Meet the Maestra of the New Orleans Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade

When it comes to blending the eerie and the elegant, few do it better than Laura Kuhn. As the creative force behind design firm Midnight Boheme and the longtime designer for the New Orleans Krewe of BOO! Halloween parade, Laura has built a career on turning imagination into spectacle. From her early days rejecting coloring books in favor of blank pages to crafting iconic logos, float signs, and even a new version of the board game CLUE, she’s never shied away from bold, theatrical storytelling.

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Where and when did you first notice your creative spark?

According to my mom, my parents gave me a coloring book and jumbo crayons when I was little. But I wanted blank paper and the full 64-pack so I could make something from scratch. From there, I graduated to pastels, construction paper, sketchbooks, and eventually paints in high school.

I painted murals, hot-glued crafts, and puff-painted costumes. By the 2000s, I swapped messy brushes for Photoshop and web design. That shift led me to launch Midnight Boheme, my graphic design company, in 2011.

How did you end up in New Orleans, and how did you connect with Krewe of BOO!?

I first came to New Orleans on a cross-country road trip. The food, music, people, and architecture — it was everything I didn’t know I was missing. I lived in the Quarter for six months, eventually moved to L.A., but the voodoo spell had already been cast. I came back for good.

Around the time I launched Midnight Boheme, I met Krewe of BOO! Captain Brian Kern at a French Quarter Business Association luncheon. He needed a designer, and we’ve been a team for 15 years. Since then, I’ve created the krewe’s logo, website, float signs, ads, merchandise, and throws, like the Ghoul’s Gold doubloons.

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What goes into preparing for the parade?

So much more than people realize. For Brian, it’s practically a year-round job. As soon as one parade ends, he’s already planning the next: updating the website, designing throws, booking venues, and meeting with the city and sponsors. The weekend of events — Royal Luncheon, Captain’s Party, Zombie Run, Krewe of BOO! Parade, and Monster Mash — blends Mardi Gras revelry with a Halloween twist. Brian calls me at all hours with new ideas. His “paycheck” is the joy and smiles of the crowd.

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Any parade moments that really stuck with you?

Heartfelt: Every time I hand a throw to a child sitting on their dad’s shoulders, the look on their face is indescribable. I know it’s just a cheap toy, but to them it’s a priceless memory.

Wild: One year, I met a DJ on a float, and that turned into a Halloween romance. Being single and fabulous in this city definitely has its perks!

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What would your dream float look like?

It would be Storyville-themed. One of my most rewarding projects was creating the brand and exhibitions for the New Orleans Storyville Museum at 1010 Conti Street. Collaborating on that project felt like bringing a long-held fascination into reality. I’d design a lavish cabaret-style brothel exterior, with ornate balconies, glowing lanterns, velvet curtains, and gilded trim — capturing the glamour, mystery, and allure of Storyville.

SB Note: A history refresher: Storyville was New Orleans’ official red-light district from 1897 to 1917. The city created it to keep prostitution and gambling contained in one area. It ultimately became a hotbed for music. Brothels and saloons hired musicians, and many early jazz legends got their start there. When the federal government shut down Storyville during World War I, those musicians spread jazz far and wide, helping to launch the genre.

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What’s a common misconception about Krewe of BOO!?

Some people assume parades are raunchy or inappropriate, thanks to old Mardi Gras stereotypes. But Krewe of BOO! is family-friendly and welcomes all audiences. It honors Halloween with a full-scale Mardi Gras-style parade, complete with high school marching bands, local dance krewes, and fully costumed float riders who throw toys, beads, cups, and treats to crowds of all ages.

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What’s your creative process like with new clients?

I dig into their story. For startups, it’s about capturing the personality behind the business. For established businesses like The Port of New Orleans or Antoine’s (both clients), it’s about honoring their history and creating continuity in design. Some clients arrive with a clear vision; others simply say, “Laura, work your magic!”

Any “pinch me” projects?

Designing a new version of CLUE. The National WWII Museum asked me to create CLUE WWII: Spies & Espionage in 2023. I loved CLUE as a kid (and the movie), so reimagining it with a WWII twist was a dream come true. It’s now sold in the museum’s gift shop.

How does New Orleans influence your work?

Living the New Orleans lifestyle and honoring French Quarter culture is what makes Midnight Boheme tick. The city’s love of the macabre, the aesthetic of crumbling stucco exposing old brick, the gaslit streets flickering in shadow, the scents of seafood spices wafting from restaurant kitchens, the clink of cocktail glasses inside a dark bar … these are the things that make my inner muse salivate and satiate.

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Where do you go for inspiration or a reset?

My girls know where to pour the liquid inspiration. Dinner at a trendy eatery, then bar-hopping from a classy hotel lounge to Bourbon Street. From cocktails at the Carousel Bar to dancing at a fabulous gay bar, we eventually end up back at my house for a nightcap and karaoke. Yes, I built a stage — complete with spotlight and glittering gold curtains. One night like this, and my creative spark is fully recharged.

If you weren’t a designer, what alternate life would you be living?

A torch singer. Picture me as a sequined chanteuse, leaning on a baby grand, crooning in a smoke-filled jazz club. If I ever open my own bar, I’d call it Belle Watling, a Victorian bordello-style lounge where I’d be the headliner. Think Jessica Rabbit meets Storyville.

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Best advice you’ve ever received?

When I started Midnight Boheme, a business advisor told me my work was great, but my personality was missing. She pushed me to put myself into my brand. I added photos of myself in Mardi Gras costumes and Halloween wigs, and business took off. Clients aren’t just hiring Midnight Boheme; they’re hiring me. They get my full attention, my spark, and my professional persona.

And finally, we always ask: What are three things you can’t live without?

Make-up to feel fabulous, Wi-Fi to get work done, and food. Because I love food.

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