Two Carnival balls, the Krewe of Hermes and the Knights of Babylon, held forth on the same Thursday evening, respectively in the Hyatt Regency and the New Orleans Marriott. The first tableau balls were for Hermes, in 1937, with Marjorie Lee Smith reigning, and Babylon, in 1940, with Julia H. Peyral as the queen. Each organization also produces a brilliant night parade.
Hermes
“Fabled Lands of Myth and Legend” bannered the Thursday ball and the Friday night parade for Hermes, whose name is attributed to Greek mythology’s wing-footed messenger and courier of the gods. His parents were Zeus and Maia.
Another set of parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Walet Holmes, were duly proud when daughter Ada Schoen Holmes strode forth as the 2026 queen of Hermes. Her natural radiance was completed by her stunning gown by Katie Johnson of Royal Design House, which was fashioned of shimmering silver lame, overlaid with re-embroidered lace, and inspired by the royal robe of her in-attendance grandmother, Susan Schoen Holmes, who ruled in 1966 as Miss Schoen. Her majesty of 2025 was Miss Margaret Sinclair Smith, daughter of Mr. Randall Alan Smith and Dr. Diane Mary Sinclair.
A Champagne reception with music by the John Parker Traditional Jazz trio initiated the formal festivity that ensued with the ladies of the 2025 court escorted by their fathers, the national anthem, and significant entrances, including that of the ball captain, king’s pages, and Hermes LXXXVI, the 2026 king. The ball’s general chairman, Mr. Robert M. Midkiff, was assisted by Messrs. H. Britton Sanderford Jr., Fortuné A. Dugan Jr., Robert E. Smith Lupo, Rick S. Rees and Dr. George B. Morris IV. Another name to note was Manuel Ponce, who designed both the invitation for the grand ball and the program.
Maids to her majesty Ada were Misses Devron Blais Barreca, Mia Ann Bhatia, Isabella Maris Dennis, Samantha Élan Dugan, Grace Ryan Gootee, Charley Colette Halpern, Kagan Pulitzer Levine, Meghan Elizabeth McMahon, Eloisa Brooke Patron, Parker Anne Piacun, Mason Elisabeth Poole, Kathleen Brewer Ready, Paige Elizabeth Sarrat and Ellison Shaw Vosbein. Misses Jane-Owen McKenna Coleman, Bearer of the Flowers, and Eloise St. Clair Puckett, Bearer of the Scepter, were spotlighted, as were ladies-in-waiting Abigail Jules Bertucci, Eleanor Cecile Clark, Emeline Monica King, Cecilia Elizabeth Louapre, Charlotte Ann Marsac, Virginia Lilly Marsac, June Frances Mayer, Susan Stiel Newton, Connely Elizabeth Piper and Quill Carolina Randle. They processed to the music of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra.
Completing the court were pages James Hamilton Clark, John Leland Davies, Barrett Schoen Holmes, Jaan Jolly, Vincent Charles Madeira and Waller Norwood Randle.
All received effusive applause from the audience, especially such prominently seated ladies as royal mother Melissa Holmes, who donned a black Adrianna Papell gown with a striking front detail, and grandmothers, the above Susan Holmes and Karen Matthews. Also, Brandie Holmes, Melyne Holmes, Anne Matthews, Kaitlyn Levy, Kelli Leithead, Gwen “GiGi” Burk, Jackie Johnston Burk, Lacey Stalter Holdsworth, Ellie Burk Glennon, Maddie Burk Rees, Millie Loraine McMichael, Sarah Marie Lazaro, Cali Randall Burk, Lorie DeMarcay and Jennifer Midkiff. Many wore the thematic lady’s ducal pin of a compass and the krewe favor depicting a map of a fairy-tale coastline.
At the conclusion of the gallivanting in the Empire Ballroom, the Parker trio returned to lead a second line to the supper dance for more Maxwell music. There, silver and gold linens topped the tables that were centered with arrangements of white hydrangeas and roses, as well as lighted chandeliers. Charcuterie board appetizers, salad, a duet of beef tenderloin steaks and crab cakes, and king cake cheesecake energized the ballgoers, who bounded to the floor for the sounds of the Atlanta Showstoppers. “New York, New York” was a favorite number for dancing.
Recalling her family’s legacy as Hermes royalty, queen Ada related how grateful she was to enjoy her regal role with them and friends. Delighted that his daughter will carry on the legacy, her father, John, said about her reign, “It was a great experience for all of us.” He then added, “She was beautiful.”
Babylon
The Knights of Babylon, which traces its establishment, as the Jester’s Club, to June 24, 1939, got a glorious 2026 reincarnation under the marquee “A Night at the Opera” and the reign of Miss Lillian Clare Brown, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Franklin Brown Jr. The Mardi Gras Ballroom in the Marriott was beautifully enhanced by Perfect Presentations Floral and Event Designs and such features as a silver and gold lamé backdrop accented with the Babylon crests, the traditional throne, and abundant flowers on the stage.
Adding feminine florescence were court maids Guidry Greer Manné, Addison Renee Perry, Avery Grace Hudson, Paige Isabella Duffard, Marissa Jewel La Cour, Payton Katherine Fournier, Mary Skylar Grace Gettys, Emma Landry Theunissen, Allie Kathleen Jones, Allyson Marie Boackle and Abigail Elizabeth Brown.
The princesses were Misses Aubrey Claire Hudson and Emma Louise Wilson; the ladies in waiting, Misses Ramona Mae Fink, Marilyn May Persich, Sadie Jane Smith, Elise Judith Casey and Maya Elizabeth Millsap; and the pages, Masters Johan Alexander Larsson, Mattias Vincent Larsson, William Cullen Glennon and William Cooper Sanderson. Wearing the crown in 2025 was Miss Hadley Elizabeth Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Mary Sr.
As she joined King Sargon LXXX on the throne, her majesty Lillian made a lovely picture in a dazzling beaded gown with a full train that was fashioned of French Alençon lace. Her heavily embellished white velvet mantle matched that of his majesty.
Vocal beauty came from Sarah Jane McMahon Briscoe, an internationally acclaimed soprano (and New Orleanian), who performed to great applause at the ball. Among those relishing her presence, the evening’s amazing pageantry, the court, and the royalty were queen mother Celeste Brown, Valerie Hemphill, Rosalie Hemphill, Mary Hemphill, Brenda Connolly, Peggie Brown, Birdie Jacob, Julie Jacob, Caroline Berger, Sarah Elizabeth Seal, Heather Seal, Gloria Jones, Randi Mary and Julie Jardine.
CARNAVAL! Orchestra, under the direction of B.J. Perez, played; the Color Guard featured the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard from Washington, D.C.; guests admired (and wore) the thematic krewe favor of the tragedy and comedy masks by India Stewart Designs; and all perused with interest the ball program that featured miniature versions of each float in the 2026 “A Knight at the Opera” parade.
Immediately following the bal masqué in the Marriott, the supper dance commanded late-night attention with a four-course dinner. The Wiseguys band got the crowd boogieing until 4 am.
“I have dreamed of being queen since I was a little girl,” said monarch Lillian. Both viewing the parade and seeing her court all together were paramount memories for which she will be ever grateful. As for the unnamed king, he related how honored he was to further Babylon’s storied history. “Leading our Knights through the streets (as he held forth on the king’s float of the parade) while celebrating the Operas of New Orleans was an experience like no other.” He finished with, “Hail Sargon LXXX!”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
