In New Orleans, putting on a mask is never just about hiding your face. It’s about transformation. Liberation. Celebration. It’s tradition. From the satin-cloaked mystery of Mardi Gras krewes to the ghoulish glamour of Halloween revelers, the Crescent City has a centuries-old love affair with dressing up—and dressing out. Here, costumes aren’t costumes—they’re identities with sequins.

In most cities, Halloween is a one-night affair. In New Orleans? It’s a month-long masquerade, a neighborhood block party, a costumed crawl through history with voodoo vibes and a side of absinthe. But it didn’t start that way. Halloween in the Crescent City has evolved over the last century—from quiet, candy-coated evenings to full-blown haunted spectacles like Krewe of BOO!, where the dead parade, the living dance, and the line between trick and treat is deliciously blurred

Shadows cloak the grand old oaks, their limbs outstretched with waving arms, reaching for passersby with leafy hands. The moon glows ghostly overhead—an unblinking eyeball watching the dead of night. The winds carry a chill, like a breath from beyond, and summer is nearly gone. The bewitching hour is near. Autumn in New Orleans offers a cornucopia of celebratory feasts. The days no longer soak the skin in a sauna bath of steam.

The Krewe of BOO! parade isn’t just the most spirited Halloween event in town—it literally parades through haunted history. Our route weaves through centuries of mystery, murder, and macabre legends. So while you’re catching beads and dancing to the beat, keep an eye on those shadowy balconies and misty corners—you might just lock eyes with something… that isn’t entirely alive.

As Halloween creeps closer and the Crescent City prepares for its most hauntingly fun celebration—Krewe of BOO!—there’s no better way to get in the spirit than by indulging in a few spine-tingling films that take full advantage of New Orleans' gothic charm, moss-draped mystery, and supernatural swagger. From voodoo queens to haunted mansions, NOLA isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a main character.

In most places, Halloween fashion means raiding a party store for a one-size-fits-no-one pirate costume. But in New Orleans? Halloween is haute couture for the haunted. From velvet capes and bone jewelry to fog-machine-ready flair, New Orleans is the place to shop for your perfect Krewe of BOO! parade or Zombie Run ensemble. Whether you’re aiming for spooky glam, undead chic, or swamp witch realness, this city has the threads to make your Halloween look deadly stylish.

When it comes to the Krewe of BOO!, there’s only one rule for dressing up: go big or go invisible. This is New Orleans, darling—we don’t do subtle, especially during Halloween. From terrifying terrors to tongue-in-cheek tributes, your costume is your ticket to join the spooky spectacle. Whether you're marching, throwing beads, or howling from the sidelines with a to-go cup in hand, here are some costume ideas to help you haunt the streets in style.

You can’t throw a plastic alligator in Louisiana without hitting a great story. Ghosts in the sugarcane. Monsters in the swamp. Spells in the gumbo. And when it comes to Halloween in New Orleans, we don’t just celebrate the spooky—we celebrate the South. The Krewe of BOO! isn’t just a parade—it’s a rolling love letter to Louisiana’s culture, with floats and costumes that honor our Cajun, Creole, and swampy heritage in gloriously ghoulish style.

In a city known for jazz funerals, voodoo queens, and above-ground graves, it’s no surprise that vampires feel right at home in New Orleans. They walk our foggy streets, lurk in candlelit courtyards, and, if you believe the legends, some of them never left after the sun came up. Whether real, imagined, or somewhere in between, vampires have sunk their teeth deep into New Orleans lore—and during Halloween, their influence reaches a fever pitch.

Some cities carve pumpkins. New Orleans carves out an entire month of madness, magic, and mysticism—especially in the French Quarter, where Halloween is less holiday, more performance art. With its gas-lit alleys, wrought-iron balconies, and centuries of spooky lore, the French Quarter doesn’t just celebrate Halloween—it embodies it. From voodoo queens to bloodthirsty aristocrats in cravats, October in this neighborhood is where the occult collides with the over-the-top...

