Where to stay in New Orleans for Halloween and fall music festivals

Inside the best places throughout New Orleans to stay for your next Halloween and fall music festival getaway.

Known for its grotesque flair, late nights, legendary nightlife, and a music scene that never seems to slow down, New Orleans is one of the best cities to visit in the fall, particularly around Halloween. This fall, the bustling southern city has another reason for electronic lovers and Halloween lovers alike to book a trip.

From Halloween-themed events to new music festival debuts, New Orleans is once again shaping up to be one of the most thrilling fall destinations with this exciting back-to-back festival comeback.

For travelers seeking a blend of a Halloween-filled and live EDM experience, the city is proud to host Disco Presents’ Freaky Deaky NOLA, taking over Mardi Gras World on October 30 and 31. The inaugural festival brings headliners Porter Robinson, FISHER, Of The Trees, and Chris Lorenzo alongside top-notch production and costumed crowds.

Just a few weeks later, We Belong Here arrives to NOLA for its debut edition November 13-15 at Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park. This electronic music festival will bring more of a boutique, destination-style experience to riverfront, with Carl Cox, Steve Angello, Sammy Virji, and an ODESZA DJ set.

Luckily, New Orleans’ fall calendar extends well beyond those two weekends. Travelers can easily turn a festival trip into a full weekend city getaway. In addition to Freaky Deaky and We Belong Here, NOLAxNOLA runs September 24 through October 4, while October brings events such as Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, NOLA Funk Fest, Kewe of BOO! and more.

But the biggest question is: Where should you actually stay in New Orleans?

Here are some of the best areas and hotels to consider when planning a New Orleans Halloween and fall festival getaway.

Stay in the French Quarter for nightlife and the full New Orleans Experience

If your ideal festival trip includes dancing (and drinking) until sunrise and then wandering straight into another bar, the French Quarter is hard to beat. Staying here puts you close to Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street, restaurants, cocktail bars and countless live music venues. It also makes it easy to explore New Orleans between festival sets without relying on a car.

Here are our French Quarter hotel recommendations:

The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Hotel Mazarin

Place d’Armes Hotel

Stay near Mardi Gras World for Freaky Deaky NOLA

If Freaky Deaky NOLA is the main reason for your trip, consider staying around the Warehouse/Arts District or Lower Garden District. Mardi Gras World is located at 1380 Port of New Orleans Place near the Convention Center, making this area particularly convenient for the Halloween weekend festival.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Freaky Deaky New Orleans (@freakydeakynola)

Here are our Mardi Gras World hotel recommendations:

Virgin Hotel New Orleans

Loews New Orleans Hotel

NOPSI Hotel

Stay by the riverfront for We Belong Here

For We Belong Here, staying in the riverfront area will provide you with the best of both worlds. The November 13–15 festival will take place at Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park, making the French Quarter and riverfront hotels especially convenient.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by We Belong Here (@webelonghere.world)

Here are our Riverfront hotel recommendations:

ONE11 Hotel

The Westin New Orleans

For a quieter fall NOLA weekend: Look beyond Bourbon Street

If you want to thoroughly rest during your visit, stay in the Warehouse District, CBD or Lower Garden District rather than booking directly on Bourbon Street. The advantage? You’re still close enough to reach the French Quarter, restaurants and festival venues, but you can return to a quieter environment after the music ends.

This is also where New Orleans’ hotel scene becomes particularly interesting, with boutique properties, design-led hotels and larger luxury properties offering a different experience from the historic hotels of the French Quarter.

The biggest advantage of visiting New Orleans for a fall music festival is that the festival doesn’t have to be the entire trip. Spend the afternoon exploring the French Quarter before heading to a festival. Grab dinner in the Warehouse District. Visit a cocktail bar after the show. Take in live music the following day. And if you’re visiting around Halloween, build in time for all the spooky events the lively city has to offer.

For dance music fans, that’s what makes New Orleans such an appealing fall destination. The city already has the nightlife, food, culture and late-night energy. but with events like Freaky Deaky NOLA and We Belong Here joining the fall calendar, it’s becoming an even stronger destination for a music-centered getaway.

Featured image courtesy of Lan Wei/Xinhua via Getty Images

About The Author