Nov 2, 2025 - Culture

Exclusive: Inside the sold-out Anne Rice Vampire Ball in New Orleans

Carlie Kollath Wells

Man at a party wearing a black top hat with skull designs and fangs, smiling widely. Background shows people in costumes in a warmly lit room with red accents and columns. — Darrius Ravenlock, aka Aaron, from Charlotte at the Anne Rice Vampire Ball. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios

Axios New Orleans was given exclusive access to the famous Anne Rice Vampire Ball that celebrates the late author and her world of dark fantasy.

Why it matters: The 37th annual ball sold out in seven minutes, co-host Alys Arden tells Axios.

The big picture: The decadent party on Friday took over the Capital on Baronne in the Central Business District of New Orleans.

This year's theme was "Memnoch the Devil," Rice's novel where vampire Lestat journeys through heaven and hell.
A towering sculpture by Gentilly artist Dom Graves was a focal point, with an angel on one side and hoofed demon on the other.
Midway through the night, the party transitioned to hell, with the lights turning red and projections on the wall morphing in knives and dark objects.

Image shows demon sculpture in a ballroom with ornate red walls. — Inside the ball. Image: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios

Zoom in: The costumes were next level. It's a black-tie event and folks wore lavish rococo gowns, barely-there lace and bead ensembles and ornate brocade jackets straight out of Rice's novels.

One fan was dressed as Louis' assistant, Rashid, from AMC's "Interview with the Vampire." She walked around with a silver tray laden with a fox and a champagne flute filled with blood. IYKYK.
An Egyptian look won one category in the annual costume contest, while the vampire versions of Queen Charlotte and King George from "Bridgerton" won another.
Many people had fangs — presumably prosthetic, but who's to say. Maven Lore, aka The Fangsmith, was even customizing fangs on-site.

Woman with purple hair and a colorful face mask holding a tray with two drinks, a stuffed fox, a bowl of fake eyeballs, and a horror-themed book in a dimly lit, festive indoor setting. — An Anne Rice fan dresses as Rashid from AMC's "Interview with the Vampire." Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios

Inside the room: Absinthe was the drink of choice. The mortals had plenty of food — gumbo, muffalettas and other New Orleans favorites.

The evening's vampire host kept telling us we looked delicious.
There were classical tunes, but Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" got everyone on the dance floor.
The ladies' bathroom was a hilarious bonding experience, as we tried to maneuver in the stalls with hoop skirts, trains, wings and wigs.

Two people at a lively party in ornate, colorful 18th-century style costumes; woman with large red hair and pearls, man in floral gold jacket and red-tinted glasses, smiling warmly. — This couple from Boston won one of the costume contest categories with their vampire "Bridgerton" mashup. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios

The vibe: Anne Rice was the emotional heart of the evening, starting with a memorial altar near the entrance. Fans brought mementos to be delivered to crypt in Metairie Cemetery.

Folks were eager to tell me their Anne stories when they learned I was a reporter.
While their experiences were different, they had a common thread — Anne Rice's words made them feel seen and accepted.
And for many, her novels inspired them to write, travel, find love, perform, read and live life as their true selves.

The bottom line: It was exhilarating to be in a room filled with hundreds of passionate readers.