In most places, the witching hour is something spooky you whisper about under the covers. In New Orleans? It’s prime time. When the clock strikes midnight in the Crescent City, the line between magic and reality gets as blurry as a Bourbon Street daiquiri. From voodoo queens and rootworkers to hexes, gris-gris, and spell-casting grandmothers, the mystical arts are woven into the city's bones like Spanish moss on an iron gate.

Sure, we’re known for our ghoulish glam, monstrous music, and parade route full of spooky swagger—but have you ever wondered just how much goes into pulling off New Orleans’ official Halloween parade? From flying beads to dancing skeletons, this haunted spectacle is as over-the-top as a vampire at a masquerade ball. So grab your calculator (or your cauldron) and check out these frightfully fun stats behind the scenes of Krewe of BOO!

When most people think of the Krewe of BOO!, they picture ghouls on floats, candy raining from the sky, and costume chaos in the French Quarter. But behind the glitter, fog machines, and skeleton dance-offs lies a very real magic trick: this parade doesn’t just raise the dead—it raises the economy. Every October, Krewe of BOO! summons more than just monsters—it summons money, foot traffic, and big-time buzz for local businesses.

When it comes to Halloween, most cities throw up a few plastic skeletons, string some orange lights, and call it a night. New Orleans? We build a full-on haunted spectacle with marching monsters, voodoo queens, brass bands, fire breathers, glittering ghouls, and a parade that makes Halloween feel like Mardi Gras in costume... oh wait, that’s every day here.

Before the fog machines, before the flying skeleton beads, and way before vampires danced down Decatur Street—there was just one idea: What if New Orleans had a Halloween parade as fabulous as Mardi Gras? That idea sparked a movement, summoned a krewe, and gave rise to what would become the Krewe of BOO!—New Orleans’ first-ever official Halloween parade and a beloved seasonal spectacle that now defines October in the Crescent City.

In New Orleans, Halloween isn’t just a holiday—it’s a lifestyle. And what’s a spooky soirée without a signature cocktail to match? Whether you’re a ghost on the go, a vampire with a flair for drama, or a witch with a wicked sense of taste, Krewe of BOO! has brewed up the perfect potion to keep your spirits high and your cauldron bubbling. Let’s mix up some Crescent City magic with a few cocktail ideas inspired by the costumes, characters, and chaos of the Krewe of BOO! parade

In most places, Halloween means candy corn and cheap beer. In the French Quarter? It’s absinthe-soaked cocktails, blackened gator bites, and vampire-approved truffle fries served under candlelight in a haunted mansion. October in New Orleans isn’t just about costumes and parades—it’s a culinary séance where the food is flavorful, the drinks are deadly (in the best way), and happy hour comes with a side of hauntings.

In most cities, Halloween is a one-night stand with candy. In New Orleans, it’s a full-blown, costumed love affair that lasts all October—and maybe even a little into November if the hangover’s big enough. But Halloween in the Crescent City isn’t just about scares and sequins—it’s a serious economic engine that pumps life into the heart of the city. From costume shops and cocktail bars to makeup artists and float builders, the Krewe of BOO! and its haunted entourage are putti

The Krewe of BOO! parade doesn’t creep quietly through the streets—it screams, sparkles, and stomps its way through downtown New Orleans, and if you're not in the right spot, you might miss the zombie brass band or a vampire tossing you a voodoo doll. Fear not, foolish mortal. We’ve conjured up the ultimate guide to watching the Krewe of BOO!—no ghost summoning required (unless you’re into that sort of thing).

You’ve got your costume, your to-go cup, and your spot staked out on the Krewe of BOO! parade route—but do you really know what’s lurking behind those beads and brass bands? This isn’t just a Halloween parade—it’s a haunted tour in disguise. Beneath the cobblestones of the Crescent City lies a twisted tapestry of voodoo queens, restless spirits, and unsolved crimes. Let’s take a spirited stroll (pun intended) down the BOO parade path and uncover the ghost stories hiding in pl