Preview: Halloween in New Orleans 

Below are haunted houses, Halloween parties and special trick or treating events in the New Orleans area.

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ACCESS BOO FEST
Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 E. Judge Tanner Drive, Covington, (985) 867-3800; www.lakeviewregional.com — Adapting and Changing Children's Environments with Successful Solutions, the nonprofit that raises funds to help support families of children with disabilities, hosts a wheelchair-accessible trick-or-treating event and fundraiser. The event also includes pumpkin decorating, face painting, a DJ, a jambalaya cook-off, an appearance by the New Orleans Hornets Honeybees and more. Call (985) 875-0511 for details. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

ALTERNATIVES LIVING COSTUME BALL BENEFIT CRUISE
Creole Queen Paddlewheel Boat, Spanish Plaza, 524-0814; www.neworleanspaddlewheels.com/cruise_dinnerjazz.html — The organization that provides services to the homeless and people living with mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental, physical and medical challenges hosts a costume party aboard the Creole Queen. The event also features live music, an open bar, food, a costume contest and a silent auction. Call 400-3580 or visit www.alternativesliving.org/costume-ball-benefit-cruise.html for details. Admission $75. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

BERNIE BAXTER'S HAUNTED HOUSE
44 Vivian Court, Algiers — The haunted house has a medical theme this year and features trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Call 273-2691 or visit www.berniebaxter.com for details. Free admission. 7 p.m. Friday-Monday.

BOAT RIDES OF TERROR
Jean Lafitte Swamp and Airboat Tours, 6601 Leo Kerner Lafitte Pkwy., 587-1719; www.jeanlafitteswamptour.com — The tour through the swamps of Crown Point transforms into a haunted experience. The tour site will also have live music, food and drinks for the haunted tours, and costumes are welcome. Call 529-4567 or visit www.nop-rhs.com for details. Tickets $25 general admission, $12 children ages 6-12. Tours run continuously from 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

BOO AT THE VIEW. Clearview Shopping Center, 4436 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 482-1890 — The mall hosts a safe Halloween night with entertainment, games, and prizes, trick-or-treating and costume contests for kids and pets. Call 382-1788 or email cnaccari@clearviewmall.com for details. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.

BOO AT THE ZOO
Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 581-4629; www.auduboninstitute.org — The zoo's Halloween event for children up to age 12 features trick-or-treating, a "ghost train," scary and non-scary haunted houses, games and entertainment. Visit http://www.auduboninstitute.org/boo-zoo for details. Admission $16. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

CRAWLOWEEN
Audubon Insectarium, 423 Canal St., 410-2847; www.auduboninstitute.org — Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes at the event featuring trick-or-treating, bug crafts and staff entomologists discussing misunderstood arthropods including roaches, spiders, and maggots. Free with Insectarium admission. 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

DIRTY COAST HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY
Studio 3, 3610 Toulouse St. — Dirty Coast's annual party features DJs, live music and a costume contest. Admission $10 (includes drinks). 9 p.m. Friday.

ENDLESS NIGHT VAMPIRE BALL
House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 310-4999; www.hob.com — The masquerade ball where elaborate costumes are highly encouraged features burlesque and belly dancers, DJs and live bands. Visit neworleansvampireball2011.eventbrite.com for details. Tickets start at $40. 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

GHOSTLY GALAVANT FUNDRAISER & WALKING TOURS
Louisiana State Museum Cabildo, 701 Chartres St., 568-6968; www.lsm.crt.state.la.us — The Friends of the Cabildo hosts a weekend of activities that includes a fundraiser (8 p.m. to midnight Friday), which features food from local restaurants, DJs and an estate sale, and hourly French Quarter tours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday). Call 523-3939 or visit www.friendsofthecabildo.org for details. Fundraiser admission $35 in advance, $45 at the door; tour admission $12 ages 21 and older, $10 students and children. Friday-Sunday.

HALLOWEEN FUN HOUSE
AllWays Lounge, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 218-5778; www.theallwayslounge.com — Favorite AllWays Lounge performers including Cripple Creek Theatre, Nari Tomassetti, Dennis Monn, Ratty Scurvics, Mudlark Puppets and Ooops the Clown transform the theater into a haunted maze. Admission $7 (includes a drink). 9 p.m. to midnight Thursday-Monday.

HOUSE OF SHOCK
House of Shock, 319 Butterworth St., Jefferson, 734-SHOCK; www.houseofshock.com — Besides a haunted house, Phil Anselmo's legendary attraction also features live music from local and national acts, a bar, food and a multimedia stage with live actors, stunts and pyrotechnics. Visit www.houseofshock.com for details. Haunted house admission is $25, $50 VIP tickets. 8 p.m. Friday-Monday.

HOWL-O-WEEN PAWTAY
Times Grill, 1896 N. Causeway Blvd., (985) 626-1161; www.timesgrill.com — The dog-friendly benefit for the St. Tammany Humane Society features live music from Supercharger and Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, a dog costume contest, adoptable dogs and more. Tickets $5 general admission, $2 children. 1 p.m to 5 p.m. Saturday.

THE MORTUARY
Haunted Mortuary, 4800 Canal St., (877) 669-3327; www.hauntedmortuary.com — The haunted house is located in the former P.J. McMahon funeral home. Visit www.themortuary.net for details. Admission starts at $25. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 7 p.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday.

PARK-A-BOO. Lafreniere Park
3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie — The family-friendly event features a (semi-scary) haunted house, a maze, trick-or-treating, face painting, costume contests, live entertainment and more. Tickets $7 general admission, $5 children ages 3-12, free for children 2 and under. Visit www.park-a-boo.com for details. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

PUMPKIN PATCH BASH
Life Center Cathedral, 1 Life Center Drive, 362-7034; www.lccnola.org — The family-friendly Halloween event features "truck-or-treating," a petting zoo, face painting, magicians, food, prize giveaways and more. Guests should bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to donate. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

VOODOOFEST
Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans, 612 Dumaine St., 522-2111; www.voodooshop.com — The annual festival celebrates Voodoo's contributions to New Orleans traditions with presentations, book signings, art, healing rituals and more. Visit www.voodoofest.com for details. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.