Bring Dat Kink
Midsummer Mardi Gras | Maple Leaf Bar | Saturday, August 23 | 7 p.m.
The Krewe of O.A.K. (Outrageous and Kinky) has emboldened the social trend of the countdown.
These days, apps countdown to Saints Season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve (which is basically an entire holiday built around a countdown) and, most importantly to New Orleanians, Mardi Gras.
O.A.K., as always, is pleased to announce this year's Midsummer Mardi Gras, which is to be held on Saturday, August 23 and headquartered at the Maple Leaf Bar located at 8316 Oak St. It is the beloved event's 39th year. The "conspiracy of fun," according to the Krewe of O.A.K.'s Queen Julie Lodato, begins at 7 p.m. with the Royal Ceremony occurring on Maple Leaf's balcony before the walking parade begins.
The parade, featuring over 20 marching krewes, makes its way from Oak Street to Carrollton Avenue and to Freret Street, before turning back down Carrollton and making another turn at Cohn Street. Then, the krewe heads back to Oak—where the real party begins. Parade headliners include royalty in pedicabs and features some of the city's best known walking troupes.
Some event regulars include the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus and its sub-group the Space Vikings, Tap Dat, Janette's, Bayou Babes, Weather Girls, the Krewe of Overnight Marinade (a frequent host of after parties), and the Muff-a-Lottas.
"To Easy" in the Big Easy
This year's theme, "To Easy - LOL," refers to the graffiti left on the bathroom wall when the recently-escaped prisoners escaped through a bathroom at the Orleans Justice Center. The statement basically means that their escape was easily accomplished. As of July 11, 2025, nine of the 10 escapees have been re-apprehended with only one, Derrick Groves, still at-large.
Something for Everyone
Inquiring to locals, Midsummer Mardi Gras has been called a parade, a block party, a costume contest, a pagan ritual, a seasonal celebration, and a general s**t-show, but these many incarnations demonstrate one of the event's keystones: inclusivity of multiple identities, ideas, peoples, and beliefs. The term "midsummer" is often used to refer to a celebration or holiday specifically on or near the summer solstice, which is the day with the longest light of the year. Queen Lodato described the event as "a mystic krewe, wrapped in secrecy and esoteric knowledge passed down from the times of creation on this planet."
The sun, season, and abundance they produce were all causes for celebration for pre-modern peoples, and this appreciation carries over to today's Louisiana, except with the added value of escaping mosquitoes, hurricanes, and whatever oddities our modern-day boot is throwing at us. The seasonal holiday is most-often associated with Northern Hemisphere locations, in particular Europe, with countries such as Sweden making them official state holidays.
Another obvious association is with Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was performed in July at the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University. It tells the story of four lovers caught in a surreal mix of love, lust, mystery, and magic—with faeries, including their king and queen, involved in the twists and turns their magic and mixture brings.
Mardi Gras, in the Oaks
The Midsummer Mardi Gras' main location, Oak Street, which went through a revitalization project in 2009, has grown to become one of New Orleans' "main streets" in the same vein as Bourbon, Magazine, Frenchmen, Freret, and others.
Oak Street encompasses over 60 businesses over seven blocks, ranging from sectors including restaurants, bars, entertainment, art (per Breads On Oak's owner and treasurer of the neighborhood "group"). Some of the street's restaurant staples include Maple Leaf Bar, Jacques Imo's, Aguasanta, Ajun Cajun, Oak St. Brewery, Old Alker Distillery, Oak & Ale, Pink Lotus, and Breads On Oak, to name a few.
In addition to Midsummer Mardi Gras, Oak Street is also famed for the New Orleans Po-Boy Festival. @NolaTinkerBell Jeanne Charlebois said, "Oak Street in New Orleans is where memories breathe: wine with girlfriends at Oak Wine Bar, music echoing from the Maple Leaf, and the pulse of Po-Boy Fest filling the air every year. It's not just a street. It's a tradition exemplified by laughter and rhythm."
Mardi Gras Cups
The 2024 theme was "Big Titty Takeover," which referred to the Maple Leaf's Facebook page being hacked and being repeatedly covered with images of large-breasted women, recounted krewe member Ryan Guillory. Obviously, the Midsummer family can take—or make—a joke. The king was Mr. Andrew Quaid (Super Saints Fan Mr. EveryThAng!) and the queen was Ms. Nikki Miner (the founder of Tap Dat).
Live entertainment on Oak Street will include Big Fun Brass Band (bigfunbrassband.com), as well as J & the Causeways (jandthecauseways.com). Joining Queen Lodato this year as king will be Luis Robustus XXXIX.
Following Midsummer Mardi Gras, 175 days after the event, will be Fat Tuesday, which occurs on February 17, 2026.
