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

New Orleans has a fine way of turning a history lesson into a moving social hour. This French Quarter walking tour begins at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and mixes old crimes, voodoo, vampires, ghosts, and drinks you buy along the way. The route ends at Jackson Square, usually after one to two hours on foot.

I like two things right away: the low $15 price leaves room in your budget for drinks, and the tour covers both famous bars and less obvious stops chosen by a local guide. I also like the practical paranormal angle, since you can borrow equipment instead of merely listening to ghost stories.

The main concern is that the tour depends on timing, bar crowds, weather, and a minimum number of bookings. Come early, keep your phone available for updates, and do not expect a polished museum tour or a guaranteed ghost sighting.

Key points to know before you book

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet outside, at the gate of the courtyard on 941 Bourbon Street. The tour does not meet inside the bar.
• End at Jackson Square: You finish in a useful central spot in the French Quarter, rather than returning to the starting point.
• Drinks cost extra: Alcoholic drinks and snacks are available along the route, but none are included in the $15 ticket.
• Paranormal equipment is included: You can check out the equipment at the start, but it must be returned before you leave the group.
• Expect a moderate walk: The tour lasts about one to two hours, with the final timing affected by waits at bars.
• Arrive early: Late arrivals are not refunded, and the guide leaves at the scheduled departure time.

A walking history lesson with a drink in hand

This experience is built around a simple New Orleans formula: walk, listen, stop for a drink, and keep moving through the French Quarter. The subject matter is deliberately broad. You may hear about pirates, convicted felons, ladies of the night, voodoo practices, vampires, ghosts, and other unsettling chapters of the city’s past.

I like that the route does not treat the French Quarter as a row of pretty balconies and restaurants. The stories focus on the less respectable side of the neighborhood, which gives the streets more character. You are not only looking at old buildings. You are hearing how crime, punishment, superstition, nightlife, and local legend have shaped the way people talk about New Orleans.

The tone is entertainment first. That matters. This is not the right choice if you want a formal lecture, detailed architectural analysis, or a carefully footnoted study of Louisiana folklore. It is a better fit if you want a lively introduction to the Quarter while getting your bearings during your first evening in town.

The company has operated since 2014 and is family owned and operated by Dustin Fisher, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, and Ashli Fisher. Ashli created the tour, and the company also offers related ghost, voodoo, vampire, supernatural, legend, and mystery walks. The emphasis here is on an informal local guide who tells stories while leading you between bars and public streets.

Starting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar

Your meeting point is 941 Bourbon Street, at the sidewalk gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You should arrive a few minutes early and look for the guide outside. Do not simply walk into the bar and assume the tour group is waiting inside.

Lafitte’s is a useful starting point because it immediately places you in the old French Quarter atmosphere. The tour uses the bar as a launch point, but the operator is not affiliated with the bar. That distinction is worth noting so you know where the tour begins and what the ticket covers.

The first portion combines general New Orleans history with voodoo, ghost, and vampire stories. Your guide may also provide paranormal equipment for use during the walk. The equipment is checked out at the beginning and must be returned before you leave the group.

There is a practical responsibility here. The operator says you may be charged $250 for lost or damaged equipment. Treat anything you borrow carefully, and hand it back before setting off on your own after the tour.

Moving through the French Quarter

The French Quarter portion is the heart of the experience. You walk at a moderate pace through one of the oldest neighborhoods in the United States while the guide connects streets and buildings with stories of lawbreakers, sailors, vice, and supernatural activity.

The route is not presented as a fixed sightseeing checklist. It can change without notice, and the timing may stretch if a bar is crowded. That flexibility can work in your favor, since the guide may be able to adjust the route or choose a different stop. It also means you should not schedule a tightly timed dinner, show, or reservation immediately afterward.

The bars are part of the storytelling rhythm, not simply places to sit for a long time. You can buy drinks and snacks at various points along the route. Some stops may be famous names you already know, while others are less obvious places you might not find without a local leading the way.

I would treat the drinking as optional rather than the whole point. The ticket is inexpensive, but the final cost depends on what you order. If you are trying to keep the evening affordable, buy only one drink or use the walk as a history tour and skip the alcohol. If you plan to drink at every stop, your total can rise well beyond the ticket price.

Some bars may not admit children. The route can include walk-up drink windows for people who do not want to enter a bar, but you should not assume every stop will work for every age group. Families need to ask ahead if the specific departure is suitable.

Voodoo, vampires, and paranormal equipment

New Orleans folklore can be tricky. It mixes documented events, local tradition, sensational stories, and modern popular culture. This tour leans into that mix. You will hear about voodoo, vampires, ghosts, and other supernatural subjects alongside ordinary city history.

The operator is unusually direct about the paranormal side. You are not promised a ghost, spirit, vampire, demon, or any other supernatural encounter. No guide can guarantee that something unexplained will appear on schedule, and the tour does not claim to manufacture one.

That honesty improves the experience. You can enjoy the equipment and the stories without treating the walk as a supernatural show with a promised result. Photos are encouraged, and the company says some participants have captured images they consider paranormal. You should still approach that part as entertainment and personal interpretation.

Audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour, though photos can be taken. The rule may surprise people who expect to record a walking tour, so plan to listen rather than make a full video of the guide’s narration.

The equipment is best viewed as a bonus. The main value remains the guide’s storytelling and the chance to see the Quarter while learning about its darker themes. If your main goal is ghost hunting, you may find the lack of a guarantee frustrating. If you enjoy spooky stories but want a normal city walk underneath them, the mix makes more sense.

