FAQ
The Krewe of Dolly engages the community through special appearances and events to support causes close to Dolly’s heart with a focus on children’s literacy in New Orleans. Stated simply, What Would Dolly Do?
In the spirit of inclusiveness, the Krewe of Dolly is open to all. While we don’t have a traditional waiting list, membership is capped for the 2026-2027 season to ensure predictable membership numbers, parade safety, and a positive member experience. Registration opens to new members every year in late summer. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch and receive reminders about new member registration.
We welcome members to participate at the level they are able; there is no participation requirement. For behind the scenes folks, wearing a costume is not required! And as our literacy initiatives grow, members can volunteer in a variety of roles to support the krewe’s mission.
As a literacy nonprofit, we welcome members who seek to engage with our literacy mission and the wider New Orleans community. We are so much more than a Mardi Gras marching group! For those intent on a Mardi Gras parade experience, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, we focus our resources on our mission and do not own a support vehicle. As a result, members should be prepared to march the entire 6 mile Uptown route carrying all personal items. Second, parade capacity in the French Quarter is limited because of permitting and safety. Members are not guaranteed an opportunity to march in French Quarter parades. We have, however, offered opportunities for costumed get-togethers to socialize and support our fellow marchers during these French Quarter parades.
Sure! We encourage prospective members to consider their commitment to the New Orleans community along with their ability to travel for events. Our mission is to engage in the local community to promote children’s literacy in New Orleans. Approximately 26% of our members live outside of the New Orleans metro area, and we have a virtual buddy program along with the private Facebook group to help members stay in touch remotely. If you can’t visit frequently but want to support the krewe’s mission, please consider a tax deductible donation to support our literacy initiatives.
We typically have several events every month, but often have many more! In 2025-2026, we had 57 official events and many more informal social gatherings organized by members. Participation is optional, and there is no minimum participation requirement. Do what you can, when you can! Members are notified of events and parades as soon as our participation is confirmed with organizers. Participation in specific parades is not guaranteed and will vary based on our krewe needs and the needs of the organizers, along with changing parade rules and guidelines from the City of New Orleans. Dates for events vary from year to year, just like Mardi Gras! In addition to parades and fundraisers, we have many literacy and community outreach events throughout the year. Please see our list of events for more details about where to find us!
Dues for the 2026-2027 membership season are $300 per year and cover the costs to parade, host Krewe events, and fund our mission. Members provide their own costume. Please note that some parades require a $20 fee to participate to cover the costs of parading in the French Quarter. The membership year lasts from September 5, 2026 through August 31, 2027. To honor Dolly’s lifelong work inspiring a love of reading, we offer a 50% discount for currently active teachers, full-time students, education-adjacent workers, and individuals serving our community through often under-supported professions. We strongly encourage educators or students who have the financial flexibility to pay the full amount of dues in support of our literacy goals.
We are thrilled to announce that for 2026, your contribution is fully tax-deductible minus the $150 fair market value of annual membership! For example, members paying the non-educator rate of $300 can deduct $150. Please consult your tax advisor with questions about the tax deductible portion of your donation.
We have many events where no costume is required! For costumed events, the only requirement is a head of big blonde hair (wig or natural)! Be the fabulous Dolly that speaks to you. We want members to be comfortable and wear any blonde shade that complements their skin tone. Just as Dolly said, “I’m not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb … and I also know that I’m not blonde.”
Our members range in age from their 20s to their 70s. All adults 18 and over are welcome!
Awesome! If your partner wants to attend every event, they can join as a member. Alternatively, we often need support at parades and select events. Partners, friends, and family of members ages 18 and above can provide support at parades as Kenny Rogers or Willie Nelson! Please note that numbers of Support Kennies and Willies are limited based on event needs and will be assigned duties. For Kennies and Willies who want to march alongside their Dolly for the entire parade, consider joining as a full member!
We currently have 715 members! Our retention rate is strong, with over 69% of members returning in 2025. We have 62 founding members who have been with us for all four membership years!
Not at all! Many of our members participate in other marching groups and krewes. Plus, we have many events throughout the year, if Mardi Gras is a busy time. More is more, bring on the Mardi Gras Magic!
Krewe of Dolly members have the right to feel safe, respected, and protected during participation in the organization. Our Brave Space Policy describes how the organization ensures the social, emotional, and physical safety of all members. Above all, What Would Dolly Do?
The krewe is led by an all-volunteer board dedicated to the mission of the organization. The current board consists of eight officers supported by several committee chairs. We pay no salaries, and our organization is completely run by member volunteers.
Yes! We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, in good standing with IRS since our founding in 2022.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation dedicated to promoting literacy and inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to registered children from birth to age 5. The Foundation partners with local nonprofits to build and maintain a database of registered children within a zip code to provide hand-selected, age-appropriate, high-quality books each month. As the local program partner for Orleans Parish, the Krewe of Dolly raises the funds needed to ship the books that the Imagination Library sources at low cost. We currently enroll over 3200 children in Orleans Parish and have shipped over 36,000 books since we brought the program to New Orleans in 2024!
We send periodic newsletters that include information about upcoming appearances, literacy events, and volunteer opportunities. Please add us to your contacts to avoid emails from going to spam. Check out our upcoming Events and come out to see us. And pay close attention to emails as new member registration approaches on September 5!
All bosoms are welcome. Push-em up, stuff-em, or go natural!