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Looking for things to do in New Orleans in October? From the best Big Easy festivals to Halloween celebrations and free activities, I’ve got you covered!
I visited New Orleans in October a few years ago, and the atmosphere was electric! It’s a great time of year to see the Big Easy. The weather is slowly cooling down after a hot summer, and there are plenty of things to keep you busy, as you’ll see below.
Weather in New Orleans in October
The average temperature in New Orleans in October is a pleasant 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s also one of the city’s driest months, so it’s perfect weather for outdoor activities. However, hurricane season stretches from August to November. So check the weather in case a tropical storm is imminent and you have to sneak an umbrella into your suitcase.
Where to stay in New Orleans
Unfortunately, the fantastic hostel I stayed at in New Orleans is now closed (AAE Bourbon House). But another top-rated hostel (look at those reviews, seriously) is India House. An alternative affordable hotel/hostel on the outskirts of the French Quarter is Madame Isabelle’s House. Recently renovated, it looks super cute!
Things to do in New Orleans in October
Image by Denise Grisham from Pixabay
1. Go to a festival
There are too many New Orleans October events! Here’s a selection of annual festivals waiting for you:
- New Orleans Music Month: Celebrates the city’s music scene with live music nightly. It also includes other festivals like NOLA x NOLA and the National Fried Chicken Festival, presented by Raising Cane’s.
- Gretna Fest: Now one of Jefferson Parish’s largest festivals, headliners in 2024 included Dierks Bentley and the Steve Miller Band.
- Gentilly Fest: Celebrates all things “Gentilly”, a lakeside New Orleans suburb. It includes continuous live music across three stages and local vendors selling food and arts and crafts.
- Oktoberfest: Oktoberfest in NOLA takes place over three weekends!
- Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival: A free three-day annual festival celebrating the city’s live blues and jazz scene and its best barbecue. What more could you want?
- New Orleans Film Festival: Enjoyed in October for over 30 years, you can enjoy 150+ films, parties, and other festivities.
- Top Taco Fest: You literally get to vote for the top taco in multiple categories! But there are also tequila tastings, entertainment, and more.
- NOLA Reggae Fest: Three days of festivities for reggae lovers.
- Tremé Fall Festival: Celebrates Tremé’s history and culture – the oldest African-American neighbourhood in the United States. Celebrate with delicious food, family-friendly activities, and free live music at Tremé Fall Fest.
- Art for Art’s Sake: Magazine Street Merchant Association’s premier fall event. They invite people to visit the street’s long list of art galleries in early October. Did I mention there’s free wine and live music?
2. Watch a football game
I visited New Orleans in October when the New Orleans Saints played the Green Bay Packers. I’ve never seen so many people wear sports memorabilia outside a stadium 😂. If you don’t get to the game at Caesars Superdome, watch it at a local sports bar or tailgate at Champions Square. Game day in New Orleans is a not-to-be-missed experience.
Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay
3. Visit City Park
At 1300 acres, City Park is New Orleans’s largest outdoor space. You’ll find an amusement park, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, walking trails, a fishing lake, a golf course, sporting fields, and a vast collection of live oak trees here. In October, you can visit the Fall Garden Festival, which features 50+ vendors who exhibit familiar and exotic plants.
4. Shop for souvenirs at the French Market
The French Market District includes six blocks in the French Quarter. However, the French Market itself has a farmers’ market and a flea market, which are open daily. It has some great clothing and gift shops where you can buy the perfect New Orleans souvenir (you know I did).
Image by Mary Hammel on Unsplash
5. Enjoy a jazz cruise
A trip on Steamboat Natchez as it heads down the Mississippi River is one of the top things to do in New Orleans in October. There are several options (including lunch and evening cruises), but I personally recommend the Sunday brunch cruise. The brunch menu is what Southern dreams are made of. You can enjoy your feast with live jazz music and Mississippi River views. It doesn’t get better than that!
Hot tip: You can also enjoy a Sunday jazz brunch at legendary Broussard’s in the French Quarter.
6. Visit Mardi Gras World
You don’t need to miss Mardi Gras when visiting New Orleans in October. Mardi Gras World takes you behind the scenes. The tour begins with a video highlighting the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Then, you get to see where the floats are built year-round. Yes, people were working on them even in October. You don’t get this up close to the floats during Mardi Gras, so I definitely recommend adding this experience to your New Orleans bucket list.
7. Eat pie!
Fall in the States equals pie in my books! Here are the best places to visit in New Orleans in October to get a delicious slice of pie. I’m partial to pecan pie, but it is October, so you best believe pumpkin pie will be on many menus.
