Cheers New Orleans! Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour

New Orleans history gets livelier when the classroom is a bar stool. This $15 walking tour begins at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and winds through the French Quarter with tales of pirates, criminals, voodoo, vampires, and ghosts. You can buy drinks along the route while your guide handles the storytelling.

I like two things here: the price is low enough to make this an easy first-night activity, and the route mixes well-known bars with smaller stops you might not find alone. I also like the paranormal equipment, which gives ghost-story fans something to do beyond simply listening.

The main drawback is that the tour depends on bar wait times and group movement, so the advertised one hour can stretch closer to two. The strict late-arrival, weather, cancellation, and equipment rules also call for careful planning.

Key points to know before you book

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet outside at the gate of the attached courtyard at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• Finish at Jackson Square: The walking route keeps you in the French Quarter and ends near one of its best-known public spaces.
• Drinks cost extra: Alcoholic drinks and snacks are available along the way, but the $15 ticket covers the guide and tour, not refreshments.
• Stories go beyond standard sightseeing: Expect general New Orleans history mixed with voodoo, ghosts, vampires, pirates, felons, and notorious characters.
• Paranormal tools are available: Equipment must be checked out and returned to the guide, with a $250 charge for lost or damaged items.
• Plan for a strict departure: Arrive a few minutes early. A late arrival may miss the group and will not normally qualify for a refund.

Why the French Quarter makes a good setting

The French Quarter is the right stage for this sort of walk. Its streets connect old bars, historic buildings, public squares, and stories that move easily between documented events and local legend.

This is not a formal museum tour. You are not being led through a display of artifacts or a fixed historical exhibit. Instead, the guide uses the streets as a backdrop and links the places around you to New Orleans characters and dark tales.

That format works well if you want an introduction to the city that feels social rather than academic. You get a broad look at the past, then the guide adds the strange material: voodoo traditions, ghost reports, vampire stories, and the city’s more questionable characters.

The experience was created in 2014 by Ashli Stratman, who owns and operates the tour company with Dustin Fisher, a retired U.S. Army sergeant. It is a family-run operation, and that matters if you prefer a small local business over a large sightseeing machine.

The guide’s personality will shape the evening. The supplied guide names include Coty and Cody, and the strongest feedback points to friendly, entertaining storytelling and a willingness to answer questions. Since the spelling differs in the available information, confirm the guide’s name when you check in.

Starting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar

Your meeting point is 941 Bourbon Street, at the gate of the courtyard connected with Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You do not check in inside the bar. Find the guide on the sidewalk and arrive a few minutes before the scheduled departure.

That detail is more important than it sounds. The guide cannot keep answering calls once the group leaves, since they are then walking, managing the group, and giving the narration. If you arrive late, the tour may already be moving through the Quarter.

Lafitte’s is a fitting starting point because it immediately puts you in the atmosphere this tour aims for. You begin beside one of the French Quarter’s famous drinking spots, then set off on foot with the past and the present mixed together.

The opening portion covers general New Orleans history before the stories turn darker. You may hear about pirates, convicted criminals, women involved in the city’s sex trade, voodoo, and supernatural claims. The point is not to treat every legend as proven fact. The tour’s own terms make clear that paranormal activity is not guaranteed.

That honesty is useful. If you enjoy ghost stories as entertainment but do not need a ghost to appear on schedule, you are likely to get more from the experience.

Walking, drinking, and listening

Drinks are not included in the admission price. You buy alcohol and snacks yourself at stops along the route, which lets you control your spending and your pace.

At $15, the ticket is a reasonable value even before you order anything. You are paying for a local guide, a walking route, and about one to two hours of narration. Your final cost depends on what you purchase at the bars.

The tour allows alcoholic drinks, but the operator can refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If your tour is canceled because of your conduct, you will not receive a refund. I would treat the drinking as a side feature, not the main event.

That approach also makes the experience easier for mixed groups. One person may want a cocktail, another may prefer a soft drink or no drink at all. The route includes walk-up drink windows at some stops, and these can help anyone who does not want to enter a bar.

Bar access may vary. Some locations do not allow children inside, so families should expect the group to use different options along the way. The tour is built around public streets and bar stops, not private-property access.

Because the French Quarter is still a neighborhood, you are asked to stay with the group, avoid trespassing, and not ring doorbells at private homes. That is sensible advice. The best way to experience this district is to remember that people live among the bars and legends.

The stop-by-stop rhythm

The first listed stop is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, but the tour is more than a single drink stop. From there, the guide leads a walking loop or route through the French Quarter toward Jackson Square, pausing at bars and story locations.

The route may change without notice. Waits inside bars, traffic, weather, and local conditions can affect the timing. The operator gives an approximate duration of one to two hours rather than promising a fixed schedule.

That flexibility can work in your favor. A packed bar may slow the group, but it can also give you more time to enjoy the setting. If you need to be somewhere at an exact time afterward, leave a generous gap.

The French Quarter portion brings together the experience’s main subjects: general history, drinking, voodoo, paranormal claims, and vampire tales. The guide’s job is to keep those threads moving without letting the tour become only a pub crawl or only a ghost walk.

This balance is one of the tour’s strongest ideas. You can learn why certain kinds of people and stories became part of New Orleans folklore, then see how those stories are still used to explain the city to visitors today.

The last destination is Jackson Square. Ending there gives you a clear landmark and an easy place to continue your evening. The tour does not promise entry into private or restricted places, so expect a public-street walking experience rather than behind-the-scenes access.

