Halloween In The French Quarter is Better Than Mardi Gras
Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
en’s getting close, and death flourishes in New Orleans. The close connection to otherworldly milieux spreads fast across the French Quarter, as the clicking of Victorian laced heels rush to costume parties and liquored haunts. This was my home for five years; a place I fell in love with, and my heart would never feel the same way anywhere else.
This old city lights up in October. Halloween is Louisiana's biggest money maker of the year. Parades fill the cobblestone streets, and The Voodoo Music Festival was once the most significant party of the year until a dispute with LiveNation froze it in time. But there’s plenty of music in this place, so let’s not cry about that…
Imaginations run wild with unique costumery—I once witnessed a “burned witch on the cross”... the most realistic rig I’d ever seen on Halloween night. She was literally attached to a real, hand fashioned wooden cross, carried by a group of friends through the streets. They held lanterns that lit up her special effects makeup, which included dramatic burns and a bloody bald cap with just enough of her hair showing to look authentic. I was hypnotized by the jarring scene.
Photo by Kate Guyon
The music festival isn’t the only thing going on through the holiday. Haunted tours, carriages and adult parties break out on every corner; it’s a Devil’s Paradise. Antique hearses are used as “party buses”, and the hoodoo stores stay open late. Grab a small, mummified alligator head to make sure nobody mugs you; maybe throw in a couple of gris gris bags to boost. If the drinks are too expensive in the taverns, just walk down the street and purchase your liquor at a corner store with real bullet holes showing behind the counter. Keep your eyes open—you might catch the glimpse of a TEC-9 behind the sales clerk. Make sure you’re hospitable.
Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons
You can do this because New Orleans has an open container law. It’s quite normal to walk around with your liquor as long as you pour it into a plastic cup first (You can also pick up a pack of those while you’re asking the clerk about those bullet holes).
The French Quarter is literally booming with killer music all night long; in the streets, spilling out of bars, and on parade floats. Locals can’t be bored. All one has to do is to step outside the front door, and immediately, the city opens her arms to you. Strangers are friends, and everybody’s dancing.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit New Orleans, I’d suggest planning your trip for the festivities of the best Halloween fever in the country. It blows away Mardi Gras. Trust me—I used to live and love there. My heart still does.
If you’re fortunate enough to be close to New Orleans this year, here’s a (very short) list of Halloween events:
The traditional and most celebrated Halloween Parade will roll at sunset, October 21st through the French Quarter to the Warehouse district.
Voodoo Authentica is hosting a VoodooFest (Not to be confused with the now retired music festival of City Park). This is a spirit thing—with Priests speaking about New Orleans Voodoo tradition, a small market set up outside the shop with Haitian and African art, and a closing ancestral healing ritual. Starts at 1pm at 612 Dumaine Street and ends at 7pm.
For a child-friendly parade, you can check out the Krewe of Boo Halloween Procession on Sat, Oct. 21st. Starts at 6:30 p.m., starting at Elysian Fields Ave. in the Marigny.
The New Orleans Zombie Run is a short, 2 mile “marathon” that kicks off at 9am and ends at noon. Participants are highly encouraged to dress as zombies. Pre-register online here: Zombie Run
The Frenchmen Street Party. This is a massive street party that really gets going after 10pm. Keep ducking in and out of the bars to refresh yourself.
The Official Anne Rice Vampire Ball will take place October 26 at 6:30pm and end on October 27th at 10pm. Info Here.
There are still dates available in October as of this publish on the Steamboat Natchez for its Evening Jazz Cruise (2 hours with dinner). Check availability and book while you can.
Here are some lovely places to stay if you’re planning to visit: https://www.frenchquarter.com/hotels/
