Saturday evening, the Slidell Municipal Auditorium was filled with royalty, pomp and good times as the Mystic Krewe of Perseus staged their 40th Bal Masque.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the new King Perseus XL and Queen Andromeda XL, who will rule over the krewe and it Jan. 31 parade. After the scepters of King Perseus XXXIX and Queen Andromeda XXXIX, Krewe Captain Allen Smith presented Mike White and his wife Beth White as King Perseus XL and Queen Andromeda XL, respectively. Mike was born in Mountain Home, Idaho, and has worked for the U.S. Coast Guard for 37 years. He is a member of the Board of Governors for Perseus. Beth White was born in Lake City, Minn., and is a member of the POE Chapter BJ in Slidell. The couple has two children and six grandchildren. The page for King Perseus XL was his grandson Kyle Bordelon, and the pages for Queen Andromeda XL were her granddaughters, Chloe Bordelon, Cynthia White Abigail Bordelon and Kaytlin Bordelon.

The theme for the ball and this year’s parade is “Bowl Games” and the outfits of the royal court during the tableau fit that theme. During the presentation of the krewe, the Hawaii Bowl, Orange Bowl, Armed Forces Bowl, Liberty Bowl and the Dream Bowl featuring the New Orleans Saints paraded around the auditorium to all the guests. The Sugar Bowl was represented by the 2010 Maids, Jennifer Lanier, Janice Whitten, Sue Dorion and Judy Downey. The Rose Bowl was represented by the krewe’s princess and consorts.

King Perseus XL, Mike White, and Queen Andromeda XL, Beth White greets their subjects at the Mystic Krewe of Perseus 40th annual Bal Masque Saturday. (Submitted Photos)

The Cotton Bowl was represented by Krewe President Betty Lostetter, vice-president George Dorion, treasurer Charlotte Grannan, recording secretary Patty Patterson, corresponding secretary Cindy Jenson and board members Cathy Graybeard, George Downey, Mike White, Joe Snell and Eugene St. Jean.

At the ball, Captain Smith announced that Lostetter was resigning her post as krewe president after the parade, and would be replaced by Cathy Graybeard. Lostetter was escorted around the floor by her husband, Bob to the applause and cheers of krewe members.

After the tableau and presentation of the king and queen, it was time to party. Providing the entertainment was the band, Witness, and the Donna Rene School of Dance.

Honored guests at the bal masque were Slidell Mayor Ben Morris and his wife Susan; Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan and his wife Cecilia; state Sen. A.G. Crowe and his wife Linda; state Rep. Kevin Pearson; District Judge Mary Devereux and her husband Brooks Trotter and Gretna Mayor Ronnie Harris and his wife Donna.

The Krewe of Perseus will parade in Slidell at 1 p.m. Sunday starting at Mid-Town Square on Gause Boulevard, to Front Street, then Pontchartrain Drive and ending at Salmen High School on Spartan Drive.