When September ends, New Orleans comes alive even more, and it is one of the greatest spots to celebrate Halloween. Houses are brightly illuminated, and some, such as the Berger Residence, are notably adorned each year, while scary houses open their doors. The atmosphere in the French Quarter is enough to entice eerie visitors, but the calendar of bone-chilling excitement, from parades to ghostly funeral homes, piques our interest.
Halloween in New Orleans is much more than a night for youngsters to go trick-or-treating with their parents. Like many other holidays, New Orleans celebrates in its distinct manner, replete with costume parties, balls, street celebrations, and, of course, a parade. If you're going to New Orleans for Halloween, be prepared for some macabre, eccentric delights.
Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween 2022 in New Orleans-
Ghosts in the Oaks takes place in New Orleans City Park and is suitable for the entire family. There will be no monsters leaping out behind trees, but there will be elements of light-hearted décor here and there to establish the tone. A few of the claimed benefits of going include unlimited carnival-style rides, crafts, trick or treating, and music. The revenues from the tickets are used to improve the park.
This event, which is not to be confused with the similarly themed music festival at City Park, has been held by Voodoo Authentica for over two decades. VoodooFest, occurring on October 31 from 1-7 p.m. at 612 Dumaine St. in the French Quarter, combines a lot of information, entertainment, and voodoo-inspired gift purchasing into one jam-packed event.
Priests will be on hand to talk and teach about Voodoo, Louisiana's interpretation of the faith, as well as the music and spirituality linked with the Lwa — the Voodoo pantheon's spirits. A small market will be set up outside the shop, selling practitioner-made potion oils, gris-gris bags, voodoo dolls, and African and Haitian art (maybe ideal gifts for the impending holidays?). VoodooFest concludes with an ancient healing ceremony.
Krewe Of Boo Parade is family-friendly Halloween celebration, which takes place this year on October 19, is one of the city's most magnificent parades outside of carnival season. The procession begins at 6:30 p.m. on Elysian Fields Ave. in the Marigny and travels through the Quarter to the Warehouse District. There will be several floats, dancing troupes, and throws themed after monsters, spooks, and other eerie goodies.
Furthermore, the Krewe organises its annual New Orleans Zombie Run that morning, so don't be shocked if a Saturday morning in New Orleans suddenly feels like a scene from 28 Days Later. This two-mile race begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at noon at Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant (701 Tchoupitoulas St.). Participants are invited to dress up as zombies and monsters. The race registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Pre-registration is available online, and tickets are $20 ($30 on race day).
The Monster Mash party concludes the festivities at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.) in the Warehouse District. This paid costume party begins at 8 p.m. (till) and is open to those aged 18 and older. Jt & The Ka-section Band will perform at the Monster Mash, and there will be a costume contest, beer promotions, and a massive dance party.
Scout Island Scream Park is a magnificent one-month extravaganza celebrating all things Halloween. During the weekends, families may bring their children for carnival rides, snacks, and a "no fright" kid zone with bouncy houses and other fun activities. At night, everything turns full-fledged horror, with fantastic effects transforming regular people into incomprehensible animals. It's a fun mash-up of two popular autumn activities: haunted houses and fairs.
This haunting attraction will debut on September 27 on Scout Island (1034 Harrison Ave.), a 14-acre wooded area of land surrounded by lagoons in City Park. The sets were designed by the same team who created The Mortuary on Canal St., so expect animatronics, jumping zombies, and other special effects. While the haunted house is for youngsters 13 and up, there is a "scare-free" Kid Zone on the island with kid-friendly elements including a hay labyrinth and pumpkin patch. The Scream Park is open till November 2.
The Hermann-Grima House Mourning Tour, also known as the Creole Death and Mourning Tour, is a morbid tour that investigates the rituals that New Orleans residents would go through after losing someone in the nineteenth century. Despite its tragic roots, it's an interesting history exhibit that you might be able to persuade your adolescent to attend. It is critical to learn ancient customs and civilizations, and this journey is only available in October.
There's Boo at the Zoo because kids need to have fun too, without having their evenings haunted with nightmares for weeks. Zoos, while not unique to any community, do an excellent job of offering a safe, engaging experience for families. The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans radiates just the perfect amount of eerie, and there are lots of animal activities to keep the youngsters entertained. There will also be trick-or-treating.
The NOLA Project theatrical group returns with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for their ninth collaboration with NOMA, featuring performances throughout October, including on Halloween Night. Ichabod Crane and the notorious Headless Horseman star in an outdoor, frightening, immersive spectacle. Food trucks and a fully stocked bar will be available for purchase in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Every year, hundreds of people converge on the steps of City Hall in New Orleans for a terrifying flash mob. This yearly festival draws people of all ages from the community, who practise for weeks before the main show. Come dressed up and ready to participate in the excitement on Halloween Day at noon.