NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans, which promotes itself as the most haunted city in the United States, is offering a full season of ghost tours, cemetery visits, vampire tours and Halloween events running for weeks ahead of the holiday. Tourism promoters say the line between the living and the dead feels unusually thin in the French Quarter and beyond.

Parades and costume balls

The seasonal lineup includes haunted houses, family-friendly events, costume balls and a Halloween parade by the Krewe of Boo. Costumes are practically expected in the city, and local shops specialize in outfits for the occasion.

Hotels, bars and restaurants with ghost stories

Several venues cite supernatural lore as part of their identity. Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter and the Napoleon House bar and restaurant are among those listed, while Pirate's Alley is also tied to local legend. Some hotels openly embrace their reputed ghosts, according to the promotional material.

Voodoo and above-ground cemeteries

Visitors can explore voodoo's history and practice, from the legacy of Marie Laveau to present-day practitioners, including through businesses such as Voodoo Authentica. The city's above-ground cemeteries, among them St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, are a centerpiece, and guided visits include a tour of Lafayette Cemetery.

Guided tours

Options range from ghost walks through streets with centuries of folklore to cemetery and vampire tours. Many of the stories have also appeared in films and television.

Whether or not visitors believe in the paranormal, tourism officials say New Orleans offers a distinctive way to mark Halloween.