In New Orleans, things go bump in the night all the time.

All. The. Time.

But as All Hallow's Eve nears, the creep factor goes into overdrive — time to get your fright on. Horrific haunts and hallowed happenings have cropped up in the greater metro area like zombies from the graveyard.

And it spreads … to both sides of Lake Pontchartrain.

Here's a list of just a few of the freaky, frightening and frantic spots to get in touch with your inner ghoul. And some fun and family-friendly things as well.

THE MORTUARY: 4800 Canal St., New Orleans. Set in a former funeral home near some of the city's largest cemeteries, "HELLection 2024: Choose Thy Fate" is the current configuration for the manse macabre that has featured such incarnations "The Cult of 13" and "The House that FEAR Built: 150th Anniversary" of the 1872 domicile. In addition to the house, there are Mystere Escape Rooms and more. Open most weekends through Nov. 3. Timed tickets start at $25. themortuary.net.

NEW ORLEANS NIGHTMARE: 319 Butterworth St., Jefferson. This perennial favorite by 13th Floor Haunted House has become a seasonal scare staple for fright and thrill seekers of scary sights and experiences. This year features include "Dead Again," "Dead Hour" and "Craft of the Midnight." There's also two horror-themed secret bars. Open most weekends through Halloween, tickets start at $19.99. neworleansnightmare.com.

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Local icons featured at the Skeleton House.

SKELETON HOUSE: St. Charles Avenue at State Street. Over the past 20 years, Louellen Berger’s front yard boneyard has become a Halloween landmark, meant to amuse, not horrify, the thousands who crowd the fence to inspect the spectacle. She has a stockpile of more than 80 full-size assemblages of plastic skeletons that she annually arranges in a sprawling tableau on the lawn of her mansion, complete with punny, topical and often very local placards. Not to be missed.

"SWAMPUS RETURNS": The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St., New Orleans. The Krewe of Krampus, based on the tales from the European Alps of St. Nicholas' sidekick who punishes the bad, stages "The Bride of Swampus: The Dark Wedding of the Year," an immersive experience of entertainment, gothic glam and costumes from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets start at $35. swampusreturns.com.

ZOMBIE PAINTBALL: NOLA Motorsports Park, 11075 Nicolle Blvd., Avondale. The raceway gets spooky with an interactive Zombie Apocalypse, go-karting, axe throwing, vendors and more. Get ammo and board the bus to "kill" as many of the undead as possible. Everything is provided (no outside equipment, and the zombies are unarmed — ha!). Tickets start at $22, with party packages available. The zombies will be on the move Thursday to Saturday through Nov. 2, with Oct. 27 and 30. nolamotor.com.

HOWL-O-WEENIE DOG COSTUME CONTEST: Dat Dog, 3336 Magazine St., New Orleans. Costume the canine and head over to benefit Zeus' Rescues from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. A runway show keeps the pawty going at 3:30 p.m. There's also a donation drive for food, towels, leashes, toys or other pet paraphernalia. datdog.com.

"Ghost Manor" on Magazine St.

"Ghost Manor," a haunting Halloween light display, located at 2502 Magazine St. (Photo by Frankie Prijatel, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) - "Ghost Manor," a haunting Halloween light display, located at 2502 Magazine St.

GHOST MANOR: The Uptown fright-zone of fun at Magazine and Second streets will be open a variety of days, including Oct. 17-20, 24-27 and 30-31. Macabre and merry meet in this multimedia display of seasonal sights. Additional weekends may be added. The shows begin at 7 p.m. and run through 10 p.m., weather permitting. ghostmanor.org.

GHOST IN THE OAKS: Carousel Gardens Amusement, City Park, 7 Victory Ave., New Orleans. This family affair has arts and crafts, roasting hot dogs, a pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating throughout the park. The fun starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 17-20 (early admission is 5 p.m.). Tickets start at $22, children under 36 inches free. neworleanscitypark.org.

