An 8-foot-tall skeleton draped in a flowing pink gown, topped with a blond bouffant held upright by Mod Podge glue, has taken center stage at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and State Street. The bony tribute to Dolly Parton debuted as the centerpiece of Louellen Berger's beloved Halloween display on September 23, 2026, complete with transparent bell jars, blue eyes, full eyelashes, and a hand-lettered sign reading “Our Dear Dolly De-Parton'd.”
Berger, who owns the sprawling Uptown mansion at 6000 St. Charles Avenue, started assembling this year's display a week earlier than usual, telling NOLA.com she needed the extra time because of impending house guests. The Dolly Parton skeleton's arrival is timed to Dolly Parton Day in New Orleans, which falls on Friday, September 25, 2026 — a date the New Orleans City Council and Mayor Helena Moreno were planning to officially recognize to align with the national “9 to 5 Day” celebrations, according to the City of New Orleans. The city also planned a celebration of life, with event details, including the parade route, to be announced later.
A Tribute Planned Before, Then Reconsidered After Parton's Death
Berger had planned to include Dolly Parton in her display before the singer's death on August 25, 2026, the report notes. Once Parton died, Berger worried a skeletal version of the beloved star might feel too raw for onlookers so soon afterward. It wasn't until accolades and public celebrations of Parton's life were announced that Berger decided the tribute would no longer be misunderstood, and she moved forward with the caricature — describing her goal as making Dolly the standout among the display's other musician skeletons, intended as both humorous and affectionate.
Practicality played a role too. The Dolly skeleton reuses silver boots, a butterfly-motif guitar, and jewelry originally crafted for Berger's 2024 Taylor Swift skeleton, since Berger said she retires reused display items once they've served their purpose. The choice reflects the same hands-on approach she has brought to the display for more than two decades — Berger previously worked as fashion director for the former D.H. Holmes department store and had a role on The Beverly Hillbillies.
From a Single 'Lazy Bones' Skeleton to an 80-Plus-Character Boneyard
The tradition traces back more than 20 years to a single reclining plastic skeleton Berger placed in an oak tree. Berger later added skeletons and puns, and the display began in 2002; its pun-heavy style has evolved over the years. Today the collection includes 80 or more celebrity skeletons spanning the entire front yard of the mansion, from the entrance gate to the rooftop, drawing thousands of onlookers to the sidewalk each year.
The display continued in 2020 with two skeletons, which Berger put out to discourage gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Berger's husband, Darryl Berger, is a prominent New Orleans commercial real estate developer and founder of The Berger Company who received the Times-Picayune Loving Cup in 2024 for his civic leadership and served as chair of the Board of Tulane University.
New Local Caricatures Join the Boneyard for 2026
This year's new skeleton additions include Yvonne Lagore, Mark Romig, Bryan Bat, Todd Graves, Bill Ghoulring, and Denson Bone, per the report. Romig is a longtime New Orleans tourism executive who served as Chief Marketing Officer of New Orleans & Company before transitioning to Senior Advisor in 2025, and who also serves as the public address stadium announcer for the New Orleans Saints, according to New Orleans & Company. Graves, meanwhile, is among this year's new additions. Berger is also planning a boney pastiche of The Odyssey for the display.
The Skeleton House sits directly on the St. Charles Streetcar Line, which helps explain the crowds of streetcar riders and pedestrians who pass the corner each year. The concept has even spread beyond New Orleans — Baton Rouge launched its own pun-based “Ske-lebrity Graveyard” in 2025, according to the LSU Reveille, parodying local celebrities in the same spirit.
The 2026 display will be mostly in place by Thursday evening, September 24, and will remain viewable around the clock through November 1, as the mansion at 6000 St. Charles Avenue once again transforms into one of Uptown New Orleans' most anticipated seasonal spectacles.
