The Krewe of Mid-City turned the Celestin Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency into its own storybook runway tonight, staging the 92nd Bal Masque under a sweeping “Lands Far and Beyond” theme. King Mid-City Frank Antony Milanese and Queen Amy Freese Carter presided over the pageantry as maids and junior royals crossed the floor in looks inspired by everything from Mermaid Lagoon to Candyland.
According to NOLA.com, the evening opened formally with the presentation of the colors by the Chalmette High School ROTC, followed by the national anthem. Michael Haydel served as general chairman of the ball, while Jake Romano took the microphone as master of ceremonies. Organizers also seated the 2025 royal court in a place of honor, giving next year’s leaders a front-row view of the spectacle.
Celestin Ballroom Set the Stage
The Celestin Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans provided the backdrop, a venue built for this kind of over-the-top Carnival theater. As outlined by Hyatt Regency New Orleans, the Celestin is one of the hotel’s two 25,000-square-foot ballrooms, a scale that fits big private galas, conventions and, in this case, a krewe masque stuffed with royalty and revelers.
Royal Court and Costumes
King Frank Antony Milanese and Queen Amy Freese Carter appeared in imperial-style regalia that leaned into the globe-trotting fantasy. The queen wore a silver imported lamé gown trimmed in rhinestones, topped with a Medici collar and finished with a dramatic 12-foot mantle. Officers took the floor in tunic-style red costumes with domed helmets and French-curled plumes, while the captain stood out in a silver tunic encrusted with Austrian rhinestones and semiprecious stones, according to NOLA.com. A lengthy roster of committee members and junior royals helped fill out the evening’s tableaux, keeping the court busy and the theme front and center.
Parade Plans And Throws
The “Lands Far and Beyond” concept will not stay trapped under a ballroom chandelier. It is headed to the Uptown parade route, where Mid-City is scheduled to roll with 15 floats and a mix of signature throws, from sequin-heart plushies to crawfish serving trays and novelty bobble heads. That parade slot and the throw list are detailed on MardiGrasNewOrleans.com, which shows Mid-City rolling Sunday at noon, following Okeanos on the Uptown route.
Between jeweled crowns and tongue-in-cheek maids, the Mid-City Ball doubled as both a dose of old-line krewe pomp and a wink at Carnival’s playful side. For members and guests, it was a reminder that Mardi Gras season lives just as vividly in hotel ballrooms as it does out on the street.