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Boo at the Zoo -- Damir and Tiffany Sibley

BOO AT THE ZOO: Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., New Orleans. All the ghouls "axed for you" at this kid-friendly three-day fest with a host of things to do, food trucks, animals and trick-or-treating. The fun benefits Children's Hospital and the zoo. It happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18-20. Tickets start at $38. audubonnatureinstitute.org.

HAUNTED HOUSE AND SAINTS SPOOKTACULAR TRUNK-OR-TREAT: St. Martin's Episcopal School, 225 Green Acres Road, Metairie. Two days of spooky fun is in store to raise funds for the school's performing arts programs. The haunted house is open by time slots from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 18 and 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 19. Tickets start at $10. The trunk-or-treat is from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and includes games and prize . Tickets start at $10, presale only. stmsaints.com

GHOSTLY GALLIVANT: The Cabildo, Jackson Square, 701 Chartres St., New Orleans. Promising a "night of thrills and scares," Friends of the Cabildo presents "Gallatin Street — A Perfect Hell on Earth," a tour through one of the city's most notorious thoroughfares, every half-hour from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 18. There will be libations and music in the courtyard. Admission starts at $30. friendsofthecabildo.org.

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Lucha Krewe strolls with the Krewe of Boo rolls New Orleans Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, after a two-year break for COVID. The event featured spooky parade participants, walking groups and floats by Kern Studios. (Photo by Scott Threlkeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

KREWE OF BOO: Carnival meets Halloween in this mashup of epic proportions. The krewe stages a number of events, which culminate in a parade at sunset Oct. 19 in the French Quarter. Beads, bangles, bands and more than few frights are all part of the rolling spectacle of specters. The parade kicks off at Chartres Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, rolls through the Vieux Carré along North Peters and Decatur streets, then loops onto Canal Street and heads to Tchoupitoulas Street to Andrew Higgins Boulevard, ending at the Monster Mash post-parade costume party at Generations Hall. The day before is the Royal Luncheon with presentation of krewe royalty, entertainment and more at 11:30 a.m. at Galatoire's Restaurant. kreweofboo.com.

MONSTER MASH: Bogue Falaya Wayside Park, 213 Park Drive, Covington. A fundraiser for the St. Tammany Parenting Center, the family-friendly festival has trick-or-treating, music, carnival rides, crafts and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets starts at $5. dothemast.org.

CITY OF KENNER TRUNK OR TREAT: Muss Bertolino Stadium, 620 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner. Don your favorite costumes and head to the stadium and get some candies, plus concessions will be available for purchase from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 19. Then, there's an outdoor screening of "IF." The event is free and interested "trunkers" can find out more on the Kenner Parks and Recreation site. kenner.la.us.

TRUNK OR TREAT AT LAFRENIERE PARK: 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie. The Dawn Busters Kiwanis get trunk with it at this annual candy-palooza, with more than 45 vehicles giving out the goodies. There's also a food court, carousel rides and inflatables. Plus, a trophy will be awarded to the best decorated truck. Admission is $15 per child from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 19. Tickets will be sold at the gate only. dawnbusters.org. 

NIGHTMARE ON COLUMBIA: 200-600 blocks of Columbia Street, Covington. Head downtown for an evening sing-and-stroll with a costume contest, concert and tents with more than two dozen craft cocktails and beers to sample Oct. 19. Food will be available as well along the street from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., head to the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St., for the contest and free music by Deja Vu. Tickets for the stroll are $45. nightmareoncolumbia.org.

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BREWS AND BOOS: Carousel Gardens Amusement, City Park, 7 Victory Ave., New Orleans. It's time for the over-21 kids to get ghastly with it for beer and cheer at 8 p.m. Oct. 25-26. Rides and more are included and VIPs get an open bar, seating and special treats. Tickets start at $32. neworleanscitypark.org.

ZOMBIE CRAWL: Olde Towne Slidell, 2200 Carey St., between Robert and Cousins streets. Family-friendly event from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 25 with truck-or-treating, a costume contest, live music on three stages, artists and crafters, inflatables, pumpkin decorating and more. facebook.com/OldeTowneSlidell.

