Krewe of Boo 2026: What to Do Before & After New Orleans’ Halloween Parade

There are plenty of signs that Halloween has arrived in New Orleans. Costumes start appearing on Bourbon Street. Balconies fill with skeletons and cobwebs. The weather finally begins to feel a little more like fall.

But Krewe of Boo weekend is when Halloween season really takes over New Orleans.

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Krewe of BOO! — New Orleans’ official Halloween parade — rolls through downtown and the French Quarter beginning at 6:30 p.m. The parade is free, family-friendly and filled with Halloween-themed floats, marching bands, dance groups, costumed characters and plenty of throws. Krewe of BOO!

If you’re visiting New Orleans for the parade, though, don’t make the mistake of treating Krewe of Boo as the only thing to do that day.

Make a day of it.

Here’s how we’d spend a Krewe of Boo Saturday in New Orleans.

Start Your Day in the French Quarter

One of the best things about Krewe of Boo is that you don’t have to wait until parade time to start enjoying the city.

Give yourself a few hours to explore the French Quarter before the crowds get heavier.

Walk through Jackson Square, wander Royal Street, duck into some of the neighborhood’s smaller shops and galleries, and make your way through Pirates Alley, the narrow passage beside St. Louis Cathedral that has been part of the French Quarter landscape for generations.

And don’t just stick to Bourbon Street.

Some of the best parts of the Quarter are found a block or two away from it, where the architecture, courtyards and narrow streets give you a much better sense of old New Orleans.

If you want to learn some of the history behind those streets, our Pirates of the Quarter walking tour explores the real pirates, smugglers and characters who helped shape early New Orleans.

It’s a fun way to spend part of the day before the Halloween crowds take over—and you’ll probably look at a few of those old French Quarter streets differently afterward.

Don’t Be Afraid to Wear a Costume

Here’s one piece of advice visitors sometimes need to hear:

Yes, you can wear a costume.

In fact, Krewe of BOO! specifically encourages parade-goers to dress up, as long as costumes remain family-friendly.

New Orleans has never required much of an excuse to wear something outrageous, and Halloween certainly qualifies.

You don’t need an elaborate costume, either. A hat, mask or a few accessories can be enough to get into the spirit.

If pirates happen to be your thing, stop by and see us in Pirates Alley while you’re exploring the Quarter. We have pirate-themed shirts, hats, gifts and plenty of other things that fit the weekend.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time Before the Parade

Krewe of Boo is essentially Halloween with a little Mardi Gras mixed in.

That means crowds.

The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and travels roughly three miles through the French Quarter and downtown before heading toward the Warehouse District. Krewe of BOO! says the parade itself generally takes about two to two-and-a-half hours from beginning to end.

Don’t plan on finishing dinner at 6:20 and casually walking over to find the perfect spot.

Get downtown early.

Wear comfortable shoes, expect streets to become crowded and remember that getting around the French Quarter can take longer once the parade is approaching.

And bring something to carry your loot—the Krewe itself recommends a shoulder bag for throws.

What to Expect at Krewe of Boo

If you’ve never experienced a New Orleans parade outside Mardi Gras season, Krewe of Boo gives you a taste of the tradition—with a Halloween twist.

Expect floats filled with monsters, ghosts and other creatures, along with marching bands, dance troupes and walking krewes. More than a thousand participants take part in the parade.

And yes, there are throws.

The atmosphere is festive rather than genuinely frightening, which is why Krewe of Boo has become popular with both visitors and local families.

That makes it a particularly good choice if you’re visiting New Orleans with teenagers or older kids and want them to experience a real New Orleans parade.

Krewe of Boo Is Only Part of Halloween in New Orleans

One of the great things about visiting New Orleans in late October is that Halloween isn’t confined to October 31.

The final weeks of the month are filled with costumes, decorations, special events and Halloween activities across the city. Krewe of Boo has become one of the biggest events of the season, but it’s only part of what’s happening. New Orleans & Company lists Halloween events running throughout the remainder of October, with Halloween itself falling on Saturday this year. New Orleans

If you’re spending several days here, take advantage of it.

We’ve put together a larger guide to Halloween in New Orleans with more ideas for experiencing the city during October.

What to Do After Krewe of Boo

When the last float passes, don’t assume the night is over.

This is New Orleans.

The French Quarter after dark has an entirely different personality than it does during the day. Gas-style lamps illuminate balconies, music spills out of clubs and bars, and streets you’ve walked a dozen times can somehow feel completely different at night.

You can certainly head toward Bourbon Street if that’s what you’re looking for.

But you don’t have to.

There are plenty of ways to spend an evening in the French Quarter without making Bourbon Street the entire experience.

We’ve put together 7 Things to Do in the French Quarter at Night That Aren’t Bourbon Street if you’re looking for some ideas.

Looking for the Darker Side of New Orleans?

Halloween is also a good excuse to dig into some of the stranger corners of New Orleans history.

And we have plenty of them.

Executions. Duels. Brothels. Smugglers. Pirates. Crime. Political intrigue.

The real history of New Orleans can sometimes be considerably darker—and more interesting—than the ghost stories.

If that’s more your speed, take a look at our guide to The Dark Side of New Orleans History: Executions, Duels, Brothels & Debauchery.

Adults Can Keep the Pirate Theme Going

If you’re 21 or older and you’d rather experience some of that darker history with a drink in your hand, that’s where our Pirate Pub Crawl comes in.

On Friday and Saturday nights, we explore a different side of New Orleans pirate history—the stories that don’t necessarily belong on the family tour—while stopping at historic French Quarter bars along the way.

It’s history, pirates and cocktails rather than a traditional bar crawl.

Make a Weekend Out of It

Krewe of Boo isn’t just a Saturday-night parade.

The organization has events surrounding the parade throughout the weekend, including Friday activities, Saturday morning’s Zombie Run and the official Monster Mash after-party Saturday night.

You can see the latest official parade information, route and event schedule directly from Krewe of BOO!.

Schedules and routes can change, so check the official information before heading out.

But however you spend the weekend, leave some time to simply explore.

Because Halloween in New Orleans isn’t confined to one night—or one parade.

Around here, some of the best stories are waiting down the quieter streets of the French Quarter.

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