French Quarter Events

Our curated list of upcoming neighborhood happenings is updated each Tuesday, so check back often!

Photo: Trixie Minx and friends, Halloween 2024, by Ellis Anderson

FQJ’s On the Horizon

photo: Improv Gala at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 2023 photo by Melanie Cole

FQJ’s Don’t-Miss List

Friday, October 24th - 20-minute tours from 5pm - 7pm

Ghostly Gallivant at the Cabildo

The Cabildo, 701 Chartres Street

    • Welcome to the Ghostly Gallivant Tours-Saints or Sinners of Louisiana at The Cabildo! Join us on October 17 or October 24th with tours starting at 5:00 PM and every 20 mins until 7pm for a spine-chilling adventure through the haunted history of Louisiana.

    • Are you ready to uncover the secrets of the Saints and Sinners that once roamed these streets? Don’t miss out on this eerie exploration!

    • Tours start at 5pm, every 20 minutes,

    • Last Tour at 7pm 

    • Tickets Members $30, General Admission $40

Tickets

Saturday, October 24 & 25, 7pm – 8:30pm

Also Oct. 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 1 & 2

After Dark: Creole Death & Mourning Tours at Gallier House

Gallier House, 1132 Royal Street

  • ~ Join us for a seasonal favorite, the Creole Death and Mourning exhibition at Gallier House… after dark!

    ~ Tour the historic Victorian-era townhome in mourning and learn about a time period when death and the macabre were pervasive.

    ~ For Catholic Creoles in New Orleans, mourning rituals were a sincere effort to remember departed relatives and friends that was an integral part of 19th-century life.

    ~ After the tour, enjoy wine in the historic courtyard of Gallier House. 

Tickets

Saturday, October 25th - 11am – 4pm

Boo Carré Halloween Haunt

French Market, Dutch Alley

  • ~ The French Market District is hosting the annual Boo Carre Halloween Haunt in Dutch Alley on Saturday, October 25 from 11am-4pm.

    ~ The one-day kid-centric event encourages costumes for all ages and will feature live music, children’s activities, a spooktacular Spooky Second Line, and trick-or-treating.

    ~ Children wearing a costume are eligible to receive a free Boo Carre tote bag for trick-or-treating in the French Market District. One bag per child, while supplies last. This event is free and open to the public.

    ~ Your event experience will begin in Dutch Alley, in the 900 block of N. Peters Street, where our Trick-or-Treat (TOT) bag distribution will take place at the festival information booth alongside our music stage and kid’s activities.

Saturday, October 25th - 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Krewe of Boo Parade

Marigny, French Quarter, Warehouse District

photo 2023 Krewe of Boo Parade by Melanie Cole for FQJ

    • 40+ marching groups

    • 600 riders

    • Started in 2007

    • Featuring floats from Kern Studios

Sundays: October 26th and November 2

3pm - 6pm

Nickel A Dance: A Series of Free, Family-Friendly Classic Jazz Soirée

October 26: Wendell Brunious & The New Orleans Legends

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, 626 Frenchmen Street

  • ~ A beloved annual New Orleans music series honoring the city’s fabled dance halls.

    ~ Free admission, family-friendly

    ~ October 12: Thais Clark & Her Jazzsters

    ~ October 19: Kermit Ruffins & Barbeque Swingers

    ~ October 26: Wendell Brunious & The New Orleans Legends

    ~ November 2: Gregg Stafford & the Jazz Hounds

Sunday, October 26th - shows at 7:30pm – 9:30pm

Jon Cleary’s Kitchen Sink Concert with Pedro Segundo

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, 626 Frenchmen Street

  • ~ FQJ’s Pick of the Week: October 26: Jon Cleary’s Kitchen Sink Concert with Pedro Segundo

    Click here to get tickets and see what other fabulous goodness Snug has in store for the month!

Tickets

Friday, October 31: 1pm - 7pm

27th Annual Free VOODOOFEST at Voodoo Authentica

612 Dumaine Street

photo: courtesy Voodoo Authentica

  • VOODOOFEST is our FREE annual festival, held EVERY Halloween, Oct 31st, which celebrates the Voodoo religion's many important contributions to New Orleans' Culture & Heritage.

    VOODOOFEST’s primary goals are to honor the Ancestors, educate the public about this widely misunderstood religion & preserve and celebrate the unique Spiritual traditions of New Orleans.

    Activities All Day: FREE Music, Lectures & Food, Book Signings, Practitioner-Made Potion Oils & Gris Gris Bags, Over 100 Varieties of Locally Handmade Voodoo Dolls & Crafts, Spiritual Work & Consultations, New Orleans, African & Haitian Art. 

    Admission to VOODOOFEST is FREE. Your donations help us to keep it free and are GREATLY appreciated!

    Don't forget to pick up your collectable VOODOOFEST Poster. This year's poster, by acclaimed local artist, Amzie Adams, promises to be a memorable addition to the collection. Every sale helps to support VOODOOFEST. 

    We appreciate your support & look forward to seeing you!

    VOODOOFEST 2025 Events Schedule:

    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, shares spine-tingling ghost stories and enticing French Quarter lore. 

    2 PM: Published Author & Acclaimed Voice Actor, Joe Arden, honors New Orleans’ rich cultural tapestry through story and spoken word.

    2:15 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: Intuitive Guide & Spiritual Shop Owner Fatima Mbodj, author of the best selling New Orleans Oracle Deck, demonstrates how we can access inner knowing to reach alignment with our highest good.

    5:30 PM: Internationally renowned Local Musician & Historian, Bruce Sunpie Barnes, 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!

Friday, November 7: 5pm - 8pm

1st Friday on Royal

Artwalk in the lower blocks of Royal Street

Art, Music, Drinks

photo: 812 Royal Gallery

  • On the first Friday of every month, participating locations will stay open late from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, offering a special opportunity to meet artists, view and purchase art, and enjoy wine, conversation, and even live music at select venues.

    Galleries and artist-run studios along Royal Street will showcase their latest works, making it the perfect evening to experience the vibrant creative community of the French Quarter.

    The Royal Street Arts District is home to over 40 galleries, studios, and shops celebrating local and regional artistry.

  • 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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