Tricks, Treats & Traditions: Halloween in the Crescent City Through the Decades

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.

So grab your witch hat and a piece of peanut butter taffy (if you dare), and let’s time-travel through Halloween in New Orleans, decade by decade.

🕯️ 1900s–1920s: Ghost Stories & Genteel Gatherings

At the turn of the century, Halloween was a more subdued, superstitious affair. Think fortune-telling parties, bobbing for apples, and whispered ghost tales told on porches lit by lanterns. Costumes were homemade, usually a little spooky, and a lot modest. But even then, New Orleans gave it flair—masked balls, candlelit séances, and plenty of spiritual ambiance, especially in the French Quarter, where legends of hauntings were already well established.

🦇 1930s–1940s: The Rise of Trick-or-Treating… and Mischief

With Halloween gaining popularity across the U.S., NOLA kids joined in the door-to-door candy hunt. But “trick” came first in those days—egging houses, soaping windows, and costumed chaos were common. Adults still favored Halloween dances and costume parties, often at hotels or private homes, with Creole cuisine and ghost punch flowing freely.

During WWII, Halloween festivities dimmed a bit due to rationing—but the Crescent City spirit? Still hauntingly strong.

🎭 1950s–1960s: Suburban Spookiness and Monster Mania

Post-war optimism brought the boom of suburban Halloween, with decorated front lawns, costume parades at school, and an explosion of store-bought costumes (hello, plastic masks and ponchos). Meanwhile, New Orleans held onto its gothic charm. Haunted houses began popping up, inspired by local legends and historic mansions. Halloween became less about folklore and more about fun—a shift that laid the groundwork for modern-day celebrations.

👻 1970s–1980s: Haunted Houses, Voodoo Vibes & Bourbon Street Boos

This is when Halloween got weird—in the best way. With the rise of horror movies, haunted attractions, and an increasing interest in voodoo and the occult, New Orleans Halloween got darker, wilder, and a lot louder.

Bourbon Street became ground zero for adults in outrageous costumes, and voodoo-themed parties added an authentic local twist. Trick-or-treating stayed strong in neighborhoods like Uptown and the Marigny, but Halloween was fast becoming a holiday for everyone, not just kids.

🧛 1990s–2000s: From Block Parties to Parades

By the ‘90s, New Orleans Halloween had reached full theatrical status. Costume contests, haunted hayrides, and Frenchmen Street freak-fests were in full swing. Then came a game-changer: the Krewe of BOO!, founded to bring a family-friendly, Halloween-themed parade to the city—combining the pageantry of Mardi Gras with the mischief of October 31.

Suddenly, Halloween wasn’t just a night out. It was a season.

🎃 2010s–Today: The Halloween Capital of the South

In the past decade, New Orleans has proudly claimed its crown as America’s most haunted (and hauntedly fun) city. With events like the New Orleans Zombie Run, the Monster Mash After-Party, and a booming haunted tourism industry, Halloween here is now a full-on festival.

From spooky brunches to haunted tours, voodoo rituals to krewe-crafted floats, the Crescent City’s version of October is less pumpkin spice and more spectral spice. And with Krewe of BOO! leading the charge, the tradition continues to grow, evolve, and enchant.

🕸️ From Candy Apples to Coffin-Themed Floats: What Never Changed?

• A love for costumes: New Orleanians never miss a chance to dress up. Ever.

• A flair for theatrics: Even our skeletons wear sequins.

• A reverence for the dead: We honor them with music, storytelling, and—yes—parades.

• A sense of community: Whether you're Uptown, downtown, or down the bayou, Halloween brings us together in the most delightfully unhinged way.

So what’s next for Halloween in the Crescent City? Only the spirits know. But one thing’s certain: whether you’re six or six-feet-under, there’s a place for you on the streets of New Orleans come October.

🦴 See you at the next parade—and don’t forget to dress like your life (or afterlife) depends on it.