It’s Halloween Weekend, and New Orleans is the perfect place to celebrate. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience kicks the weekend off with live music, food, and art in City Park. The Mortuary, New Orleans Nightmare, Scout Island Scream Park, and other haunted attractions are open for the season and just waiting to scare you. If Halloween isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other fun things to do this weekend. The Color Purple stops in New Orleans, and the Pelicans and Saints both have home games here this weekend. We’ve got everything you need to know below.
ALL WEEKEND
The Color Purple – The Color Purple returns to New Orleans this weekend at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. This musical re-imagines Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning story of a young African-American woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South. Tickets start at $49 and performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience – The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience is back for another year of music, art, food, and fun on Halloween Weekend. Guns N’ Roses, Beck, and Post Malone headline the festival this year, with over 50 other artists taking the stage over the three-day festival. General admission tickets start at $80. The festival is held at New Orleans City Park.
FRIDAY
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Dallas Mavericks – It’s officially Pels season, and the first home game of the season is this Friday in the Smoothie King Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30.
The Lazarus Ball – This annual fundraiser benefits Project Lazarus, which assists those living with HIV/AIDS while also promoting general awareness. This year’s event will be held at the New Orleans Board of Trade on 316 Magazine St. from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, and tickets are $95. The Eliza Jane Hotel will host the pre and after-party, donating 10 percent of bar sales generated by The Lazarus Ball attendees that night to the charity. The pre-event happy hour will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and then will pick back up again at 10:30p.m.-12 a.m. to offer guests a festive night-cap.
SATURDAY
#IDidItForTheTurkey – This annual fundraiser for the Al Copeland Foundation celebrates Thanksgiving a little early. Parkway Bakery and Tavern is taking over Port Orleans Brewing Company this Saturday to serve their world-famous Thanksgiving poor boy, a seasonal twist on the New Orleans favorite with turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy, all on a loaf of French bread. Port Orleans Brewing will serve its limited release #IDidItForTheTurkey Friendsgiving Saison holiday beer. All ticket proceeds from the event, as well as $1 per pint of beer, will go to the Al Copeland Foundation and support its fight to save lives and end cancer. Two levels of tickets are available: $40 tickets include a half Thanksgiving poor boy, sweet potato fries and a #IDidItForTheTurkey t-shirt; $20 tickets include a poor boy and fries. T-shirts are also available to purchase separately for $20. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Port Orleans Brewing Co.
SUNDAY
Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals – The Saints are back in the Dome this Sunday after two weekends away. Watch them take on the Arizona Cardinals with kickoff at noon. If you can’t make it to the Dome, check out our favorite places to watch the game in New Orleans. Tickets start at $88.
LAGNIAPPE
Pizza & Pies – Paradigm Gardens hosts Pizza & Pies this Wednesday, Oct. 23 featuring special guests DJ Doug Funnie and chefs from Baru and Domenica. Ancora Pizza, The Pupusa Lady, and Windowsill Pies will provide food, with cocktails from Roulaison Distilling and Miel Brewery. Tickets are $50 and include all food and drinks. There are two entry times, 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
ALL MONTH
Haunted Attractions – Halloween weekend is the perfect time to experience New Orleans’ best haunted attractions. For haunted house lovers, stop by the Mortuary or New Orleans Nightmare. Scout Island Scream Park is back with its fright zones, but bring the little ones before sunset for a family-friendly experience. Discover more NOLA Haunted Attractions here.
