New Orleans - Mr. Mardi Gras promises to toss out lots of treats Saturday when the Krewe of Boo rolls for the second year, and tourism industry leaders says the trick for them is to cash in on the growing popularity of Halloween in New Orleans.
At Boutique du Vampyre in the heart of the French Quarter, foot traffic is increasing. "Oh it's like triple like of what it normally would be," said Steve Crandle, who works in the vampire shop.
People of all ages are stocking up for a haunted holiday buying up everything from vampfire hot sauce and creole mustard "with a bite" to custom-made fangs. Crandle said "the fangs are made with real dental acrylic.. he has the demons, the cat style."
On the heels of a sluggish summer season, Halloween is scaring up business in what has been promoted as America's most haunted city, boosting the local economy.
Demand to get in on one of the popular haunted history tours is up according to tour owner Sidney Smith. "This weekend is very, very busy. We have all of our tour guides out next weekend. Halloween night itself is off the charts. We're going to need a Hail Mary," said Smith.
Add to Saturday's Krewe of Boo a stellar Voodoo Fest lineup for Halloween weekend, and more people are planning fall vacations in New Orleans.
"We're going to go to the House of Shock one of the nights and Voodoo Fest is so much fun because it's the three-day concert," said Christina Millet of Lafayette, who plans to spend a four days in New Orleans next week.
Convention tourism has yet to make a strong comeback post-Katrina so industry leaders have had to broaden their pitch to both business and leisure travelers.
"There's still some meeting planners out there who are leary about coming to New Orleans in the peak of hurricane season, but what we're doing now is actively promoting attendance at conventions and promoting Halloween very aggressively," said Kelly Schulz of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Schulz said the next week looks strong for tourism. She said, "one funny thing that's happening this weekend that's gonna have a lot of people here is the Vampire Film Festival, which coincides with a convention, the American Association of Blood Banks." Vampires and blood bank professionals.. only in New Orleans.
Tourism leaders hope to promote New Orleans as America's Halloween Destination.
