In this city it’s not hard to find creative and interesting ways to spend All-Hallows Eve.

There are many options to chose from, expecially if you get out a little early, before the sun goes down, and sample some New Orleans classics, from cemetery tours to voodoo festivals.

If you’d like to watch a real voodoo ritual, you could attend Voodoo Fest 2003 at Voodoo Authentica at 612 Rue Dumaine.

The opening ceremony starts at noon and the closing ceremony is at 9 pm.

Get blessed by a real vaudaun priestess!

The best part is that it is free.

Those into the Anne Rice vampire scene and wanting to meet others like themselves can head on over to the second annual Les Temps Des Vampires Costume Party.

Hosted by New Orleans Bands, the ball will have door prizes, great bands, and a raffle of three of Stan Rice’s autographed prints, which are collector’s items due to his untimely death in 2002.

The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. at Rosy’s Jazz Hall (500 Valance Street, corner of Tchoupitoulas) and only costs $20.

If you are interested in learning about the history of vampires or ghosts in New Orleans then the Ghost & Vampire Expedition is for you.

Tour times begin at 10 a.m. and continue through 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 861-2727.

The cost is $18, but you get $3 off when you show your student ID.

Another tour is the New Orleans Ghost Tour, every night, rain or shine. Tour times are 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. throughout the Halloween season.

The ghost tour is a theatrical tour that includes haunted buildings, vampire style crimes and an interactive horror theatre.

For more information, call 524-0708 or 628-1722. The cost is $19, $17 with your student ID.

Jim Monaghan’s annual Halloween parade will start tonight at 6 p.m. at Molly’s on the Market, 1107 Decatur St.

The parade will feature a matador with a trio of Mexican wrestlers, two fir trucks, costumed riders on horse-drawn carriages, the Gypsy Caravan Belly Dancers from Portland, Ore., the Storyville Stompers, French Quarter Fascination, and the Kazoozie Floozies.

The riders will throw orange and black beads, candy, and other treats.

For more information, call 258-3947 or 566-1592.

Those of you who ignore these delightful events and head out only after darkness falls are sure to find yourselves some sort of trouble to get into.

After all, this is Halloween in one of the creepiest cities on earth.