MKA Birmingham

About me:

The Mystic Krewe of Apollo was first formed in New Orleans, Louisiana by Mr. Roland Dobson.  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 he first "sister" Krewes, The Mystic Krewe of Apollo - Birmingham and The Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette. 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 27, 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.
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. 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.