Concerts, Fall Fests, and Halloween Things to Do in New Orleans This Month
Tricks, treats, and a terrifying number of can’t-miss events.
Although the cooler autumn temps may not arrive for a while, fall is here. There are plenty of annual festivals and events in New Orleans this month that mark the changing of the seasons. Some of the city’s best restaurants will be marking the change as oysters make their comeback, and the eventual drop in temperature means warm dishes like gumbo and jambalaya will gain more prominence on menus. October marks the city’s first annual Music Month—a celebration of the city’s musical heritage that emphasizes the importance of the local music industry—and the calendar is packed with local bands, national acts, and of course a full slate of music festivals every weekend.
Beer and German fare take center stage at breweries around the city, with Deutsches Haus’s ever-popular Oktoberfest leading the charge. The fall art season kicks off with a slew of gallery openings and Art for Art’s Sake, Magazine Street’s premier after-hours event. And wrapping up another exciting October is, of course, Halloween. Whether you’re getting decked out in a costume and heading to Frenchmen for the night, catching the Krewe of Boo parade, or just admiring the fabulous decorations around town (don’t miss Ghost Manor or Skeleton House), New Orleans is the place to be in October with fun things to do every weekend.
Festivals in New Orleans this month
Gretna Heritage Festival
Friday, October 6 – Sunday, October 8
Gretna; $30-$60
Head across the river for the 29th annual Gretna Fest. The weekend features food, arts & crafts, games, and plenty of music. Catch headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kool & The Gang, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, big names like Lukas Nelson and Living Colour, and local faves including Water Seed, Amanda Shaw, Iceman Special, Dumpstaphunk, Irma Thomas, Bonerama, and more.
Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest
October 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
Mid-City; $10
Don your lederhosen and practice your chicken dance, because Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus is back again for three weekends this month. Choose from more than 20 German beers and dine on traditional Teutonic fare from sauerkraut and bratwurst to German cheeses and giant Bavarian pretzels. Test your strength in the daily stein-holding contests, dance to oompah music, and catch the Schnauzer Strut, an all-breeds parade benefiting New Orleans Schnauzer Rescue.
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Friday, October 13 – Sunday, October 15
CBD; Free
This celebration of the blues in Lafayette Square brings together top musicians from across southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Performers include Tab Benoit, Samantha Fish, Little Freddie King, Shemekia Copeland, and dozens of others. But it’s not just the music—this fest also features amazing barbecue in a range of regional styles plus vendors selling handmade art, jewelry, crafts, and more.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Friday, October 13 – Sunday, October 15
Lafayette; Free
If you need a reason to make the trip to Lafayette, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles—an annual highlight—is this month. The three-day festival celebrates the music, crafts, and food of South Louisiana. In addition to a packed lineup of top Cajun and Zydeco bands, you can catch cooking demos, historical presentations, jam sessions, accordion workshops, tributes to the region’s musical greats, and vendors selling traditional regional crafts. Eat, drink, and two-step your way through a deep dive into the heritage of the Hub City and Lafayette Parish.
NOLA Funk Fest
Friday, October 20 – Sunday, October 22
French Quarter; $45-$345
The NOLA Funk Fest is a reveal party of sorts for the forthcoming Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, a museum dedicated to the preservation of Louisiana’s rich musical history. It’s also packed with performances from some of the funkiest local musicians, plus symposiums and a new exhibit: I Found My Thrill: The Music and Artistry of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Performers include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Erica Falls, and many more.
Halloween Weekends at Camp Margaritaville
Friday, October 20 – Sunday, October 22, 27–29
Breaux Bridge; Free with reservation
Thinking about a Halloween getaway? For something a little different, head out to Breaux Bridge’s Camp Margaritaville. The beach-style campground is celebrating the spooky season with themed weekend events. There will be kid-friendly activities, but the adult costume contest, pet costume contest, and golf cart decorating competition are sure to be fun for the grown-ups.
