October is slipping away quickly, with mere days left of the month and All Hallows’ Eve approaching like a spectre in an Indiana Jones movie. Fear not, oh frightened ones, there are still plenty of good times ahead. And don’t forget — this is the final week of Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus. Schnell!
New Orleanians would drop dead if there wasn’t a parade for a holiday, so roll on KREWE OF BOO! The Carnival-style procession of frightfully fun floats processes through the French Quarter and the Warehouse District Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with bands, marching clubs and unique throws. The parade is the culmination of a host of events that starts with a ROYAL LUNCHEON Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Galatoire’s Restaurant, followed by a JAZZ SECOND LINE PARADE to Pat O’Brien’s for Happy Hour and ending Friday with a pre-parade party at the Toulouse Theatre. Saturday starts with the ZOMBIE RUN at 9 a.m. in the Warehouse District with the Big Easy Roller Derby as Zombie Killers on the 2-mile run (costumes encouraged). The evening ends with the MONSTER MASH at The Metropolitan at 8 p.m. for the official after party. Events come with various prices so check out the website. Go for the gusto of all the offerings here.
The sale of more than 65,000 books, puzzles, DVDs, CDs and records (yes, records) at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner for the BIG BOOK SALE will benefit the Jefferson Parish Library System. Prices range from 50 cents to $3. The event is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Read all about it here.
Head across the waves of the Pontchartrain this weekend for the FESTIVAL OF THE LAKE at 312 Lafitte St. in Mandeville. The free three-day fun starts Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. There’s food (wagyu smashburgers?), bingo, firetrucks and plenty of music (Karen Waldrup, Bag of Donuts) at the Our Lady of the Lake church. Check out the fest here.
History comes back to life at the Cabildo on Jackson Square in the French Quarter Friday for GHOSTLY GALLVANT 2025 — SAINTS AND SINNERS OF LOUISIANA. The ghoulish gavotte starts at 5 p.m. and every 20 minutes until 8 p.m. and reveals the secrets of those who once meandered through the streets of the fair city. Tickets for the tours start at $30. Glide over to this spot for the spooky details.
It’s been 50 years since audiences got scared for real when the great white shark Bruce munched up the movie screens in “JAWS” and Pontchartrain Conservancy is serving up the maneater for free Friday at the New Canal Lighthouse at 8001 Lakeshore Drive. Gates will open at 6 p.m. with the tell-tale strains of music starting at dusk. The movie is part of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission’s fall Movies in the Park series and will admit the first 250 attendees. Get more information on the macabre movie here.
Head down to St. Bernard Saturday in the wee hours of the morning for TOUR DA PARISH, the annual non-competitive bike ride through the scenic splendor of the neighboring area. Cyclists from around the globe journey to the highways and byways along the bayous on the variety of courses, from 10 miles to 51 miles. The start and finish are at the Los Isleños Museum and Historic Village, 1345 Bayou Road in St. Bernard. The races start at 7 a.m., with registration starting at 6 a.m. for $75. Roll over here for more information.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra strikes a Latin sound for HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, a special concert for families starting at 11 a.m. Saturday in Roussel Hall at Loyola University. Andres Lopera conducts and A.J. Allegra narrates “The Composer is Dead” with text from Lemony Snicket, including “Malaguena” plus works by Bermudez, Hernandez and Meyer’s “Dia de los Muertos” alongside LPO Academy students. At 10:15 a.m., musicians will be at learning stations to talk about their instruments. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets start at $25. Check out the musical merriment here.
Visit the French Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for BOO CARRÉ, a day of music, arts and crafts, readings, a spooky second-line and costume parade plus trick-or-treating — costumes encouraged. The Baby Dolls will demonstrate umbrella decorating, and the Krewe of Dolly will be reading and crafting. Check out all the fun in the city’s oldest neighborhood here.
Celebrating 10 years, the TREMÉ FALL FESTIVAL kicks off Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of St. Augustine Catholic Church at 1210 Gov. Nicholls St. and the surrounding areas. Food, music, culture and community in this oldest African American neighborhood in the country will be celebrated with a second line parade, arts and crafts marketplace and more, concluding with Mass at the church at 10 a.m. Sunday. Check out the fun here.
In New Orleans, even the pets get costumed (for just about any reason) but Saturday at 3 p.m., the reason is resounding for Dat Dog’s annual HOWL-O-WEENIE DOG COSTUME CONTEST to benefit Zeus’ Rescues. The 3336 Magazine St. eatery will have a “crowd favorite” category as well as judges panel for six awards to be presented to Phideaux and their people. Register in advance or get more information here.
Inspired by Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” the Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park becomes an enchanted spot for PLAY SOIREE Saturday for a fundraiser sponsored by the Manning Family Children’s to support the museum’s mission of expanding access. The adults-only event at 8 p.m. at 15 henry Thomas Drive features live music, signature cocktails, food and beverages from many of the areas top culinarians and a fine jewelry raffle. Tickets start at $125. Find out where the “wild things” are partying here.