How to Celebrate Halloween This Year
Seasonal spooks and family festivities across Louisiana for those who yearn to eat, drink, and be scary.
This month, a velvet cloak of darkness settles over the prairies and bayous of Louisiana. Fog creeps between cypress trees. A twig snaps, then something howls, just beyond your eyesight in the distance. Could it be the Rougarou making his way toward you? Or just a Border Collie in a Superman costume? Whether you’re in the market for chilling frights or festive family fun, Halloween activities for any taste (and not just candy corn or chocolate) abound all over the state.
Little Monsters: Family-Friendly Halloween Activities for Kids
Those with kids and who are otherwise more predisposed toward sweet than scary deserve to get in on the Halloween action (and importantly, candy), too. Costumes, goodie bags, and pumpkins abound at these family-friendly festivities.
October 7: Olde Towne Pumpkin Festival
Every weekend in October: Halloween at Lakeview Park and Beach
Saturdays in October: LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Corn Maze
October 13: The Witches Ride of St. Francisville
October 13, 20, 25: Pumpkin Decorating with a Twist
October 15: Trunk or Treat at Cabela's
October 15: Shreveport-Bossier City Zombie Walk
October 16: Trunk or Treat at Jefferson UMC
October 21–23: Rougarou Fest
October 21–23: New Orleans Boo at the Zoo
October 22–23, 29–30: BREC's Boo at the Zoo
October 22: A Merry Not Scary Halloween at the West Baton Rouge Museum
October 22: Boo Bayou Fall Fest at Vermilionville in Lafayette
October 22: Monster Mash Family Fall Festival
October 23: Trunk or Treat at Aldersgate UMC
October 25–29: Scarecrows in the Garden
October 27–30: La Fete des Bayous Festival
October 28: Columbia Street Halloween Block Party
October 28: Olde Towne Slidell Zombie Crawl
October 29: BREC's Full Moon Fête
October 29: Trickin' and Treatin' at the Covington Trailhead
October 29: Halloween Art & Nature Festival
October 29: Halloween Day at LASM
October 29: Covington Boo Fest
October 29: Autumn in the Oaks at Moncus Park
October 29: Mandeville Barktoberfest
October 30: Haints, Haunts, and Halloween at the Rural Life Museum
October 30–31: Ol' Mel's Halloween Fest
Pumpkin Patches to Visit
Whether you have kids or just a penchant for gory Halloween debauchery, everyone can appreciate the timeless fall activity of strolling through a pumpkin patch, donned in an autumnal sweater. Here are some pumpkin patches throughout the state, for your future Jack-o-Lantern needs.
September 23–October 30: Newsong Church Pumpkin Patch
September 24–October 31: Curry Farms, Inc. in Start, Louisiana
September 24–October 31: Dixie Maze Farms in Shreveport, Louisiana
September 24–October 31: Slidell First UMC Pumpkin Patch
September 24–November 6: Mrs. Heather’s in Albany
October 6–8: Loureauville Park Pumpkin Patch
October 7–31: Pumpkin Patch at Jefferson UMC
Saturdays, October 8–29: LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Corn Maze
Date TBA: Pop-up Pink Pumpkin Patch at Baton Rouge General
Horrifying Thrills: Haunted Houses, Spooky Spectacles, and more
For adults and accompanied teenagers seeking true heebie-jeebies and things that go "bump" (or much worse) in the night.
September 30–October 31: Shreveort's NecroManor
October 1–November 13: The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge
October 1–November 6: New Orleans Nightmare
October 1–October 30: Fright Trail in Lafayette
October 1–October 31: Carnevil Haunted Midway
October 7: New Iberia's Frightmare on Main Street
October 23: New Orleans Krewe of Boo
October 23: New Orleans Zombie Run
Cheers, Witches
These grown-ups only parties ensure plenty of chances to show off that costume you had in mind (and sip Halloween-themed cocktails).
October 2, 9, 27–30: Fifolet Halloween Festival in Baton Rouge
October 29: Ghouls Night Out at L'Auberge in Baton Rouge
October 29: Vintage Halloween-themed Van Gogh Gala at the River Oak Art Center in Alexandria
October 29: Nightmare on Columbia in Covington
October 29: Hilton Capitol Center's Masquerade Ball in Baton Rouge
October 30: New Roads Boo & Brew
Cemetery Tours
October 8–9, 15–16: St. Landry Cemetery Tours & Reenactments
October 29: "Visiting the Past" at Cedar Hill Cemetery
Where to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show
It's become simply obligatory to attend a showing—film, theatrical, or both—of Rocky Horror before the season ends. Opportunities for debauchery abound—so mark your calendars, grab your corsets, and don't forget the toast and toilet paper.
October 21–22: Columbia Theatre
October 21–22, 28–29: Cutting Edge Theatre
October 21–22, 27–30: Theatre Baton Rouge
October 28: The Manship Theatre
Editor's Note: If there are any other Halloween activities we neglected, for families or frights, please reach out to alex@countryroadsmag.com.