The Black Seminole Baby Dolls will host a special fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7-10 p.m. in the Garden at Hotel Storyville.

The evening will feature live entertainment in the hotel’s historic outdoor space, a favorite setting for cultural gatherings in New Orleans. Tickets are $85 and include two premium cigars and a signature whiskey glass, making the event a one-of-a-kind celebration of music, culture, and community.

Hotel Storyville has recently reopened its Garden to the public for special events, with more gatherings planned throughout the fall season.

Event Information:

• Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

• Location: Hotel Storyville Garden, New Orleans, LA

• Hosted by: The Black Seminole Baby Dolls

• Tickets: $85 (includes two premium cigars and a signature whiskey glass)

For more information about this and other upcoming events at Hotel Storyville, visit their website.

The Baby Dolls were created by two women of color, Leola Tate and Beatrice Hill in an area called Black Storyville. This small area was considered as the red-light district for Black men. Due to Jim Crow laws Black men were not allowed to roam in Stroyville. This was a rough and impoverished area. Not only were people of color prohibited from areas like Storyville but, they were not allowed to participate in Carnival, so they created their own. This is how the tradition started.

Baby dolls were known for being fierce women who carried sticks, threw money in the air and smoked cigars. They paraded through their neighborhoods making their own music. Today there are over twenty groups and many of the women are working professionals with their own businesses and careers. You can find the dolls parading throughout the city at festivals and of course the big day, Carnival.