After rumors of vampires traveled beyond Europe’s wooded mountain-scapes and decedent old world cities, they settled along the banks of the Mississippi River at the bite-lock of Southern culture and north Caribbean nights. By then, the French-speaking, Voodoo-enchanted port of New Orleans had become the new fulcrum for vampire lore.

In recent years, Sacramento’s increasingly elaborate Mardi Gras celebrations have made it something akin to a sister river city of the Big Easy. So, it’s not surprising that the Capital City’s vampire culture knows how to throw the most-intriguing ball after sundown for channeling New Orleans energy.

On March 1, Shannon McCabe, the Vampire Queen of Sacramento, will host her 8^th Annual Masked Mardi Gras Ball at Harlow’s.

The event will be a gala of beads, food, specialty cocktails, decor, King Cake, ancestor altars and authentic entertainment. Prepare for a costume contest, as well as a crowning of the 2025 King and Queen on the Main Stage.

The action will also feature burlesque dancing by Jean Heart and Evangeline Laveau. Music will include spinning from DJ Bryan Hawk on the Stage Dance floor and live performances from Sacramento rockers A Death in Bloom and New Orleans-inspired blues empress Katie Knipp. Now into her 8th studio album, Knipp has talked about how much she’s been influenced by the late New Orleans piano master Allen Toussaint, whom she met before he passed away. Knipp’s song “Another Round” from the album Take It With You invokes sunrise in the Crescent City’s French Quarter, rolling along with ivory-strikes and brass sass as Toussaint makes a suave dream appearance in the lyrics.  

Knipp will be playing the Mardi Gras Ball on the heels of her new single release, a trip-hop remix of “Time and Space” by renowned producer and bassist Pancho Tomaselli.   

“It will be so much fun to have my 8-piece band on stage celebrating all things Mardi Gras,” Knipp mentioned this week. “Shannon McCabe does things right with her events and we’re pleased as punch to be part of them.”

As the ball approaches, Shannon McCabe and the Krewe of Vampires are putting their invite out through the New Orleans motto Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!, which is French for ‘Let the good times roll.’

New Orleans has been known for generations as ‘the City that Care Forgot,’ and McCabe says she’s determined to bring that same liberating ethos to the City of Trees for one night this year.   

“I’m most excited about getting together with friends to dance, party and enjoy that it’s Carnival Season right here in Sacramento at Harlow’s,” McCabe reflected. “I am here, and it’s my job to raise the spirits and vibrations of this city – to show people that life can be amazing in any situation.”

The Mardi Gras Ball starts at 7 p.m. and is for those 21 and over. The Best Mardi Gras Costume-winner will get a two-pack of VIV tickets ($200-plus value) for the 17th Annual Vampire Ball in October. Tickets can be purchased here. Harlow’s is located at 2708 J Street in Midtown Sacramento.

SN&R’s editor is also the producer of the documentary podcast series, ‘Drinkers with Writing Problems,’ Episode 3 of which was written and recorded in New Orleans.