New Orleans Halloween Experience
Gatekeeping New Orleans • Edition 2026
The Lineup (Oct 8 – Oct 31)
Pick one table. Pick one night. Then stop.
Oct 8 | Early Table
Witches in Pink
- 11 - 2 Vyoone's — EmpowerHer Life elevated experience benefiting Krewe de Pink.
Thursday, Oct 29
On the Radar: Ease-In Moves
- Night SSBT Nolaween — Moxy New Orleans
- Night Brujeria Carnaval — Crowne Plaza French Quarter
- Night Cocktail + Meet — Storyville Museum
- Night Rocky Horror — Mahalia Jackson Theater
Friday, Oct 30
Pick One Table, Pick One Door
- 11 - 3 Corks & Chorus — Brasa Downtown
- 11 - 2 Witches & Warlocks — Annunciation
- 11 - 2 Witches Lunch Cruise — Riverboat City of New Orleans
- 7 - 10 Lazarus Ball — HNO / The Barnett
- Night Anne Rice Vampire Ball — Capital on Baronne
- Night Skeletons' Masquerade — NOCCA
Saturday, Oct 31
Halloween Night: One Brunch, One Ending
- Day Witches Brunch Cruise — Riverboat City of New Orleans
- Day Haunted Halloween Cruise — Creole Queen ($125)
- Day Cemetery Tour — St. Louis No. 1 or No. 3 (Guided Only)
- Day Halloween Witch Party Lunch — Desi Vega's Steakhouse
- 10 PM Endless Night Vampire Ball — House of Blues / Carnivale
- 10 PM HNO Halloween Party — The Fillmore (Costumes Required)
If You Got The Kids (Oct 16–18)
Boo at the Zoo & City Park
- Fri Li'l Boo (10 - 6:30)
- Sat + Sun Classic (10 - 5)
- Parks Ghosts in the Oaks — City Park
Cemeteries & The Famous Dead
The Rule: If you want celebrities, head to Metairie. If you want history and voodoo, book St. Louis No. 1.
Self-Guided / Celebrity Resting Place
Metairie Cemetery
The monumental, gorgeous destination for cultural icons. Free and open daily.
The Cast Here:
- Anne Rice: Author of Interview with the Vampire (actual resting place).
- Louis Prima: Trumpet-topped bandleader tomb where fans leave pennies.
- Al Hirt: Grammy-nominated trumpeter.
- Dynasties: Tom Benson, Al Copeland, P.B.S. Pinchback, Carlos Marcello, Josie Arlington, and Ruth Fertel.
Guided Access Only (~45-60 min)
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Zero walk-ups. Mandatory check-in at Basin St. Station.
The Cast Here: Marie Laveau, Paul Morphy, Bernard de Marigny, Homer Plessy, and Nicolas Cage's pyramid tomb.
The Musicians' Cemetery
St. Louis Cemetery No. 2
The Cast Here: R&B legends Ernie K-Doe and Earl King.
The Witch's Bar
Order the drink. Not the costume.
- Classic — Sazerac: Peychaud's. Rinse. Lemon oil.
- Creole — Vieux Carré: Monteleone. Quarter after dark.
- Glam — French 75: Sparkle that can stand up.
- Bayou — Rum + Citrus + Orgeat: Heat. Not red dye.
- Social — Champagne + Bitter: Brasa can move in this.
- Dark — Absinthe Drip: Theater that is technique.
Skip black margaritas. Skip smoke on Midori. If you wouldn't order it in April, skip it.