Savoring New Orleans
From the local Turkey Day Run and Bayou Classic Parade to Longue Vue Gardens and Louisiana horse racing, New Orleans offers plenty of Thanksgiving activities that go beyond the table.
From the local Turkey Day Run and Bayou Classic Parade to Longue Vue Gardens and Louisiana horse racing, New Orleans offers plenty of Thanksgiving activities that go beyond the table. Whether you're feasting with family or celebrating with friends, these local events serve up the perfect blend of festive cheer and holiday spirit.
Burn some calories before your Thanksgiving feast at the NOAC Turkey Day Race, a fundraiser for Spinal Bifidia of Louisiana. Founded in 1907, this turkey trot has been a tradition for over a century. The race begins and ends at the Tad Gormley Stadium, featuring a five-mile and a kid's half-mile run/walk. "This race is the second-oldest turkey trot in the United States," Benjamin Burke, executive race director of the New Orleans Track Club, said. "Runners dress up in turkey costumes and hats."
This year, with the addition of the largest team competition and costume contest, Burke anticipates a record turnout for the Turkey Day Race. "Last year, the number of runners was just under 3,500 from 47 states and seven countries," he said.
Another local favorite kicking off an epic weekend of college football is the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade. Led by the iconic Southern and Grambling State marching bands, the Bayou Classic Parade rolls at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, starting at the Caesars Superdome. "The Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day parade is like a Mardi Gras parade with HBCU pageantry," said Dottie Belletto, the owner of New Orleans Convention Company Inc., who has produced the Bayou Classic for the last 12 years. "People come together for this special parade, which is quickly becoming a tradition on Thanksgiving Day."
Drawing crowds of 80,000, the Bayou Classic Parade delivers a vibrant display of color with floats, marching bands, homecoming courts, dance groups, and more. "Beads, trinkets, and footballs are some of the things handed out on the route, along with different Procter & Gamble products," Belletto said. "This is an experience that is fun for the entire family."
Spend Thanksgiving in full bloom at Longue Vue House and Gardens, where Louisiana residents enjoy free admission to eight acres of scenic beauty. Longue Vue, a picturesque 20th-century estate, was originally established as a family home in 1921 and became a community resource in 1980. "Whether you have family members in town for Thanksgiving or not, people are looking for spaces to be and places to connect," Stella Baty Landis, executive director of Longue Vue House and Gardens, said. Open on Thanksgiving Day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Longue Vue showcases 16 historic gardens, 22 water features, a main house, and eight other buildings, including a café and gift shop. "Being open on holidays is another way for us to serve the community," Landis said.
Ditch the dinner table and head to the New Orleans Fair Grounds for the 101st Thanksgiving Classic, with the season opening on November 20. "This is the 154th year of racing here at the Fair Grounds, which is the oldest thoroughbred race course still in operation and the second oldest track in the nation," said Kristen Nicholson, senior director of marketing at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. "Generations of New Orleanians have called the Fair Grounds home for their Thanksgiving Day activities."
According to Nicholson, general admission is free on Thanksgiving, providing access to the first three floors, while the Clubhouse requires a paid admission fee. This annual tradition draws both locals and out-of-towners dressed in everything from casual wear to derby hats and fascinators. "We have people come dressed in their best holiday attire and others in jeans. Hats range from your typical derby style to horse racing themed," Nicholson said.
Doors open at noon on Thanksgiving and all ages are welcomed. However, the legal age to wager a bet is 21 years old. Nicholson added that guests can meet the horses and jockeys 30 minutes before the races by entering through the paddock. "The paddock is the best place to be up close and personal with the horses," Nicholson suggested. "This is steps from the track."
Speaking of horse racing with a twist, check out the unique Human Horse Races held at Easton Park in Mid-City on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This family-friendly, charity event, which sponsors a local horse sanctuary, offers a different type of derby where people dress up as horses and race each other. Live music, art, and food vendors are on site as eight adult and three family races take place throughout the day. "In 2019, we kicked off our first year," Ingrid Anderson, a local artist and creator of the Human Horse Races, said. "This was my idea as an alternative Thanksgiving event."
Now in its sixth year, Anderson noted that the Human Horse Races has doubled in size annually. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Entry for kids aged 12 years and under is free. Also, registration for the horse-and-jockey teams is free. However, spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis only on the day of the race.
Anderson also explained that betting on your favorite horse enters you into a raffle to win gift baskets of local goodies. Five adult horse-and-jockey teams race at a time with the winners receiving trophies. The fun continues on the main track with four costume contests between races, while kids race their own hobby horses on the kids' track. "This event is so joyful," Anderson said. "We raise money to support retired and abandoned horses, as well as the local artists."
With so much to do this Thanksgiving, swap the turkey and trimmings for a holiday experience that goes beyond the table and leaves you with lifelong memories.
