10 Things to Do in New Orleans in October

October is one of the busiest and most fun months in the city, whether you're travelling to New Orleans with children, family, couples or friends. The orange and reddish leaves on the autumn trees, Halloween celebrations and various local festivals make this month one of the most attractive of the year.

On the other hand, with the onset of autumn in New Orleans, the temperatures drop but remain pleasant for touring the city and its surroundings. In this article, I'll tell you about the top 10 things to do in New Orleans in October so you won't miss any of them.

The Tremé Fall Festival is one of the main celebrations in the month of October in New Orleans. This event is organised by St. Augustine Catholic Church and aims to spread the culture and history of the Treme neighbourhood, the oldest African-American neighbourhood in the United States.

For the duration of the festival, you can attend free musical performances by local artists and musicians, as well as sample some tasty treats and food. Children can enjoy a variety of activities related to painting, art and construction projects. There are also second line parades and jazz funerals, something you can only see in New Orleans.

Treme Fall Fest, as it is called, is also a charity event, as all donations raised help the church to continue its charitable work.

The epicentre of the celebrations is at Henriette Delille and Gov. Nicholls streets, where you'll find the most famous performers. Some of them, for example, are Kermit Ruffins, Shannon Powell and Leroy Jones.

This festival concludes on Sunday morning, where you can attend a gospel mass followed by a show. Don't miss the opportunity to discover and participate in an authentic local gospel choir.

Interesting facts:

• Where: St. Augustine Church, Tremé, New Orleans
• Price: free
• Date: 22 October.

Beignet Fest is a heartwarming festival in the city of New Orleans. This renowned event is an opportunity for you to celebrate and improve the lives of children with developmental difficulties and disabilities, as all proceeds are reinvested in projects of this nature.

Here, you can find more than 20 different styles of popular food from various restaurants in the city, making it one of the most fun and delicious activities. The festival is also the place to go for the famous beignet, a traditional New Orleans treat consisting of fried, sugary dough. In addition to the food, there will be live music and a fantastic artists' market.

Interesting facts:

• Where: City Park, New Orleans.
• Price: from €35
• Date: 5 October

New Orleans is known as the only city where you can get an authentic Gumbo, this well-known dish consisting of a stew that blends a fusion of cultures such as American, French and Spanish.

National Gumbo Day is celebrated to honour this famous American delicacy and is a must-do in New Orleans if you're visiting in October.

To learn more about this and other incredible facts on your visit, I recommend taking a tour of New Orleans' French Quarter, where you'll be told all the secrets and history of this lively and vibrant part of the city. If you feel like feasting and tasting this popular dish, don't miss it.

Interesting facts:

• Where: French Quarter, New Orleans
• Price: free
• Date: 12 October

Halloween is a traditional American holiday recognised worldwide. Today, this date in the calendar has crossed many cultures and is celebrated on several continents every year in October.

Halloween in the Garden District is the celebration that takes place in the city of New Orleans, and the perfect plan for your holiday if you're in town and want to trick-or-treat or enjoy some of the best Halloween decorations.

This district dresses up in spooky costumes and is one of the best places to experience American culture and traditions. Well before the 31st of October, you'll see many houses start to decorate their homes in a spooky way.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Garden district, New Orleans
• Price: free
• Date: 30 and 31 October

Oktoberfest in NOLA in New Orleans will always be talked about. Although there are no German roots, this is another festival that is celebrated almost worldwide.

Particularly in this city, Oktoberfest takes place over three weekends, so you will certainly have the opportunity to enjoy the event. Here, there is a tasting of around 20 different types of beer, although you will also have a variety of spirits if you are one of the braver ones.

In addition, you can accompany these drinks with the best traditional German delicacies, such as sausages, sauerkraut, pretzels and a selection of cheeses.

So, if you're in the mood for good music, dancing and fun, attending this festival is one of the best things to do this holiday season. You will also find a historical exhibition to learn interesting information about the Oktoberfest.

This is a fantastic experience for the whole family and something to do in New Orleans at night, as the party continues even after the sun goes down.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Champions Square, New Orleans
• Price: from €8
• Date: 4 - 5 October, 11 - 12 October, 18 - 19 October

The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is another of the many festivals that take place in October. In this case, it's a great show where you can enjoy performances by big name artists such as The Allman-Betts Band and Little Freddie King.

Besides enjoying some of the best live jazz and blues in town, there will be a great barbecue and other local foods throughout the event. Don't miss this celebration if you're looking for an event for the whole family, as you can find delicious food and unique visual art to enjoy with the little ones as well.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Lafayette Square Park, New Orleans
• Price: Free
• Date: Usually mid-October

TheKrewe of Boo is a series of parades in New Orleans dedicated exclusively to the Halloween holiday. The city is known for hosting large parade-related events throughout the year, but October is one of the largest and most famous in the country.

