WHAT TO DO IN OCTOBER IN NEW ORLEANS - NEW ORLEANS EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, OCTOBER 2025
OCTOBER 2025 IN NEW ORLEANS: event calendar
Food and music events lead us into a festival season that will take us right through Mardi Gras and to next year's Jazz Fest. Coffee, Fried Chicken and BBQ get their own celebrations, Gretna Fest is a beloved local's party weekend, and then there's Halloween of course. We will publish our annual Halloween round up on October 15th, with everything that's going on around the city, so be sure to check back (sign up for your free newsletter, there's a form at the bottom of the page). Here's a curated list of October's highlights, though:
OCTOBER 2025 IN NEW ORLEANS
3rd-5th
Gretna Fest
The amazing Trombone Shorty heads up this beloved, one-day locals’ music festival. The festival offers live music from local, national, and international acts, food, arts & crafts, games, and much more.
3rd-4th
New Orleans Coffee Festival
The NOLA Coffee Festival celebrates New Orleans' rich coffee heritage while bringing together industry professionals, enthusiasts, and coffee lovers for a two-day celebration.
4th-5th
Fried Chicken Fest
Two days by the lake, 40 restaurants competing and 20 hours of free musical entertainment!
10-12th
Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival
From the producers of Jazz Fest, The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival continues New Orleans’ historic role in making the blues and R&B among the most influential sounds in the world. The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival presents top performers from southern Louisiana and Mississippi, plus delicious food and unique visual art.
10th-25th
Oktoberfest
Presented by Deutsches Haus, Oktoberfest NOLA brings Germany’s beloved celebration to the Crescent City for three weekends filled with German culture, cuisine, and fun. Fest-goers can expect a host of authentic German foods, live music, dances, and activities.
16-19th
Ghosts in the Oaks
A family event, Ghosts in the Oaks features trick-or-treating, arts & crafts, a pumpkin patch, and hot-dog roasting around the campfire.
23rd-Nov 2nd
New Orleans Film Festival
The 36th annual, Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival returns to venues across the city with in-person events, parties, panels, filmmaker pitches, and much more! READ OUR PREVIEW AND INTERVIEW WITH FESTIVAL DIRECTOR CLINT BOWIE
25th
Krewe of Boo!
This family parade has grown to be a spooktacular weekend of Halloween-themed events, combining the magnitude of Mardi Gras with the macabre theatrics of All Hallow's Eve.
31st
Happy Halloween
New Orleans is simply one of the best places in the country - if not the world - to experience Halloween!
31st
Bayou Bachannal
The original Caribbean Carnival of New Orleans, is a celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage. Bayou Bacchanal is a wonderful festival on the bayou, including Caribbean cuisine, dance, music, and celebration.
OCTOBER 2025 IN NEW ORLEANS
3rd-5th
Gretna Fest
The amazing Trombone Shorty heads up this beloved, one-day locals’ music festival. The festival offers live music from local, national, and international acts, food, arts & crafts, games, and much more.
3rd-4th
New Orleans Coffee Festival
The NOLA Coffee Festival celebrates New Orleans' rich coffee heritage while bringing together industry professionals, enthusiasts, and coffee lovers for a two-day celebration.
4th-5th
Fried Chicken Fest
Two days by the lake, 40 restaurants competing and 20 hours of free musical entertainment!
10-12th
Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival
From the producers of Jazz Fest, The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival continues New Orleans’ historic role in making the blues and R&B among the most influential sounds in the world. The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival presents top performers from southern Louisiana and Mississippi, plus delicious food and unique visual art.
10th-25th
Oktoberfest
Presented by Deutsches Haus, Oktoberfest NOLA brings Germany’s beloved celebration to the Crescent City for three weekends filled with German culture, cuisine, and fun. Fest-goers can expect a host of authentic German foods, live music, dances, and activities.
16-19th
Ghosts in the Oaks
A family event, Ghosts in the Oaks features trick-or-treating, arts & crafts, a pumpkin patch, and hot-dog roasting around the campfire.
23rd-Nov 2nd
New Orleans Film Festival
The 36th annual, Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival returns to venues across the city with in-person events, parties, panels, filmmaker pitches, and much more! READ OUR PREVIEW AND INTERVIEW WITH FESTIVAL DIRECTOR CLINT BOWIE
25th
Krewe of Boo!
This family parade has grown to be a spooktacular weekend of Halloween-themed events, combining the magnitude of Mardi Gras with the macabre theatrics of All Hallow's Eve.
31st
Happy Halloween
New Orleans is simply one of the best places in the country - if not the world - to experience Halloween!
31st
Bayou Bachannal
The original Caribbean Carnival of New Orleans, is a celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage. Bayou Bacchanal is a wonderful festival on the bayou, including Caribbean cuisine, dance, music, and celebration.