Tremé Fall Festival
Saturday, October 21
Tremé; Free
Celebrate the music and food of this cherished historic neighborhood, the oldest African-American neighborhood in the country and home to some of the most famous musicians in the city. The event begins with a patron party on Friday night, followed by a full day of music and food on the streets surrounding St. Augustine Church on Saturday. The fest kicks off with a second line, and performers include Nayo Jones, Partners-n-Crime, and The Rumble. Donations and proceeds from the patron party support the church and the neighborhood’s music and cultural groups.
Krewe of Boo Parade
Saturday, October 21
CBD/French Quarter/Marigny; Free
The Krewe of Boo rolls through downtown and the French Quarter as the city’s official Halloween parade. Floats and fiberglass creations will scare and delight parade-goers with a spooktacular procession that melds Mardi Gras and the macabre. Aside from the parade, the Krewe of Boo hosts a pre-parade Masquerade Ball, a Zombie Run, a post-parade costume party, and more themed events.
Concerts and music events in New Orleans this month
Beat The System
Friday, October 6
Uptown; $25
This live show at Tipitina’s brings together local hip hop and electronic artists Big Freedia, HaSizzle, Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, Charm Taylor, GLBL WRMNG, Sly Watts, and SaxKixAve, all backed by New Orleans-based musician and producer ÌFÉ and his live electronic band. From African Diaspora rhythms and improvisation to protest politics and modern electronic performance, Beat the System is sure to be an unmissable event.
Generationals
Friday, October 20
Uptown; $25
Indie garage-pop duo Generationals—Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer—return home for a show following the release of Heatherhead, their seventh studio album. Catch them performing their mesmerizing synth sounds and buoyant guitar hooks at Tipitina’s.
My Morning Jacket
Tuesday, October 31
Downtown; $53-$103
The Americana rock band from Louisville has a tight bond with New Orleans. My Morning Jacket has performed here many times, toured with the Preservation Hall Band, appeared on a Preservation Hall live album, headlined Midnight Preserves during Jazz Fest, and has played Jazz Fest twice. They return to the Orpheum for what’s sure to be an epic Halloween show.
Food and drink events in New Orleans this month
Scales & Ales
Friday, October 6
CBD/Downtown; $100
One of the highlights of the fall social season, Scales & Ales is a chance to support the wildlife conservation efforts of the Audubon Institute while enjoying the Aquarium and Insectarium after dark. It’s the first big event held in the newly renovated Aquarium, and will feature food, beer and wine, cocktails, and live music.
Black Lagoon Pop-up
Tuesday, October 10 – Tuesday, October 31
Marigny; Prices vary
For the month of October, top bars in cities across North America and Europe will be transformed into spooky, immersive Halloween experiences with creepy, yet masterfully-crafted, themed cocktails and plenty of scares. This award-winning concept was conceived following a pop-up event for Tales of the Cocktail at The Dungeon here in New Orleans, so you know it’s going to be a hauntingly good time. Catch all the ghoulish fun at Anna’s.
Arts and theater events in New Orleans this month
Dracula on the Greenway
Thursday, October 5 – Sunday, October 15
Mid-City; $20-$55
Get a little Dracula in the mix with all the Halloween festivities going on around town. The NOLA Project presents a world-premiere adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic tale of a bloodthirsty bat/man, written by ensemble member Pete McElligott. It’s a comedic take on the story, with romance, silliness, and frightening fun. Even better, the show will be staged outdoors on the Lafitte Greenway.
Art for Art’s Sake
Saturday, October 7
Magazine Street; Free
Art for Art's Sake is Magazine Street’s kickoff to the fall arts season. The after-hours event takes place along the six-mile stretch of Magazine, with more than 100 participating galleries, shops, restaurants, and other businesses. Sip wine and enjoy music, light bites, entertainment, sales, special offers, and more throughout the evening.
Little Amal
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15
Mid-City/French Quarter/Treme/Bywater; Free
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet representing a Syrian refugee girl, has become an international symbol of human rights. She is currently touring the U.S. and makes a stop in New Orleans to explore the city. Follow along as she sees a musical performance by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the LPO, and attends a church service in Treme, walks along the river, visits Congo Square, and explores the history and culture of the city. Her journey wraps up with a celebratory visit to Music Box Village in the Bywater.