About Us
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The Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans is a Mardi Gras Krewe for the GLBTQ+ community and its allies. Focused on the principles of service, duty and honor, MKA-NOLA is a Louisiana nonprofit corporation, as well as a federally recognized public charity.
The current Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans represents a revival of the original Mystic Krewe of Apollo, which was first formed in New Orleans in 1969. |
Apollo New Orleans Mission: Service, Duty, and Honor
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Operating on the principles of service, duty and honor, the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the art, artistry, culture and history of gay Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the South, as well as providing service and support to the community at large.
Among its current activities are:
Among its current activities are:
- Staging an annual Mardi Gras ball to foster comraderie among the GLBTQIA+ community and its friends and allies and to celebrate the art and artistry of gay Mardi Gras.
- Raising funds for various community charities as well as its own Apollo Benevolence Fund.
- Mentoring and providing funds to GLBTQ+ artists through its annual Mr. and Miss Apollo New Orleans titles and other events.
- Contributing time, effort, money and artifacts to collections preserving the history of Mardi Gras.
- Participating in HIV educational programs.
- Emphasizing service to community and contributions to those in need by its individual members and the organization as a whole.
History
The Krewe's original founder, Roland Dobson, formed the Krewe of Apollo in 1969 in New Orleans based to foster “brotherhood, unity and equality” in the community. Among its main functions in those early days was staging an annual Bal Masque during the Mardi Gras social season for members of the GLBTQ+ community and its friends and allies.
Thought to be the first GLBTQIA+ community Mardi Gras Krewe to be franchised, Dobson's early group led to the formation of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette and the Mystic Krewe of Apollo-Birmingham in 1976 and the Mystic Krewe of Apollo-Baton Rouge in 1981. The light of the Krewe of Apollo continued to live on in those Krewes to this day, although the original Krewe of Apollo in New Orleans ceased to function in 1986 after facing the deaths of many of its key members.
Thought to be the first GLBTQIA+ community Mardi Gras Krewe to be franchised, Dobson's early group led to the formation of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette and the Mystic Krewe of Apollo-Birmingham in 1976 and the Mystic Krewe of Apollo-Baton Rouge in 1981. The light of the Krewe of Apollo continued to live on in those Krewes to this day, although the original Krewe of Apollo in New Orleans ceased to function in 1986 after facing the deaths of many of its key members.
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A few tidbits from the history of the original Krewe of Apollo in New Orleans:
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1973 Bal Masque flyer
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Kevin Keller, Queen Apollo New Orleans XVI in 1983-84 (Photo by Peggy Stewart, from Louisiana State Museum Collection )
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Resurrection
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In 2018, the idea of resurrecting the original Mystic Krewe of Apollo in New Orleans was brought to light by several members of the Lafayette and Baton Rouge Krewes. John Bertrand, a Lafayette Apollo member, started the process and soon was joined by Baton Rouge Apollo members Dr. Patrick Cain and Thomas Merrill, as well as other charter members Andrea Sabillon Halsted, Ned Pitre, and Rick White.
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Promotional card for the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans' Resurrection Bal Masque in 2020.
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With support from other New Orleans area krewes and the entire Apollo family, the charter members and other new members led the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans to hold its Resurrection Bal Masque in 2020. That Bal Masque had significant importance to the entire Apollo family, marking not only the resurrection of the New Orleans Krewe but also the 50th anniversary of the very first Mystic Krewe of Apollo Bal Masque. The New Orleans Resurrection Bal Masque was held in the same venue as the very first ball, the Hotel Monteleone, which is thought to be the first major hotel to open its arms to an LGBTQIA+ Krewe when it hosted the original Krewe of Apollo event 50 years before.
The Krewe continues to grow and thrive. Its membership has soared from the handful who helped to restart it in New Orleans in 2018 to more than 41 members from across the Gulf South during its 2023-24 year.
Other significant achievements during the rebirth of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans include:
The Krewe continues to grow and thrive. Its membership has soared from the handful who helped to restart it in New Orleans in 2018 to more than 41 members from across the Gulf South during its 2023-24 year.
Other significant achievements during the rebirth of the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans include:
- The reborn Apollo in New Orleans became the first fully inclusive Apollo Krewe, opening its membership to both men and women in the GLBTQ+ community and its allies.
- The Krewe has been active in the Mr. and Miss National Apollo program, hosting it once and seeing two of its local title holders become Miss National Apollo and one named Mr. National Apollo.
- After a year of Covid delays, the Krewe hosted its second highly successful ball, Apollo Gets a Clue, again at the Hotel Monteleone, and then moved to the larger historic Carver Theater in New Orleans for its 20th and 21st balls. Plans now are underway to celebrate its 23rd ball on January 18, 2025 at the Carver Theater.
- Krewe members contributed significant costumes and artifacts to the "Grand Illusions" Gay Mardi Gras Exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum in the Cabildo on Jackson Square in New Orleans.
Join Us
The Mystic Krewe of Apollo New Orleans is a fully inclusive organization, and all who are interested are welcome to join us in carrying out our core values of serving the community, duty to each other and honoring our history and our rich future.
As an all-volunteer organization, we invite you to participate in helping us carry out the various aspects of our purpose and vision – whether that be by supporting our fundraisers, donating artifacts to our gay Mardi Gras history collection,… or becoming a full member of the organization. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans welcomes you and your support!
As the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans continues to grow, we invite all who attended, or have a family or friend who attended a Bal Masque in the past, to please send us their photos. We look forward sharing even more of our colorful history with everyone.
As an all-volunteer organization, we invite you to participate in helping us carry out the various aspects of our purpose and vision – whether that be by supporting our fundraisers, donating artifacts to our gay Mardi Gras history collection,… or becoming a full member of the organization. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans welcomes you and your support!
As the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans continues to grow, we invite all who attended, or have a family or friend who attended a Bal Masque in the past, to please send us their photos. We look forward sharing even more of our colorful history with everyone.