Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve in New Orleans is a captivating blend of tradition and revelry. The city’s vibrant spirit intertwines with its rich history, creating a unique celebration where the thinning veil between worlds is felt. From the eerie tales of the Le Petit Theatre’s dark past to the ghostly apparitions at the famous Andrew Jackson Hotel, every corner of the city’s cobblestone streets seems to whisper chilling stories of the supernatural.
Voodoo culture adds a mystical touch, with shops offering mystical artifacts and psychic readings. It’s a bewitching experience where the past meets the present, making Halloween in New Orleans unforgettable.
New Orleans’ Iconic Ghostly Sites
Le Petit Theatre
Here, you might bump into an actress from the 1930s named Caroline, who accidentally tumbled over the railing to her death in the courtyard below, dressed in a white wedding gown for the play that night. You might also run into the captain who watches plays from his balcony seat, hoping for a glimpse of an actress he adored.
Faulkner House Books
William Faulkner wrote his first novel while staying in this house in the 1920s. People swear they have seen his ghost sitting at the writing desk inside and say they can smell his pipe.
St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral is believed to be haunted by Pere Dagobert, pastor of St. Louis Cathedral in the mid-1700s. After worship, people have seen Dagobert’s spirit walking with his head lowered through the aisles.
Pere Antoine was a beloved priest who worked tirelessly for the poor. Visitors to the alley alongside St. Louis Cathedral say you can see Pere Antoine’s ghost in the early morning, clad in a black capuchin and sandals. He has also been seen inside the Cathedral.
Toast to the Spirits
Muriel’s Jackson Square
After losing this house in a poker game, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan committed suicide upstairs in 1814. His ghost does not appear human but as a glimmer of sparkly light. There is even a séance room that guests can visit that honours Jourdan’s spirit. Located at the heart of the French Quarter, make sure to also enjoy its nationally recognized contemporary Creole Dining. The second floor offers an elegant Séance Lounge and a balcony overlooking the historic Jackson Square.
Old Absinthe House
This 200-year-old bar is haunted by famous customers who used to imbibe there. You might pull up a stool next to General Andrew Jackson, voodoo queen Marie Laveau, or the pirate Jean Lafitte. Doors open and close on their own while bottles, glasses, and chairs have been seen moving around the bar.
Napoleon House
This now-eatery and bar has had a few different roles since it was built around 1800, which has led to a variety of different spectres haunting the site. Because it served as a hospital during the Civil War, the ghost of a Confederate soldier can be spotted walking on the second-floor balcony. Other common ghostly phenomena are from the 20th century – the figure of a little old lady sweeping the balcony and the mysterious reappearance of glasses on the bar once everything has been cleaned and put away for the night.
Stay at a Haunted Hotel
The Bourbon Orleans
The Bourbon Orleans was home to the famous Quadroon Balls. Today, a lonely ghost can be seen dancing beneath a crystal chandelier. The hotel is also home to a ghost nun who slapped a man working on a stairwell for swearing.
Hotel Monteleone
A stay at Hotel Monteleone comes with a dose of haunted history. Legend has it the 14th floor (actually the 13th floor) of Hotel Monteleone is home to some paranormal activity. Guests have reported hearing the footsteps of Maurice Begere, the young ghost child who haunts the hotel.
Andrew Jackson Hotel
The ghosts at the Andrew Jackson Hotel are some of the more interactive spectres encountered in the city. Back during the building’s tenure as a boys’ boarding school, five students died in a fire, but they have spent their afterlives playing and causing a bit of childlike mischief, and their laughter and footsteps are often heard throughout the hotel and courtyard. The spirits of the boys, along with one believed to be a former housekeeper, will move personal items and furniture around the guest rooms. The boys hide items as a joke while the housekeeper can be felt fluffing pillows and straightening towels.
