BY TPS STAFF

Halloween in New Orleans is all about creativity, and whether you’re hosting a spooky soirée or just looking for fun family activities, there’s no shortage of inspiration to bring the city’s unique spirit into your celebration. From DIY crafts to delicious treats, these New Orleans-themed Halloween ideas will help you create a festive and flavorful celebration that pays homage to the Crescent City.

1. DIY Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo is a significant part of New Orleans’ history, and making your own (kid-friendly!) voodoo dolls is a fun way to introduce this unique cultural element into your Halloween celebrations. Using basic craft supplies like felt, yarn, and buttons, you can create colorful, non-scary voodoo dolls that are perfect for decorating your home or giving as party favors.

Materials Needed:

• Felt (variety of colors)
• Yarn or string
• Buttons, beads, or sequins for decoration
• Needle and thread or fabric glue
• Cotton stuffing

Instructions:

1. Cut two identical doll shapes out of felt.
2. Sew or glue the edges together, leaving a small opening for stuffing.
3. Stuff the doll with cotton and sew up the hole.
4. Use yarn, buttons, and beads to decorate your voodoo doll with features like eyes, hair, and accessories.

This craft is simple, customizable, and pays homage to the rich voodoo history of New Orleans.

2. Mardi Gras Bead Pumpkins

If you’ve ever attended Mardi Gras, you know that beads are a central part of the celebration. Why not incorporate them into your Halloween décor? Using leftover beads, you can decorate pumpkins (real or fake) to create a uniquely New Orleans twist on traditional Halloween decorations.

Materials Needed:

• Plastic or real pumpkins
• Mardi Gras beads (purple, green, and gold)
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Use a hot glue gun to attach Mardi Gras beads to the pumpkin in swirls, stripes, or any pattern you like.
2. Mix and match different bead sizes and colors to give your pumpkins a fun, festive look.

These bead-covered pumpkins will be a hit at any Halloween party and give your décor a true New Orleans flair.

3. Spooky Beignets

No New Orleans celebration is complete without its most famous treat—beignets! Give this classic a Halloween twist by dusting them with black powdered sugar or adding a touch of orange food coloring to the dough to create pumpkin-shaped treats.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup warm water (110°F)
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 packet of active dry yeast
• Black powdered sugar or regular powdered sugar mixed with black food coloring

Instructions:

1. Combine the water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl, and let it sit until foamy.
2. In another bowl, mix the egg and evaporated milk.
3. Add the yeast mixture to the milk mixture, then slowly incorporate the flour.
4. Roll out the dough and cut it into spooky shapes like ghosts or pumpkins.
5. Fry the dough in hot oil until golden brown.
6. Dust the beignets with black powdered sugar for a spooky twist.

Serve these Halloween beignets at a party or enjoy them with a cup of hot chocolate for a delightful treat that captures the flavors of New Orleans.

4. Haunted Mardi Gras Mask Making

Mardi Gras masks are iconic in New Orleans, and making Halloween-themed masks is a creative way to mix the two celebrations. You can create ghostly, glittery, or spooky masks using simple supplies that can be found at any craft store.

Materials Needed:

• Blank Mardi Gras masks (available at craft stores)
• Paint (black, purple, orange, etc.)
• Glitter, feathers, rhinestones, beads
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Paint the blank mask with your chosen base color.
2. Use glitter, beads, and feathers to decorate your mask and add spooky elements like skulls or spiderwebs.
3. Attach a stick to one side so you can hold the mask to your face, or attach a ribbon to tie it around your head.

This craft is perfect for kids and adults alike, and the finished masks make great party accessories or decorations.

5. Pumpkin Gumbo

Bring the flavors of New Orleans into your Halloween kitchen with a hearty, seasonal pumpkin gumbo. This dish takes the traditional flavors of gumbo—rich with spices, okra, and vegetables—and adds pumpkin for a fall twist.

Ingredients:

• 1 small pumpkin (pureed)
• 1 lb of okra, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• Vegetable broth
• Rice for serving

Instructions:

1. Sauté the onions, garlic, peppers, and celery until soft.
2. Add the pumpkin puree and Cajun seasoning.
3. Pour in the vegetable broth and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Add the okra and cook for another 15 minutes.
5. Serve over rice for a warm, comforting dish with a fall twist.

---

These Halloween-themed crafts and treats are a great way to bring the spirit of New Orleans into your celebration. Whether you’re making a voodoo doll, decorating with Mardi Gras beads, or cooking up some pumpkin gumbo, these ideas are sure to make your Halloween a hit!