The Mystic Krewe of Apollo was founded in New Orleans in 1969 to foster brotherhood, unity and equality within our community. Roland Dobson.
In 1981, the Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge was formed with the Mystic Krewe of Apollo Shreveport joining the brotherhood in 1986. Once holding a total of seven affiliations, throughout Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, only these four “Krewes of Apollo” remained until the fall of 2005. In 2005, the Mystic Krewe of Apollo – Dallas was chartered and became a part of the MKA family. The first Bal Masque,
for the Mystic Krewe of Apollo – Birmingham, was held on Saturday, January 22, 1977 at the Roma Country Club, located in Homewood, Alabama. That evening brought general dancing until the sounding of the Captain’s whistle, heralding the first of the, now famous, Tableau of Characters and the crowning of the first King and Queen Apollo – Birmingham. Roland Dobson, founder of the original Mystic Krewe of Apollo served as the Captain for the Bal Masque. Since that time, the club has continued to grow and flourish. Now held at Boutwell Auditorium, the Krewe welcomes approximately 1,800 guests, from around the world, to celebrate the Mardi Gras season each year. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo was first formed in New Orleans, Louisiana by Mr. It was founded on the principles of fostering brotherhood, unity, and equality within the entire community. In 1976, Dobson brought these ideals to the cities of Birmingham, Alabama and Lafayette, Louisiana by forming the first “sister” Krewes, The Mystic Krewe of Apollo – Birmingham and The Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette. Members, led by the Board of Directors, work throughout the year, raising funds for the “invitation only” Bal Masque which is held the first weekend of February. In addition, the club participates in numerous philanthropic efforts by lending support to Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Central Alabama Pride, and The Children’s Hospital of Birmingham, just to name a few. Membership
Membership in the Mystic Krewe of Apollo – Birmingham is opened to men, over the age of 21, and is limited to a total of 40 members. Prospective new members are required to complete a Membership Application. Following the completion of the application, you must attend at least two MKA-Birmingham functions, one of which must be a General Membership Meeting. Upon completion of the application requirements, an interview is conducted by the Board of Directors. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that all candidates are fully aware of the structure and organization of the club and to give them an opportunity to ask any outstanding questions that they may have. Those persons interested in membership should contact any MKA Birmingham member or or send an email to the clubs Executive Coordinator to obtain a membership application form. A copy of the Application Form is also available here : Membership Application
08/02/2026
THE COUNT DOWN IS ON.. let’s do brunch, drag brunch!
The Apollo “Drag Brunch for a Cause” is just one week away, taking place on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the B&A Warehouse.
Grab your friends and enjoy a delicious brunch with some of the best entertainment Birmingham has to offer.
Featuring:
Lotus
Cierra Symone Campbell
Imberli
Kharris
Carrie Laveau
Dominique Divine
Lady Christina Dawn
Kandi Leigh
Porcelain
Mr. Central Alabama Pride - Zarien
Mr. & Miss Apollo 2026 - Texas T & Fawn
Event Schedule:
- 11:00 AM: Doors open
- 12:00 PM: Brunch and show begin
Ticket Details:
- Individual Tickets ($35, brunch included): Purchase by scanning the QR code or using the link below.
Thank you for your continued support of MKA Birmingham.
07/21/2026
This year marks a historic milestone for our Krewe—one that few could have imagined when this organization was first founded. As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we honor our rich history and enduring impact on the LGBTQ+ community with a year of events that are both meaningful and spectacular, in true Mardi Gras fashion.
Among our most treasured traditions are the Mr. & Miss Apollo Pageants, a celebration of excellence, artistry, and the performers who have shaped our legacy.
Join the Mystic Krewe of Apollo Birmingham for our Hall of Fame Review Show, a special prelude to the annual Mr. & Miss Apollo Pageants. This unforgettable evening will showcase an extraordinary lineup of Hall of Fame entertainers whose talent, dedication, and passion have helped build the proud tradition of Mr. & Miss Apollo Birmingham.