Paranormal equipment and realistic expectations

Paranormal equipment is offered as a bonus for people who enjoy ghost investigations. You check the equipment out at the start and return it to the guide before leaving the group.

You are responsible for it during the walk. Lost or damaged equipment carries a $250 charge, so handle it carefully and do not hand it to someone outside the group.

The equipment adds a participatory element to the ghost stories. Instead of only hearing about unusual events, you can use the tools while moving through the historic district. Still, the operator is direct: the tour does not promise that you will see a ghost, vampire, demon, spirit, angel, or any other supernatural being.

That distinction protects your expectations. Paranormal tools can produce readings or impressions that you find interesting, but they do not turn the walk into a guaranteed encounter with the afterlife. Book this as a storytelling tour with optional ghost-hunting equipment, not as proof that a spirit will appear.

Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording are not allowed. The guide also asks you not to walk away from the group to take pictures. The pace has to remain moderate so the tour can reach its stops and finish on time.

What the $15 price really covers

The low ticket price is the tour’s biggest practical advantage. You receive admission to the walking experience and a licensed local guide, while drinks, food, and gratuities are separate.

For a first evening in New Orleans, that can be a smart use of money. You get a quick orientation to the French Quarter, a sense of the city’s storytelling style, and several ideas for places to return later. You also avoid paying for a long, structured sightseeing package if you mainly want an entertaining introduction.

The tradeoff is limited control. The route can change, the duration can stretch, and busy bars may slow the group. You are buying a flexible hosted walk, not a timed attraction with guaranteed entry at every stop.

Tips are not included, and gratuities are recommended. If the guide keeps the stories moving, answers questions, and helps the group navigate the route, plan to add a tip to the base price.

The maximum group size is listed as 999, which is a very high administrative limit rather than a promise that you will walk with a crowd that large. The actual feel depends on the departure date and attendance. A larger group may make bar access slower, while a smaller group can make questions and conversation easier.

Weather, walking, and practical comfort

This is a moderate-paced walking tour on old city streets and walkways. The operator warns that surfaces can be uneven or dilapidated, and the company accepts no responsibility for injuries caused by those conditions.

Wear shoes that can handle a couple of hours on foot. New Orleans can be very hot, but it can also be cold, so check the forecast and dress for the conditions. The tour runs rain or shine unless the operator cancels.

No refund is offered if you cancel, request an amendment, or decide not to attend because of weather. If the company cancels, prepaid customers may receive credit for a future tour, and a full refund or alternative may be offered when the minimum number of participants is not met.

The company can also cancel or reschedule because of severe weather or other circumstances. Notifications may come by text or email, so provide a working mobile number and check it before departure.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the walking pace, old surfaces, bar access, and need to stay with the group are worth considering before you book.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to an adult who wants a low-cost, informal first look at the French Quarter. It suits you especially well if you like local legends, old crimes, unusual characters, and a drink during a city walk.

It is also a good match for a couple or small group starting a New Orleans visit. The guide can give you a quick sense of the area, and the finish at Jackson Square leaves you in a useful part of the Quarter for the rest of the evening.

Families can participate, but the alcohol-centered format needs thought. Some bars do not admit children, although walk-up windows may offer alternatives. Parents should also decide if the ghost, vampire, criminal, and voodoo material fits their children.

I would skip it if you need a strictly timed itinerary, guaranteed access to every bar, a fully seated experience, or a serious paranormal investigation. It is also a poor fit if you expect a supernatural sighting or if you are not comfortable with a no-refund policy.

Booking and arrival advice

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. This experience is often reserved well in advance, with an average booking lead time of about 43 days, although availability can vary.

Save the meeting address exactly: 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Meet outside at the courtyard gate connected with Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Do not wait inside and assume the guide will find you.

Arrive early enough to check in, use the restroom, and settle your plans for drinks. If you expect to be late, contact the operator before the departure time. The company may try to move you to another departure with space, but late arrivals are not entitled to a refund.

Keep your phone available for delay or cancellation notices. The route and start time can change because of traffic, weather, or other local conditions.

Should you book Cheers New Orleans?

Book this tour if you want cheap, character-filled French Quarter storytelling with optional drinks and a touch of ghost hunting. The strongest appeal is the mix: you get general history, notorious people, voodoo, vampires, and paranormal tools in one short outing.

Go in with realistic expectations. The $15 price does not include alcohol, the tour may take up to two hours, and no ghost encounter is promised. If you accept those limits, this is a lively way to get your bearings and begin an evening in New Orleans.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $15 per person. Alcoholic drinks, snacks, and gratuities are not included.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Do not meet inside the bar.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Jackson Square in New Orleans.

How long does the tour last?

The tour takes approximately one to two hours. The exact duration can change because of waits inside bars and other local conditions.

What topics does the guide cover?

The tour covers general New Orleans history along with voodoo, ghosts, vampires, paranormal stories, pirates, convicted felons, and women involved in the city’s sex trade.

Are drinks included?

No. You can purchase alcoholic drinks and snacks at various stops along the route.

Can I use paranormal equipment?

Yes. Paranormal equipment is available to use during the tour. You must check it out at the beginning and return it to the guide before leaving. Lost or damaged equipment carries a $250 fee.

Is the tour refundable if I cancel?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. If the operator cancels because the minimum number of participants is not met, you may be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.