FALL FEST: Louisiana Children's Museum, 15 Henry Thomas Drive, City Park, New Orleans. Seasonal celebration, costumes encouraged, that includes some things spooky, creepy and magical, like a Monster Mash dance party, potion brewing, pumpkin painting, games and more. Oct. 26 during museum hours. lcm.org.

BOO FEST: Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd., Covington. ACCESS Louisiana's fall-themed festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (9 a.m. for special-needs families) Oct. 26 features more than 60 groups with trick-or-treat houses vying for cash awards in six "neighborhoods" around the parking lot. Also, a pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, games, food and beverages, and entertainment. Costumes are encouraged for the contest. accesslouisiana.org/boofest.

FAMILY CONCERT — HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR: Roussel Hall, Loyola University, 6301 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra's audience favorite features tunes from "Harry Potter," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Nightmare Before Christmas," "Star Trek" and "Frozen," plus classics like Saint-Saens' "Danse Macabre." Events start at 10:15 a.m. Oct. 26 for Music Learning Stations to chat with the music makers, then the hourlong concert is at 11 a.m. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets for adults (16 and over) start at $20. lpomusic.com.

BOO! DAT 504 HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA:?2900 block of Audubon Street, New Orleans. Impact 504 stages a daylong celebration Oct. 26, starting at 1 p.m., to raise awareness and resources for domestic violence issues, with trunk-or-treating, costume contests, a haunted house, "dancin' in the streets," dinner, a fire truck "takeover" voter-registration drive, STEAM activities, carnival games, food and music.?boodat.com.

FIELD OF SCREAMS HALLOWEEN TRAIL: Covington Recreation Complex, 4001 De Porres Road. The Covington Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs transforms the Blue Swamp Creak Nature Trail into a spooky adventure with scenes to scare and delight from sunset to 10 p.m. Oct. 26. Food and beverages will be available. covla.com.

HAUNTED HOUSE AT HABANA OUTPOST:?1040 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans. Camp SoulGrow hosts a haunted house in which kids can walk through, collect candy gift bags, play games and make Halloween-themed crafts from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Costumes are encouraged. Reservations are required through Eventbrite.?campsoulgrow.org/upcoming-events.html.

THE ANNE RICE VAMPIRE BALL: Derbès Mansion, 2257 Bayou Road, New Orleans. The late author bequeathed a universe of bloodsuckers on the world, and her creations and aura lives on at "Théâtre des Vampires," the Vampire Lestat Fan Club's 36th annual gathering at a masquerade ball at 8 p.m. Nov. 1. A dinner is included, as well as beverages, music by the Harry Hardin Quartet and DJs, costume contest and silent auction. Tickets start at $275. vamplestat.com.

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A pallet of petite pumpkins sit in the pumpkin patch.

PUMPKIN PATCHES

As far as they can see, the metro area is littered with pumpkin patches. Well, there's lots of them.

Here's a list of some of them. Take your pick.

  • St. Augustine's Episcopal Church: 3412 Haring Road, Metairie. Through Oct. 31, noon to 8 p.m. Pumpkins, jewelry, crafts, baked goods. staugustinesmet.com.
  • First Presbyterian Church: 5401 S. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans. Through Oct. 31, hours vary. fpcno.org/pumpkin-patch.
  • St. Andrew's Episcopal Church: 1031 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans. Oct. 5-31, hours vary. Games, crafts, photo spots. standrewsnola.com.
  • St. Martin's Episcopal Church: 2216 Metairie Road, Metairie. Oct. 7-31, hours vary. stmepiscopal.com.
  • Woodland Church: 5837 Berkley Drive, Algiers. Oct. 7-31, hours vary. Patch, games, story time. wcnola.org.
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Church: 3245 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. Oct. 9-31, hours vary. stmarksharvey.com.
  • St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church: 910 Cross Gates Blvd., Slidell. Oct. 9-31, 9:30 a.m. to dark. saintlukeslidell.org.

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@theadvocate.com.