Children’s Carnival Club
What do you do for a theme the year after a gala centennial ball? The number 100 symbolizes completeness and high achievement. It’s a major milestone and deserves recognition. In local Carnival circles, a centenary organization advances into an esteemed category. So, what does one do with the subsequent celebration to mark 101 years?
The Children’s Carnival Club donned thinking caps and came up with the perfect theme: “101 Dalmations.” The tableau was right on target for the tales (tails!) of canine crime and the classic villainess, Cruella de Vil, who set out to steal Dalmatian puppies to make a fur coat. In choice roles were David Creel Bisschop, Pongo; Julia Lane Ruddock, Perdita; Vivian Cherie Lorio, Pepper; Caroline Best LaCour, Cruella de Vil; Lucius Clay Spencer V, Horace; Beaumont Matthew Hemmer, Jasper; and Matthew Gerard Bartomeo Jr., Patch.
Furr-get about the coat! All eyes turned to the beauty of the royal mantles as worn by the 2026 royalty, King and Queen Once Upon a Time, Ira Benjamin Acosta and Charlotte Spencer LaCour. Their parents are Dr. and Mrs. Scott James Acosta and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Joseph LaCour. Prior to the ball in the Armstrong Ballroom of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, each young monarch related finding out about the exciting royal honor in October 2025. Intended-queen Charlotte received a jewel box shaped like a crown.
The ball started at dusk with the entrance of the captain and then the krewe. Applause was full for the arrival of the 2025 majesties, Connor Fredrick Langston and Amelie Marie Sharpe, who ruled over the centennial ball and their court. Both were outfitted in their royal regalia of the preceding year.
The next entrance was that of the current monarchs, the above Benjamin and Charlotte. He was attired in a rhinestone-encrusted white silk satin tunic that was embellished with silver cloth insets. Her majesty wore a French silk satin princess-style gown with a pleated side sweep and a skirt overlaid with silver lace encrusted with rhinestones in a swirl leaf pattern. Ilane Hartman Designs created both majestic garments.
Serving as pages were Jackson William Gallois, Mark Joseph LaCour Jr. and Jared Bennett Spencer Jr.; and, as captains, James Beauregard Kessler, Lane Sarah Connell, Ann Frances Hodnette and June Harper McDermott. Six princesses graced the court: Brynn Ruth Matrana, Addison Leight Guidry, Juliette Kavanagh Whitehead, Sierra Mariner Spencer, Charlotte Ann Graben and Isla Rae Geoghegan. Then came dukes Theodore Matthew Hemmer, Johan Alexander Larsson, Luke Jackson Connell, Christopher Michael Hodnette, Samuel Lawrence Bisschop and Alexander Louis Gallois, and maids Rosalie Frances McDermott, Phoebe Kehoe Ogden, Mary Vivian Sparacello, Mary Claire Hodnette, Elise Anne Munson and Erin Luz Munson. Messrs. Charles Childress Jr. and Mark Bickham, along with Dr. W. Kenneth Mann Jr., served as the ball’s committee chairmen.
Two debutantes of the season, who figured in a former CCC court, were limelighted. They were Alice Lane Read Calhoun and Sloane Alexandra Paysse. Within the recent past, both have been queens; the former of the 2025 Spring Fiesta, and two months ago, the latter of the Caliphs of Cairo.
Still more pageantry included the “101 Dalmatians” tableau; the royal entertainment by the New Orleans Youth Ballet (Richard Rholdon, ballet master) of the Maria and Joseph Giacobbe School of Dance; the presentation of the Royal Proclamations; and the presentation of royal gifts to St. Michael Special School.
Special remembrances and recognition honored the 85-year, the 50-year and the 25-year monarchs. The grand march, the court dance, and the krewe drill, all with music by the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra, ensued before the grand finale.
