French Quarter Special Events
On the Horizon
Save the dates for the coming months
Eleventh Hour Spirited Salon: October 22, 26, 27
Halloween 2026: A Silent Film & Live Music Experience: Thursday, October 29
Halloween New Orleans: October 30 – November 1
2026 Food Forum: Gumbo!: November 7
Food Fête: Taste Louisiana History: November 7
Bayou Bacchanal: November 7
New Orleans Arts & Ideas Festival: November 11–13
Luna Fete: November 13–15
Big Easy Bash: November 14
The Desanctified Fashion Show: November 19
21st Annual Drawathon: November 28
Jazz Museum’s Improv Gala: December 5
NOLA Holiday Parade: December 5
Krewe de Mayahuel Día de los Muertos Procession 2025 by Shawn Fink for FQJ Don’t Miss List
FQJ faves in the weeks ahead
Wednesday, October 21 through Friday, October 30
Tours from 1850 Museum House & Gift Shop, 523 St. Ann St.
Friends of the Cabildo Ghostly Gallivant 2026
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Friends of the Cabildo presents its annual Ghostly Gallivant Programming, a month-long fundraising event to support education and exhibits in the Louisiana State Museums: Ghostly Tours in the 1850 House, Haunted Historical New Orleans tours of the French Quarter, and an online auction that ends October 30, 6pm.
This year, Ghostly Gallivant takes the 1850 House back to the summer of 1853, when the dreaded “Saffron Scourge”—yellow fever—killed around ten percent of New Orleans (8,000 people) in a few months. Gallivant tours are 45 minutes long and put you in the middle of this horrifying epidemic. Details and tickets at the ticket link below!
Check out items in the auction at the ticket link below!
FOC Haunted Historical New Orleans Tours: Discover New Orleans history with these two-hour walking tours. All details at the ticket link below.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Nightly: 6:30–10:30pm
Storyville Museum, 1010 Conti Street
New: Storyville Museum After Dark
Photo: courtesy Storyville Museum -
Experience the French Quarter's scandalous past after dark. Step inside the New Orleans Storyville Museum and explore the people, places, and stories behind the city’s notorious red-light district, known as Storyville.
Your personal audio tour (included with entry) connects the museum’s exhibits into one continuous, captivating narrative as you explore recreated streets, a rebuilt brothel parlor, rare artifacts, vintage peep-show machines, and immersive multimedia displays.
Discover how Storyville helped give birth to jazz and meet the madams, gamblers, musicians, politicians, and the women who worked in the district and defined its legacy.
!8+ entry. Get Tickets
Tuesday, October 27: 5pm
New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade
George Brown Band Halloween Concert
Photo: Ellis Anderson-
The Positive Vibrations Foundation gets into the Halloween spirit with this special Balcony Concert Series event featuring the George Brown Band!
Wear your best costume and stick around for the Halloween contest!
Music at 5, contest at 6!
Tuesdays: October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 5:30–7:30pm
New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade
Crescendo 2026
Music Business Intensive presented by The Ella Project and the New Orleans Jazz Museum
FREE
Photo: New Orleans Jazz Museum-
Tuesday, October 27 marks week 3 of Crescendo 2026, a free six-session music business intensive designed for independent musicians. Led by musician and entrepreneur Lou Hill and attorney Bri Whetstone, this workshop explores practical music business topics to help artists understand their rights, opportunities, and careers.
This session covers:
Record labels and what they do
Basic terms of record deals
How to use someone else’s master rights for film/TV synchronization or sampling
Contracts: band agreements, session musician work-for-hire agreements, venue agreements, co-writer agreements and split sheets
Pre-release paperwork
Common band and artist business models
Management: when is the right time to get a manager?
All sessions are FREE. Attend one workshop or join the full series; advance RSVP is requested.
Location: New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., 3rd Floor, New Orleans
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Presented by The Ella Project and the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
Tuesday Sessions:
10/13: Intellectual Property for Musicians
10/20: Publishing & Revenue Streams
10?27: Record Deals and Contracts
11/3: Case Study: How a Song Breaks in 2026
11/10: Festivals and AI
11/17: Releasing, Pitching, and Monetizing Your Music
In person: October 22 – 27
Virtually: until November 1
New Orleans Film Festival
Presented by the New Orleans Film Society
Photo: Markus Winkler for Pexels-
From the New Orleans Film Society:
The 37th annual, Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival returns October 22-27, 2026 in venues across the city with in-person events, parties, panels, filmmaker pitches, and much more!
The majority of the lineup will also be accessible via NOFF Virtual Cinema globally between October 22-November 1, 2026. Geo-restrictions may apply to some screenings.
NOFF annually brings together 150+ films and hosts 200+ filmmakers and film professionals in New Orleans to celebrate works of emerging and established filmmakers from New Orleans, Louisiana, the South, and beyond. Audiences get a chance to meet filmmakers in person at talkback sessions after screenings while filmmakers get to network with each other and industry professionals flying in from Los Angeles and New York to discover emerging talent. It’s the best time of the year for film lovers who like to discover the works of storytellers first hand, meet fellow film buffs mingling at festival venues and parties to talk film all festival long.
Wednesday, October 28, 5:30pm
Historic BK House, 1113 Chartres Street
Quarter Kaleidoscope
Photo: Melanie Cole-
Historic BK House & Gardens, in collaboration with VCPORA and French Quarter Journal invites you to another unforgettable evening of Quarter Kaleidoscope—a live storytelling event that celebrates the vibrant spirit of the French Quarter.
The theme is “A Spooky Night,” – join us as residents, business owners, and longtime community members share personal stories that bring to life the people, places, and traditions that make this neighborhood a true living treasure. Our storytellers are: Deanna Dupont, Jen Ramos, Andrew Lamar Hopkins, Brandon Pellerin, David Roe, and Catherine Whitney.