Image by Jessica Tan on Unsplash
8. Eat beignets!
You can’t visit New Orleans in October without enjoying some beignets as well. Fried dough covered in powdered sugar? Yes, please! Cafe du Monde is the most popular beignets stop in New Orleans, and it’s where I went. But here are more places to get beignets.
9. Celebrate National Gumbo Day
Would you believe National Gumbo Day is October 12? Celebrate in style by enjoying gumbo at one of these New Orleans establishments.
10. Visit the French Quarter
The most unmissable thing to do in New Orleans in October is visiting the French Quarter. There is much to do and see here, including:
- St. Louis Cathedral and the buskers in Jackson Square.
- A New Orleans museum or three. Options include the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, New Orleans Jazz Museum, and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.
- Iconic Bourbon Street. While it comes alive at night, plenty of entertainment remains here during the day.
- Vue Orleans offers the only 360-degree panoramic riverfront views over New Orleans.
Image by Josh Doguet on Unsplash
11. Stroll down Magazine Street
I highly recommend strolling down the six-mile-long Magazine Street (pick your poison!). There are over 100 stores (galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars) to choose from.
12. Celebrate Halloween with a haunted experience
New Orleans is a popular Halloween destination, as it’s one of the country’s most haunted cities. Take your pick of spooky activities in New Orleans in October:
- The Mortuary offers an infamous haunted house experience, as does New Orleans Nightmare.
- Halloween New Orleans supports Project Lazarus. The weekend-long event schedule includes the famous Lazarus Ball, a costume party, a Sunday brunch, and a parade.
- Stay at a haunted hotel.
- Have fun at Krewe of Boo Parade, New Orleans’s official Halloween parade. It’s like Mardi Gras in October!
- Take the kids to Ghosts in the Oaks, an annual family-friendly Halloween fundraiser hosted by the City Park Conservancy. Carousel Gardens Amusement Park comes alive over four nights with rides, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and trick or treating. If you miss the event, City Park is still a beautiful spot for a picnic while visiting New Orleans in October.
- Visit a cemetery. New Orleans is home to some of the country’s most historic and hauntingly beautiful cemeteries. Trust me!
- See the decorations in the Garden District. Residents go all out decorating their terraces.
The LaLaurie Mansion – Copyright US Ghost Adventures.
13. Join a ghost tour
New Orleans’s Most Haunted Ghost Tour will convince you that New Orleans is one of the world’s most haunted cities! One of the key places you visit is LaLaurie Mansion, the city’s most haunted house. You’ll learn more about it on the tour, but it’s one of the most haunted places in the United States. Madame Delphine LaLaurie reportedly murdered 57 of her slaves inside the home in the early 19th century 😳.
Solo travel in New Orleans
I wanted to add that I visited New Orleans as a solo traveller. I felt comfortable visiting the French Quarter and using public transport at night.
Here are the other cities I recommend visiting alone in the United States
Image by Oliver Weidmann from Pixabay
New Orleans in October FAQs
Is New Orleans worth visiting in October?
Absolutely! I highly recommend visiting New Orleans in October. The weather becomes more pleasant, and there are plenty of things to do, whether you want to go on a tour, visit a festival, or enjoy the best Louisianan cuisine.
Is there anything going on in New Orleans in October?
There are too many things to do in New Orleans in October, including festivals, concerts, Halloween celebrations, and the usual New Orleans tourist attractions.
Is New Orleans fun in October?
How should I dress for New Orleans in October?
It’s still quite warm in New Orleans in October. I stuck to summer dresses and cotton tops with shorts. I’d also recommend bringing a lighter jacket if out at night and good walking shoes because you’ll hit those cobblestone streets hard!
When not to go to New Orleans?
June to September are the hottest months in New Orleans. So, if you want to avoid the heat, don’t visit New Orleans in the summer.
Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in October?
No. October is typically one of the driest months of the year in New Orleans. But you might get an unlucky tropical storm rolling in, so it doesn’t hurt to pack an umbrella.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best things to do in New Orleans in October!
You won’t be bored in New Orleans in October. I honestly think I have to plan a return trip! If you’re curious, here’s my entire North American solo travel itinerary.
PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP
– Book accommodation with Booking.com or Hostelworld. Yes, I am that person that checks both places before booking accommodation to get the best price.
– Organise travel insurance.
– Book adventures via GetYourGuide, my preferred provider. In some instances, I’ve found activities here that were sold out elsewhere.
– Check out my travel resources page for more info.
Any and all support is appreciated 🫶🏻.
Thank you to US Ghost Adventures for partnering with me on this post.