The guides and the tone of the walk

The strongest part of this experience is the guide. One positive account specifically names Coty and describes a friendly, informative guide who answered questions. Another spells the name Cody and praises the guide’s energy and grasp of New Orleans stories. The different spellings may refer to the same person, but the useful point is clear: guide quality matters a great deal here.

You should expect an enthusiastic storyteller rather than a quiet escort. The guide leads the group, explains the stops, answers questions when possible, and keeps the pace moving. One review describes the walk as a fun way to get steps in while having a drink and learning about the city, which is a good picture of the format.

The tour is also a pleasant first-night activity. One couple used it near the start of their visit and felt it helped them learn about New Orleans right away. I agree with that strategy. You get an early look at the French Quarter, hear names and stories that may shape the rest of your visit, and finish near Jackson Square with the neighborhood still around you.

The experience is not perfect. One customer reported that the guide never arrived and that calls went unanswered. This is a serious complaint, even though the other available accounts were positive. Keep the operator’s contact information handy, make sure your mobile number is correct, and contact the company before departure if you are delayed or confused about the meeting point.

Why the $15 price can be good value

At $15 per person, the ticket is inexpensive for a guided walk in the French Quarter. It includes the local licensed guide, the walking tour, the storytelling, and access to paranormal equipment during the outing.

It does not include alcohol, snacks, gratuities, transportation, or a private group. That structure keeps the starting price low, but you need to budget for anything you buy along the way. A tip for the guide is recommended if the tour is enjoyable.

The value is strongest for someone who wants several themes in one outing. A separate city history walk, ghost walk, and bar crawl could cost much more. Here, you get a compact version of all three, though none of them receives the depth of a specialist tour.

The maximum listed capacity is 999 people, so you should not assume a small group. The actual size may depend on the departure, but the published information does not promise an intimate walk. If personal attention is important, ask before booking.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 43 days. That suggests you should not wait until the last minute for a popular date, especially if your schedule is fixed. At the same time, the company requires a minimum number of participants and may cancel if that number is not met.

Timing, weather, and the fine print

Plan for one to two hours, not an exact sixty-minute appointment. The advertised stops each suggest about an hour, but waits inside bars can lengthen the route. The walk takes place on public streets and sidewalks, including old, uneven surfaces. Wear shoes that can handle walking and keep your pace with the group.

The tour runs in rain or shine. New Orleans can be very hot, but it can also be cold, so check the forecast and dress for the actual conditions. An umbrella or light rain layer can be useful, but you should also expect wet pavement and crowded sidewalks during poor weather.

The company may delay, reschedule, or cancel because of weather, traffic, or other conditions. If the operator cancels because the minimum number is not met, you may be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund. The general cancellation policy is strict: once you cancel or request a change, the payment is not refundable.

Late arrival is an especially important issue. The guide leaves at the scheduled departure time and cannot answer the phone while leading the group. Arrive early at the Bourbon Street meeting point. If you know you will be late, contact the operator before departure and ask if moving to another available tour is possible. Do not count on a refund.

Service animals are allowed, the meeting area is near public transportation, and most people can participate. The tour operator does not accept responsibility for injuries from uneven streets, lost belongings, or personal safety. Stay with the group, follow directions, and respect the French Quarter residents by not entering private property or ringing private doorbells.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this experience for adults who want a relaxed introduction to New Orleans with a spooky edge. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy walking, casual drinks, local legends, and a guide with a lively delivery.

It can also work well on your first night. The route gives you a sense of the French Quarter, and the ending at Jackson Square leaves you in a central area for continuing your evening. You can use the stories as a starting point for later sightseeing.

I would be more cautious if you need a quiet, academic tour, guaranteed small group, exact finish time, or fully accessible route. I would also skip it if you are booking mainly to see a ghost. The paranormal equipment adds fun, but the company makes no supernatural promise.

Families should confirm the bar arrangements before booking. Some stops do not allow children inside, even though walk-up windows may be available at certain points. Heavy drinkers should also keep control of their pace. The guide may refuse service to someone who becomes extremely intoxicated, and that person may not receive a refund.

Should you book Cheers New Orleans?

Book it if you want a low-cost French Quarter walk that blends cocktails, crime stories, voodoo, vampires, and paranormal play. The strongest reasons are the $15 entry price, the licensed local guide, the unusual bar stops, and the chance to use ghost-hunting equipment while learning your way around the neighborhood.

Skip it if you need dependable last-minute flexibility, a guaranteed small group, a scholarly treatment of history, or a supernatural encounter. Contact the operator before departure if anything is unclear, arrive early at Lafitte’s, and leave room in your schedule for a route that may run longer than an hour.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Jackson Square in New Orleans.

How long does the walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one to two hours. Timing can vary because waits inside bars may delay the group.

Are drinks included in the $15 ticket?

No. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are not included. You can purchase them at various locations along the route.

Is paranormal equipment provided?

Yes. Paranormal equipment can be checked out at the beginning of the tour and must be returned to the guide before you leave the group. Lost or damaged equipment may result in a $250 charge.

Is a ghost sighting guaranteed?

No. The operator does not guarantee paranormal activity or an encounter with a ghost, vampire, spirit, or other supernatural being.

What happens if the tour is canceled because too few people book?

If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you may be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.