Doors open at 5:30 PM, program begins at 6:00 PM at the Historic BK House. Light refreshments will be served.
Tickets: $10 for members | $15 for non-members
Space is limited—reserve your spot now and be part of this powerful celebration of place and memory.
Friday, October 30, 7pm – midnight
Secret mansion in the French Quarter
Les Belles et les Bêtes
Presented by Nous, The New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures: A Cocteau-themed Halloween party presented with Chloë Cassens, granddaughter of Cocteau
Photo: public domain from Wikimedia, Jean Marais as the Beast-
From Nous:
This Halloween, step through the looking glass and into the enchanted world of Jean Cocteau.
Poet, filmmaker, painter, playwright, and designer, Cocteau was one of France's most imaginative and influential artists of the 20th century. His 1946 masterpiece La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast) remains a landmark of French cinema, celebrated for its theatrical beauty, living candelabras, and haunting sense of enchantment.
For one night only, Nous brings that dreamlike vision to a hidden mansion in the heart of the French Quarter. Guests will be immersed in a cinematic experience that pairs Cocteau's footage with contemporary music from a live DJ, blurring the line between film and fantasy.
Come in costume. Surreal attire is strongly encouraged. Arrive as a Belle, a Bête, or something wonderfully in between. Prizes will be awarded for the most spellbinding looks.
Raise a glass. Enjoy an open bar featuring champagne, wine, and cocktails throughout the evening.
This event is strictly 21+. Valid ID required at the door.
Saturday, October 31: 1 – 7pm
Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans, 612 rue Dumaine
28th Annual Voodoofest
Photo: Voodoofest 2025 by Ellis Anderson-
It’s the yearly festival celebrating the Voodoo religion’s contributions to New Orleans traditions, hosted by Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans Cultural Center and Collection.
Featuring a host of practitioners, artists, dancers, and musicians, with activities all day and free admission!
1 PM: Opening Ceremony with legendary Nola Artist & Musician, Amzie Adams, led by Mambo Maggie & our family of initiated Priests.
1:30 PM: New Orleans Voodoo Practitioner, Licensed Tour Guide & Intuitive Reader, Mam'zelle Kamille, takes us on a storyteller's journey through the historic Vieux Carre, sharing tales of local Spirits and French Quarter lore.
2 PM: Ghanaian Priest & Master Drummer, Osofo Andrew, speaks about how music connects us with Spirit while sharing songs from his native country.
2:30 PM: New Orleans Voodoo Priest and Published Author, Papa Zaar, explains how to set up a personal Ancestral Altar and why it's important to "start at home" by honoring your own Ancestral lines first.
3 PM: Priestess Ava Kay Jones, the Gris Gris Queen of New Orleans, shows us how she creates & blesses Gris Gris Bags - powerful tools for Spiritual growth and change.
3:30 PM: Cajun Voodoo Priest, Houngan Jesse, a true Louisiana original, speaks about the history of the Cajun people and the contributions they've made to our local history & culture.
4 PM: Queen Reesie, Spy Boy K-9 & Spy Boy Ace give us an insider's view into the history and culture of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Tradition through their dynamic interactive presentation.
4:30 PM: Published Author, Scholar, Archivist & Initiated Mambo, Dr. Ina Fandrich, speaks about the life & times of our Great Ancestor, Voodoo Queen Mam'zelle Marie Laveaux.
5 PM: Queen Mother Sula, author of Spirit of the Orisha, takes us on a soul-filled musical journey into the world of the African Spirit Forces, sharing the meaning and beauty of Orisha songs.
5:30 PM: Bruce Sunpie Barnes, internationally renowned Local Musician, Historian, and Big Chief of the Northside Skull & Bone Gang, shares Louisiana stories while performing some of his most popular songs.
6 PM: New Orleans Professor of Dance & Choreography, Mama Kai, showcases local and international dance movements from the African Diaspora, and shares the cultural significance behind them.
6:30 PM: Bring your drums (and your clapping hands) for African Drumming 101 with Award-Winning Percussionist, Luther Gray, of Bamboula 2000!
7 PM: CLOSING ANCESTRAL HEALING RITUAL with Mambo Maggie, our extended family of initiated Priests, the Voodoo Authentica Ritual Troupe and YOU!
Sunday, November 1: 12–6pm
Lafayette Square, 602 Camp Street
Día de los Muertos Festival 2026
Photo: Nick Fewings for Unsplash-
Dia de los Muertos originated in central and southern Mexico, with traditions going back thousands of years. Join in this free festival hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana celebrating a day to honor friends and family who have passed with altars, food, photos, stories, and more.
The festival invites all to come dressed to celebrate and participate in the Catrina & Catrín Showcase Contest celebrating traditional attire, creativity and cultural expression!
Monday, November 2: 3pm, procession 7pm
Start at Markey Park, 3301 Royal Street; ends St. Roch Cemetery #1, 1725 St. Roch Avenue
Krewe de Mayahuel Día de los Muertos Procession and Fiesta
Photo: 2025 Procession by Shawn Fink. See the album here!-
Get to Markey Park early for music, food and drinks, face painting, dance shows and more, and stay for the procession to St. Roch Cemerery #1, where the march ends with the building of a monumental altar (ofrenda), accompanied by classic mariachi tunes!
The Long List
Dozens of curated happenings in the Quarter and beyond
Below are 50 upcoming events happening in the FQ and surrounding neighborhoods. Want even more? Click the button at the bottom.For a complete list of live music happenings in the city, check out WWOZ’s Livewire Music Calendar!
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