Freaky Deaky NOLA Announced for Halloween Weekend at Mardi Gras World
Three of New Orleans’ most respected promoters are joining forces to introduce a fresh chapter to the city’s storied Halloween tradition. Disco Presents, Amps Events (Metropolitan NOLA), and Encore Entertainment have officially announced the launch of Freaky Deaky NOLA, a two-night festival scheduled for October 30 and 31 at the historic Mardi Gras World. Blind presale tickets are currently available, with two-day passes starting at $89.
A New Era for Outdoor Dance Music in New Orleans
The event is set to feature two stages equipped with full-scale outdoor production along the riverfront. This marks a significant development for the city, which has lacked a large-scale outdoor dance festival since the conclusion of events like Buku and Voodoo. By combining the expertise of these three groups, the partnership brings over 50 years of collective experience in the local scene, signaling a long-awaited return to form.
James “Disco Donnie” Estopinal, founder of Disco Presents, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration. Having produced shows in New Orleans since the early 1990s, Estopinal views this partnership as a natural evolution of his long-standing relationship with the city. He noted that the Freaky Deaky brand has become one of their most successful, and aligning with the team behind Hell’s Gala was a logical step given their shared vision for the local market.
Ryan Roach of Encore Entertainment highlighted the importance of the collaboration, noting that his team has spent years cultivating Halloween weekend as a premier destination for fans traveling from across the country. The addition of Amps Events and The Metropolitan provides the infrastructure and local expertise to elevate the experience further.
A Legacy of Collaboration
The roots of this partnership run deep, spanning decades of local event history. Rob Brunet of Amps Events recalled his first collaboration with Disco Donnie—the 1998 Freakfest—which drew over 10,000 attendees to the UNO Lakefront Arena. Nearly 30 years later, the team is eager to bring that same energy back to an outdoor setting at Mardi Gras World. Michael Ibarra, General Manager of The Metropolitan, emphasized that these professional relationships are built on lifelong personal connections, some dating back to their high school years.
Tickets and Expectations
While the official lineup has yet to be revealed, the event promises two nights of music, immersive visual installations, and local vendor activations. Given the history of the Freaky Deaky brand, which has previously hosted heavyweights such as Above & Beyond, expectations for the debut edition are high. Two-day blind presale passes are available now, with payment plans starting at a $23 deposit. Additionally, the festival has announced a partnership with Boys of the Boot Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting special needs programs and local law enforcement initiatives.