Here, you can enjoy unique floats, some created by artists who design the Mardi Gras parades, another of the most popular parades. You'll also be able to participate in a candy toss and various prizes for attendees, including stuffed toys, snacks and T-shirts. As you can see, it's a real party.

Plus, if you decide to join the Krewe de Boo members, you can even ride on one of the floats, so don't miss out.

Interesting facts:

• Where: French Quarter, New Orleans
• Price: free
• Date: end of October

Art for Art's Sake is an event that takes place on Magazine Street, one of the most popular art streets in New Orleans. Here, you'll find businesses and wonderful art galleries, as well as a variety of antique shops.

If you're spending a few days in October in New Orleans and want to immerse yourself in the art and culture of the city's most original district, don't miss the opportunity to attend Art for Art's Sake. You'll be able to enjoy local artists with live music, gallery openings, shopping and, best of all, free of charge.

Exhibitions to discover and browse range from contemporary to classical art, and include some photography and sculpture. It's a special occasion to see a completely transformed environment, and experience all the sounds that mingle through its streets.

You can listen to live music as you stroll from place to place, and many of the restaurants along Magazine Street are open late. In fact, many of them set up some outdoor stalls to offer take-away food and give you more flexibility.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Champions Square, New Orleans
• Price: from €135
• Date: 5 October.

The Gentilly Festival is another fun event you can find to celebrate the culture of New Orleans. If you're looking for a day of live music, delicious food, arts and crafts, don't hesitate to attend this celebration with the whole family.

What's special about Gentilly Fest is that it even has a few children's villages where you can find original and different activities for the little ones, such as pony rides, a fire truck, face painting and pottery making workshops, gardening crafts and much more.

This event is held to raise funds to support different projects to build better neighbourhoods, such as volunteer firefighters, music camps for children and other local organisations in need of help.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Pontchartrain Park Playground, New Orleans
• Price: from €135
• Date: 11 - 13 October

Wednesday's on the Point is one of my favourite things to do in New Orleans in October. This free concert series brings music, dancing and great food to the banks of the Mississippi River. Here, every Wednesday night, you'll see the area become so festive that it almost feels like a weekend.

Enjoy the food trucks and stalls that fill the Algiers Ferry Landing, the oldest section of New Orleans, founded in the early 18th century.

Try some of Louisiana's tasty dishes, such as po-boys, crab quesadillas, and more. Plus, there's never a shortage of beer, wine and soft drinks and a host of fun activities for the kids.

For those who wish to continue the day's festivities, you can do so at the many legendary pubs nearby, such as Old Point Bar and Dry Dock Cafe.

Interesting facts:

• Where: Champions Square, New Orleans
• Price: from 135€.
• Date: Second weekend in October.

After a very hot summer, temperatures start to drop in October in New Orleans, although it's still a good time to visit the city as the cold weather has not yet arrived. With an average high of 27 degrees Celsius and a low of 15 degrees Celsius, the atmosphere still invites you to enjoy the city's streets, stroll through its charming streets and enjoy a host of outdoor activities.

Although October is the driest month of the year, the hurricane season from August to November is still active and tropical storms are still possible. Therefore, I recommend that you check the weather before you leave for New Orleans to see how likely it is that these heavy rains are going to be able to derail your plans. No one forgets the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, when the city was hit hard.

Summer, like most tourist destinations, tends to be the busiest time of the year in New Orleans. However, the southern city welcomes millions of party-hungry tourists every year in March for Mardi Gras. So this is also the high season,

So if you're looking for a quiet trip and want to get away from the crowds that these big festivals can attract, travelling in October is a great idea. Although I have to tell you that the plans are still endless and this city is never really free of tourism.

However, the mild temperatures make it a suitable destination even for visiting the nearby beaches where you can relax and escape the hectic pace of the city centre for a few hours.

Considering the pleasant October temperatures in the American city, always pack light so that you can stay cool during the day and your walks won't cause you to break a sweat. It's still humid out, so shorts, short-sleeved shirts and comfortable walking shoes are the best choice. There are still plenty of sunshine hours in October, so sunscreen is also recommended if you're going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, which is likely to be the case.

But temperatures drop in the evenings. That's why you can't leave a warm jacket or jumper at home. Any long-sleeved garment will come in handy at sunset.

Finally, an umbrella is a must whenever you travel to New Orleans. A rainstorm can hit at any time and you'll agree with me that it can't stop you from making any plans - so get ready to start your adventure!