As with everything in New Orleans, we’ll take any excuse to throw a party. So while the rest of the world settles for their paltry leaf piles and tepid trunk-or-treat parties, NOLA does Halloween right; throwing a big, boo-tiful bash with all the costumes, the pageantry, and the decadence we’re known for. And on one magical night under the glow of the French Quarter street lamps, we go one step further by putting on a spectacular Halloween parade where ‘Throw Me Something Mister’ becomes ‘Throw Me Something Monstah!’ and ghosties roam freely in the crisp October night.
This is Krewe of BOO!, New Orleans’ Official Halloween Parade!
Krewe of BOO! began its life initially as a Post-Katrina rallying cry, with float connoisseur extraordinaire Blaine Kern running the first Halloween parade in an effort to support first responders. While a success, the parade died off after a few years until the Jack-O-Lantern flame was reignited by a new generation of Kern. Brian Kern, son of Blaine, has spearheaded the Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade since 2007; crafting something wholly unique from what was abandoned before, not unlike a mad scientist jolting his creation to thunderous life from long-dead tissue. Today, Krewe of BOO! is bigger than ever, attracting as many as 150,000 screeching boils and ghouls with music and mayhem to the delight of families and visitors alike with enough fervor and ghastly good cheer to wake the dead.
“It’s an incredible way to showcase the city, with folks from all over the country visiting every year to join in the fun,” says Kern. “We are lucky to have been championed by several local businesses that feature floats each year; including Pat O’Briens, and Haunted History Tours, alongside more national brands like Monster Energy Drinks. It really has grown into quite a thing.”
Krewe of BOO! runs straight through the French Quarter to the delight of paradegoers and riders alike, with all the floats and marching bands that delineate a classic New Orleans parade crossed with all the spooky, scary flare of All Hallow’s Eve. One such rider turned Float Lieutenant is Glen Hogh, who has been riding for eight years and is a staunch advocate for the Krewe of BOO! brand of parading.
“Brian Kern built this thing from the ground up and has truly created something special for the city. In the rest of the world, Halloween is a one-night event. For New Orleans, it’s a two-week party,” says Hogh. “The crowds are every bit the size of Orpheus or any of the super parades except you get to throw trick or treats. For those few hours, you are a rock star on that float. The thrill of that, whether it be at Mardi Gras or Halloween, is electric.”
Leading the charge for more innovative, sustainable New Orleans parades, Brian Kern has focused on creating unique and high-quality throws for parade attendees without settling for years-old beads or mass-produced stuffed animals. Krewe of BOO! riders are equipped with special themed beads alongside products from local vendors like Chee Wees, Zapp’s, and MoonPie. Even the cups, with their unique jack-o-lantern design, are made in Jefferson, LA. These efforts, offering guests a higher quality experience while not ravaging the city with plastic, are the cornerstone of Brian’s mission through Krewe of BOO! and his battle against the scariest monster of all; throw waste.
“Back in 2013, I noticed that one of the Mardi Gras parades was just leaving mounds of trash that nobody wants. I decided when I could do my own parade, I would do something different and better,” says Kern. “While beads never go away, Krewe of BOO! throws are carefully curated along with our parade float playlists to guarantee our parade goers an incredible time out in the city.”
Krewe of BOO! now has events spanning the entire year, with the New Orleans Zombie Run on the morning of the parade and the Monster Mash, the one and only official Parade after-party, open to Krewe members and attendees alike. (This writer and my wife brought our entire wedding party to the event after our wedding in 2021; costumes and all. It was a blast!)
“As with all things New Orleans, if it’s worth doing it’s worth overdoing,” says Hogh. “There is no other parade quite like Krewe of BOO!, zero competition, there’s nothing like it. It’s a whole lot of feel-good.”
Whether you’re looking to take a ride on the terror train or just join in the spirit of the season, Krewe of BOO! has a place for you. Spots are still open for riders in the 2024 parade on October 19. Just visit kreweofboo.com to learn more.
See y’all in the moonlight!
