions.
Practical tips
- Book hotels early : Halloween weekend and the parade weekend are busy.
- Wear comfortable shoes for uneven sidewalks.
- Expect heat : late October can still be warm and humid; choose breathable costumes.
- Use rideshares or the streetcar rather than driving in the Quarter.
- Stay aware in crowds and keep valuables secure.
- Bring a costume. Seriously : locals will.
Eat the season
Don't leave without beignets, a muffuletta, gumbo, and pralines. Many restaurants serve Halloween specials, and some historic dining rooms come with their own ghost stories.
Continue the journey
New Orleans pairs with Savannah, Charleston and St. Augustine for a southern ghost-town tour. See Halloween in the American South, Savannah, Georgia at Halloween and America's Best Halloween Destinations.
Questions & answers
Is New Orleans good for Halloween?
Yes. New Orleans is one of the best Halloween cities in the U.S., with dozens of ghost and vampire tours, historic cemeteries, voodoo history, the Krewe of BOO! parade and huge costumed crowds in the French Quarter and on Frenchmen Street.
When is the Krewe of Boo parade in 2026?
The Krewe of BOO! parade rolls on Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m. It begins on Elysian Fields Avenue, passes through the French Quarter near Jackson Square to Canal Street, and ends in the Warehouse District.
Can you visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 on your own?
No. Since 2015, the Archdiocese of New Orleans has required visitors to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to enter with a licensed tour company, except for families of those interred, to protect the tombs from vandalism.
Why are New Orleans graves above ground?
New Orleans' high water table and frequent flooding made in-ground burial difficult, and French and Spanish burial traditions favored above-ground tombs. The rows of tombs earned the cemeteries the nickname 'cities of the dead.'
Parade routes and times can change; check kreweofboo.com before you go. Cemetery access rules are set by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and may change.