Krewe of BOO! has announced local technology entrepreneur, financier, and thought leader Ron Bienvenu as its 2023 King with New Orleans Saints legend Tyrone Hughes serving as Grand Marshal of New Orleans’ Official Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 21. Over 600 riders on 16 floats and more than 45 marching krewes and bands will line up along Elysian Fields Avenue several hours before the family-friendly parade starts rolling down North Peters Street at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will follow its traditional route through the French Quarter past Jackson Square on Decatur Street and back to North Peters to turn up Canal Street. It makes a U-turn at Burgundy Street to head back down Canal and enter the Warehouse District on Tchoupitoulas Street and end at Andrew Higgins Drive where Monster Mash, the adult-only Official Post-Parade Costume Party takes place. VIP viewing parties will be held along the route at Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur, the Sheraton on Canal, and Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant on Tchoupitoulas.

“Krewe of BOO! has grown from a single parade to a two-day affair packed with events that can stand alone or be combined to create the ultimate New Orleans Halloween experience…and everybody knows that New Orleans, a city known for its love of costumes and letting the good times roll, is the best place to celebrate Halloween!” said Brian Kern, Krewe of BOO! Chief Spookster.

More information on all Krewe of BOO! events can be found at www.kreweofboo.com and @kreweofboo on Facebook and Instagram.

Krewe of BOO! Royalty
Bienvenu is CEO of Silverback, a financial technology company that helps businesses securely and ethically monetize their data, and Managing Director of Spear Point Capital Management, a special situation and buyout fund. Named by Knowledge World magazine as one of 100 People Who Matter in the Technology Industry, he is an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University, a regular speaker at Louisiana State University Law School and Baylor University Hankamer School of Business, and the author of Fourth Shock, a book that pioneered many of the data driven business ideas taking hold today. His next book Fifth Shock will be published soon - it is anticipated to have a tremendous impact on capital markets of the world.

Hughes was a Cornerback and Return Specialist for the New Orleans Saints for 63 games from 1993 through 1996. This local hero went to St. Augustine High School, left the city to play for the University of Nebraska, and returned home after being drafted by the Saints. He was the best kick returner in the NFL during his rookie season and led the league in kick returns and kickoff return yards for his remaining three seasons with the Saints.

Krewe of BOO! Events
Krewe of BOO! 2023 events start on Friday, Oct. 20 at noon with Krewe of BOO! Royal Luncheon at Galatoire’s followed by Krewe of BOO! Jazz Second Line with Kinfolk Brass Band at 3:00 p.m., which ends at Pat O’Brien’s for Krewe of BOO! Cocktails in the Courtyard Happy Hour from 3:00 to 6 p.m. Krewe of BOO! Captain’s Masquerade Ball, the Official Pre-Parade Costume Party, will run from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. at Republic NOLA and feature music by Flow Tribe with 2022 Krewe of BOO! Parade Grand Marshal Kr3wcial as the emcee.

On Saturday, Oct. 21, Krewe of BOO! New Orleans Zombie Run starts at 9:00 p.m. from Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant. Big Easy Roller Derby members dressed as zombie killers and the Mortuary’s Zombie Hunter monster truck will pursue costumed participants for two miles through the Warehouse District, returning to Lucy’s for a block party with live entertainment. The Krewe of BOO! Parade rolls at 6:30 p.m. and will still be rolling when doors open at 8:00 p.m. for the Krewe of BOO! Monster Mash, the Official Post-Parade Costume Party that takes place at Generations Hall and will feature JT & The Ka-nection and two local DJs.

The Krewe of BOO! Royal Luncheon, Captain’s Masquerade Ball, New Orleans Zombie Run, and Monster Mash are all ticketed events.

Key Krewe of BOO! Locations

  • Galatoire’s, 209 Bourbon St.
  • Jazz Second Line, starts at 209 Bourbon St. and ends at 718 St. Peter St.
  • Pat O’Brien’s, 718 St. Peter St.
  • Republic NOLA, 828 S. Peters St.
  • Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, 701 Tchoupitoulas St.
  • Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.

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About Krewe of BOO! Founded in 2007 by Blaine “Mr. Mardi Gras” Kern, the Krewe of BOO! was resurrected in 2013 by his son, Brian Kern. The krewe’s parade is New Orleans’s Official Halloween Parade and features floats by renowned Kern Studios, the premier float building organization in America. Kern’s aim is to “make New Orleans a premier destination on Planet Earth for Halloween.” Krewe sponsors include Monster Energy, Haunted History Tours, Pat O'Brien's, PJs Coffee, The Mortuary, Oceana Grill, Caesars New Orleans, Elmer's CheeWees, and Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant. Previous royalty has included former Saints players Bobby Hebert and Morten Andersen, performer Trixie Minx, WWE superstar The Miz and New Orleans restaurateur Dickie Brennan.

Krewe of BOO! seeks to reduce parade waste that ends up in landfills by primarily throwing New Orleans-made food items and local collectible objects that parade goers will want to consume or keep as mementos. Throws will include items from PJ’s Coffee, Elmer’s CheeWees, MoonPie Minis from Chattanooga Bakery, Aunt Sally’s Pralinettes and cups from Giacona Container Corporation.

The Krewe of BOO! also sponsors the Halfway to Halloween Dance Off, a dance competition between marching krewes and a free concert, held each spring. In 2023, the krewe co-sponsored the Axeman’s Ball, a live concert with Prohibition Era
style costumes.