👑 Saturday, August 22, 2026
👑 7:00 PM
👑 $10 Cover Charge
👑 Al’s on 7th
AND for the 50th Annual Mr. & Miss Apollo Pageant:
👑 Sunday August 23, 2026
👑 7:00 PM
👑 $10.00 Cover Charge
👑 Al's on 7th
We hope that you will share this information with your friends, groups and supporters of Apollo. We appreciate your support of this event and all events hosted by MKA Birmingham.
We look forward to celebrating this tradition with you.
07/11/2026
Let’s do brunch, DRAG brunch!
Join King & Queen Apollo XLIX for a “Drag Brunch for a Cause” Sunday August 9, 2026 at the beautiful B&A Warehouse. Enjoy a delicious brunch paired with some of Birmingham’s best performers.
👑 11:00 AM: Doors Open
👑 12:00 PM: Show Starts
Guests in your party can:
👑 Purchase $35.00 individual tickets by scanning the QR Code.
All tickets include brunch!
We appreciate your support of this event and all events hosted by MKA Birmingham.
06/24/2026
✨ Apollo’s GOLDEN journey continues! ✨
This year, we’re giving our pageant THE MIDAS TOUCH!
Join us as we celebrate an incredible reign for Mr. Apollo-Birmingham 2026, Texas T, and Miss Apollo-Birmingham 2026, Fawn, while we crown the next Mr. & Miss Apollo-Birmingham 2027!
As we commemorate this joyous occasion and prepare for our historic 50th Bal Masque, each title winner will receive a prize package valued at $1,000, making this one of the most exciting opportunities yet to represent the Mystic Krewe of Apollo - Birmingham.
Al's on 7th
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Pageant begins promptly at 7:00 PM
Cover: $10 at the door
Must be 21+ to enter
Early registration ends on August 9 with an entry fee of $100. Beginning August 10, the entry fee will be $125.
For more information, contact Jamie Miller, Zarien Morris, Texas T, Fawn, or any MKA-Birmingham member.
Who will join the legacy and take home the $1,000 prize package? Join us and find out!
02/16/2026
Save the date!
02/12/2026
BAL MASQUE XLIX: LIFE IS A BANQUET🍴
Thank you so much to all of our guests who came to our ball! Mardi Gras is such a special time of year to celebrate as a brotherhood.
We are grateful for your participation and hope you enjoyed each of our presentations. It’s because of YOU we continue to bring the magic to the runway every year!
Here are a few of our favorite moments! However, we couldn’t capture them all. Please share yours in the comments below so we can keep the party going!
Cheers!🥂
Laissez les bons temps rouler! 🎉
02/07/2026
After the Captain’s Party tonight and Bal Masque XLIX tomorrow, be sure to join us at Al's On 7th to enjoy the DREAMCAST featuring Miss National Apollo Syria Synclaire & Miss Apollo - Birmingham Fawn!
Thank you to Mark Cummings and the Al’s on 7th Family for always keeping the party going!
FRI FEB 6 + SAT FEB 7!
Apollo Birmingham Ball Weekend is getting a 💥 BLASTOFF 🚀 at the ! Featuring Syria Synclaire (Miss National Apollo 2026) & Fawn (Miss Apollo Birmingham 2026) + performances from
Cierra Symone Campbell (Miss National Apollo 2013, Miss Apollo Birmingham 2013), Imberli (Miss Apollo Birmingham 2023), Lotus (Miss Apollo Birmingham 2018) and Ara Besque Starr + beats 🎧 by Bamabouncedjs. Showtimes 11 pm.
02/07/2026
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! ⚜️
We are excited to welcome all of our guests this weekend as our Captain presents Bal Masque XLIX - Life Is A Banquet.
Here is a calendar of events as well as a few reminders for this weekend’s festivities.
If you have any questions, please consult your ball host and they will be happy to answer!
01/17/2026
Three weeks from tonight we will be celebrating our 49th Annual Bal Masque, "Life is a Banquet".
If you would like to attend ask a member or contact us here for details, admission is $70.
Laissez les bons temps rouler.
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