Applauding throughout were royal mothers Bonnie Slaughter-Acosta, in a peacock blue gown with a full skirt, and Ginger LaCour, in an Yvonne LaFleur dress of embossed organza in a leaf pattern. Seated in prominent boxes, as well, were Mmes. L. Clay Spencer, Oscar McDuffie Gwin IV, Robert J.A. Williams, Patrick T. Ranieri, James Fisher Maddox, and Jean Paul Hymel. Also, Dr. Jean LaCour, Brooke Anne Austin, Patricia Gallagher, Elizabeth Sewell, Collette Bleu Acosta, and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Edwin Stacy III.
A special — and surprise — feature of the youthful gallivanting was the appearance of the Jaywalkers Band and their modified, but lively, second line.
More music occurred during the supper thanks to Party-Tyme Productions with DJ Robbie Cox. Guests enjoyed gumbo, chicken and waffles, an ice cream station and a “decadent” almond cake. The table centerpieces consisted of whimsical carriages, crowns, and English lampposts that were all illuminated with tiny white lights and thematic polka dot ribbons as a nod to “101 Dalmations.”
Of course, the ultimate nod was to King and Queen Once Upon a Time, whose reign showed that fairy tales can have happy endings. Somewhere, a Dalmatian puppy also wagged a tail for joy.
Arthurians
In the cherished mythmaking of British literature surrounding King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin, Guinevere, and Camelot, early Welsh, Celtic, and Latin sources are blended in these tales of chivalry, romance and the pursuit of the Holy Grail.
Now, and closer to home, we have the Arthurians, who staged their 2026 Carnival ball in the Winter Palace. Arthur XXXXV, his royal entourage, and the krewe members arrived by streetcar at the palace, heralded by bagpipes from the Kilts of Many Colours, Merlin, and a brace of Knights Chamberlain. Missing were the ladies. Another quest became imminent.
Upon their arrival at the palace, the entourage retired to the second floor. After their descent a short while later, and in surprise fashion, Merlin tapped two ladies-in-waiting, Mrs. Timothy Jacquet, Marie, and Mrs. Robert Jolly, Rebecca. Merlin then went in search of Guinevere and after much excited anticipation, Mrs. Elroy Eckhardt, Judy Rush, was chosen to reign over the ball with King Arthur. Last year, that honor was accorded to Mrs. Frank Arnemann, Eileen Hofrichter, who was escorted to the throne, where she was presented with a bouquet of red roses. Guinevere of 2024 was Mrs. W. Kenneth Mann Jr., Naomi.
Green garlands hanging from the ceiling and containing myriad tiny lights that decorated the ballroom, while the billiard room was transformed into a dining room with two buffet tables centered by Meade Wenzel’s floral arrangements. The room was constantly filled by attendees, who savorerd the sumptuous spread by Pigeon Catering.
Additional features were the lively music of The New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra led by John Craft; the piping by the Kilts of Many Colours; the ball chairmanship by Warren J. Greenwood Jr.; and the krewe favor, which elicited many a smile. The pin depicted King Arthur arriving at the Winter Palace on a runaway camel the year the traditional elephant, the former mode of transport to the ball, was unavailable to carry Arthur.
Among those reveling in the royalty, and general formal fun, were Hugh Blair, Cary and Duncan Friedman, Marie and Tim Jacquet, Donna and Chris Elliott, Peter Kastl with Valerie Besthoff, Susan and Butch Greenwood, Deborah and Albert Lujan, Nancy and Nick Matulich, Terry Hauve and Wendi Sweetland, Mary Beth and Seth Nehrbass, Donald Maginnis, the fittingly first-named Arthur and Caroline Nead, Kim and Josh Reyher, Devie and A.J. Friedman, Joan and Alan Sheen, Michelle and Judson Chase, and Emily and Tommy Ryan. To name a few of the Camelot crowd, who congratulated the unidentified Arthur and the three selected ladies. “I was so surprised,” said her majesty Judy, a very pleased new queen, who now joins the ranks of esteemed, and real-life, Guineveres.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
