By Karen Brem, Marketing Director, Historic Mardi Gras Inn
COMING SOON!!!
Darlings, letâs be realâNew Orleans doesnât do seasons like the rest of the world. While other cities are busy folding up picnic blankets and sharpening their pencils for back-to-school, weâre dusting off skeletons, stringing cobwebs across balconies, and letting our inner witches cackle. The second those Labor Day decorations get tucked away, out come the ghouls, goblins, and fabulously spooky costumes. Thatâs rightâHalloween season in the City of the Dead isnât a day. Itâs an entire vibe that stretches through September and hits its fierce, glittery, ghostly climax all October long.
And baby, if youâre looking for a city where grown-ups go all out with spooky fun, costume play, and nighttime hauntsâyouâve found it. New Orleans is the Halloween capital of the South, and dare I say, of the world.
đť The Season of Spooky in NOLA
Hereâs the thing: Halloween in New Orleans isnât just for kids begging for candy (though our candy is usually liquid and comes in a plastic cup). From haunted tours through the French Quarter to bar crawls that practically demand you show up as a bedazzled vampire or sexy swamp witch, thereâs no shortage of ways to get your freaky festive on.
- Haunted Houses & Tours: Wander the French Quarter by lantern light while hearing tales of restless spirits, or step into a haunted house where chainsaws, jump scares, and eerie fog rule the night.
- Costume Heaven: NOLA locals treat Halloween like our very own Met Galaâno look is too much. Think sequins, horns, glittered skulls, feathered wings, and plenty of sass. This is the city where you donât just wear a costumeâyou become the costume.
- Boozy Nights Out: Adult bar crawls, drag performances, masquerade balls, and ghostly parties pop up all over town. One night youâre sipping on a blood-red cocktail in a historic pub, and the next youâre dancing until sunrise dressed like a fallen angel.
All of this spooktacular chaos builds to the grand weekend of Halloween itself, when the French Quarter becomes an open-air runway of outrageous and creepy chic. Trust meânothing beats strutting down Bourbon Street in your fiercest Halloween finery while strangers cheer you on like youâre the second coming of Elvira.
đ¸ď¸ Why Youâll Want to Make a Weekend Out of It
Hereâs my best advice: donât even think about making this a one-night trip. Halloween in New Orleans deserves at least a long weekend. The fun starts before the sun goes down and keeps rolling long after the clock strikes midnight. From afternoon Frenchmen Street music crawls to midnight ghost tours and sunrise costume afterpartiesâyouâll need time to soak it all in.
Besides, NOLA Halloween isnât just October 31. The entire month of October is one long pre-game. That means every weekend is a chance to dive headfirst into the spooky magic, whether youâre here for a haunted history tour, a wild costume ball, or a ghoulish night of drinks and dancing.
đ¨ Why Stay With Us at the Historic Mardi Gras Inn
Now, let me get a little self-indulgent. If youâre coming to NOLA for Halloween (and I know you are), youâll want the perfect home base. Thatâs where we come in.
The Historic Mardi Gras Inn is:
⨠One block from the French Quarterâtranslation: stumble distance from your favorite haunted bars and ghost tours.
⨠A short two-minute walk to the streetcar stopâideal for cruising Uptown or hopping around the city without breaking a sweat.
⨠Recently treated to a full-site glow upâsheâs polished, sheâs fresh, sheâs looking fierce.
⨠Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operatedâbecause we know how to throw a party, serve real acceptance, and keep the vibe fabulous.
And honey, while I canât promise you the moon (or the spirits that might show up in your selfies), I can promise clean, affordable accommodations and a warm, welcoming staff ready to make your Halloween stay a screamâin the best way possible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATIONS CALL US DIRECTLY AT 504.949.5815 OR 1.800.209.9408.
đ Donât WaitâBook Your Spooky Escape Now!
Listen, rooms vanish faster than a ghost in the fog once October creeps closer. The minute those witches hit the skies and skeletons line the balconies, people flock here from every corner of the world to soak up the spooky.
So, hereâs your call to action: book that long weekend NOW. Grab your fiercest costume, plan your ghost tour, and get ready to live your spooky fantasy in the French Quarter. Donât let FOMO haunt youâitâs time to secure your spot.
đ¤ Final Whisper from the Shadows
New Orleans doesnât just celebrate Halloweenâit owns it. This city breathes eerie magic, mixes it with cocktails, and serves it on a silver platter with a sly grin. Whether youâre a ghoul, witch, warlock, or glamazon skeleton queen, October in the City of the Dead is your playground.
So pack your black lace, polish those fangs, and let the good ghouls roll. Weâll see you at the Historic Mardi Gras Innâwhere your Halloween haunt begins.
đťâ¨ Boo, but make it fashion.
âKaren Brem
Marketing Director, Historic Mardi Gras Inn