New Orleans Halloween 2026: Parade, Family Events and Halloween Weekend Activities Announced

Boo Krewe brings spooky fun and vibrant Halloween spirit to New Orleans.

New Orleans Halloween Celebrations Return in 2026

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- New Orleans will enter its annual Halloween season in October with a schedule that includes a major free public parade, family-oriented activities, ticketed entertainment and Halloween weekend events throughout the city.

The 2026 Halloween calendar begins in mid-October and continues through Halloween on Saturday, October 31. Event schedules, admission requirements and ticket prices vary by venue, and attendees are encouraged to confirm details directly with event organizers before making plans.

Among the largest publicly announced Halloween events is the Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The Halloween-themed parade is free and open to the public. The parade begins at Elysian Fields Avenue and travels through portions of the French Quarter before continuing through the Warehouse District. The published route includes Elysian Fields Avenue, North Peters Street, Decatur Street, Canal Street and Tchoupitoulas Street before ending near Andrew Higgins Drive.

The Krewe of BOO! parade features Halloween-themed floats, marching bands, dance groups and walking krewes. Costumes are encouraged, and the parade is promoted as family- and child-friendly. Additional information and the official route are available through the Krewe of BOO! website at https://www.kreweofboo.com/.

A related free event is scheduled for Friday, October 23, when the Krewe of BOO! calendar lists Cocktails in the Courtyard at Pat O'Brien's, located at 718 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a jazz second line traveling through the French Quarter to the venue. The event is listed as free and open to the public.

Following the October 24 parade, the Krewe of BOO! schedule includes Monster Mash, a post-parade costume party beginning at 8 p.m. at Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Boulevard. The event includes live entertainment, a DJ, costume contests and bar service. General admission and VIP tickets are available, with general admission included for Krewe members. Unlike the parade, Monster Mash is a ticketed event.

For families, Ghosts in the Oaks returns to New Orleans City Park's Carousel Gardens Amusement Park from Thursday, October 15, through Sunday, October 18. The event is scheduled for four consecutive evenings and includes a Halloween-themed trick-or-treating experience, amusement park rides, activities and live entertainment.

City Park lists early admission from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and general admission from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ticket prices are currently listed at $30 for early admission and $25 for general admission, with children age 2 and younger admitted free. Advance tickets are required, and City Park states that admission is limited.

The city's LGBTQ+ Halloween calendar will also include Halloween New Orleans, an annual fundraising weekend benefiting Project Lazarus. The 2026 schedule currently lists a Friday-night gala on October 30, a main Halloween party on Saturday, October 31, and a Sunday afternoon tea dance on November 1. The Friday event is scheduled for The Barnett, while the Saturday Halloween party is scheduled for The Fillmore. Additional event details and ticket information are being released by organizers as the season approaches.

The National WWII Museum will present Dine & Dance: The Haunted Canteen on Saturday, October 31, at BB's Stage Door Canteen, 945 Magazine Street. Dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m., with the program scheduled for 7 p.m. The event features the museum's Victory Swing Orchestra, a three-course dinner and a Halloween-themed evening of 1940s-style music and dancing. Tickets are required, with the ticket price including dinner and a glass of wine.

The official New Orleans tourism calendar also lists additional Halloween-related programming during the final week of October, including Beyond the Veil — New Orleans' ONLY Haunted Variety Show on October 27, Dark Gift ALLIANCE — The Thirst on October 29, and Halloween events on October 31. Individual venues and organizers are responsible for publishing admission prices and final schedules for those events.

For visitors planning around the Halloween weekend itself, Saturday, October 31, 2026, falls on a Saturday, with Halloween-related activity scheduled throughout the French Quarter and other New Orleans neighborhoods. The city's official tourism calendar maintains an updated listing of Halloween events and other October activities as additional information becomes available.

Event organizers may modify times, ticket prices, locations or admission requirements as Halloween approaches. Attendees should consult the official website of each event before traveling, particularly for ticketed programs, advance reservations and capacity-limited activities.

For comprehensive information about Halloween events in New Orleans, including family activities, haunted attractions, LGBTQ+ celebrations and additional October programming, visit the official New Orleans tourism Halloween guide at https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/halloween/.

About the Release
This informational release was prepared by Karen Brem, Marketing Director of Historic Mardi Gras Inn in New Orleans, as a public-interest calendar of announced Halloween events and activities. The information is intended solely to provide residents and visitors with current event details and links to official sources. Event schedules, admission policies and prices are subject to change by individual organizers.
Media Contact:

Karen Brem
Historic Mardi Gras Inn
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