New Orleans Red Dress Run

Always done well! Music great, food, cold beer ! All for a great cause ! Fun experience, would recommend if you don’t mind the heat!

Most people probably don’t realize that the Red Dress Run is an actual race, and think it’s either a pub crawl or just a huge block party. Well, truth be told, it’s really all 3 rolled into one. Not only is it s race, (2 miles, I believe). but it’s also a fundraiser that benefits several local charities. Most of the registered runners don’t actually run the race. Maybe 50% actually start it but don’t make it past the first few blocks before stopping at one of the first bars and pretty much plant themselves on Bourbon street for the rest of the day. If I had to guess, I’d say maybe less than 5 percent actually cross the finish line.
I’m constantly amused every year that the vast majority of the people out there just take it as an opportunity to throw on a fabulous red dress and drink (while sweating (or rather, glisten as we southern belles do) in the sweltering August heat.
I’ve gotta give props, the guys were really embracing their inner Caitlyn Jenner this year! They looked fantastic! Lots of flamboyant dresses, some lavish accessories, tons of big smiles and lots of laughter! If you’ve gone out in years past and enjoyed this event without registering, I encourage you to officially register for the race in the future so that your good time benefits the local charities and everyone wins!

Ahhh! So much fun! Worth the money as it’s all you can eat and drink. Be prepared to put it away and have some good fun!
Only complaint is that they promote drinking and then running… I want to get the running out of the way first!
There are so many people that some don’t even run. And some that don’t participate in the event at all but still wear their red dresses.
And the red dresses were so fun! I loved the old prom style dresses the best!
Hope to be back next year to participate again!

This is my other August favorite event. I’ve been to four RDRs and I’m glad they’ve changed up the format a little bit. Now, the event is primarily at Armstrong Park and you have to pay an admission fee. If you buy your ticket early enough (usually in April) it is only $ 40 and you get a ‘gift.’ the past three years the gift was a bag and for 2013 the gift was a flask. All of the gifts are super handy, especially the day of.
While in the park you have unlimited breakfast, lunch, beer, water, music and other drinks. My group of friends usually leave the park after lunch and start wandering down Bourbon Street to mingle with all of the people who didn’t pay and end up at Felipe’s for dinner.

It starts the day before with a trip to the race track to pick up your race number, wrist band, free gift and free beer. It was a little chaotic, but once you figure out all the people standing in line are people waiting to register, it’s pretty easy.
Day of the race — great day. Very well organized. Gates were manned, drinks were available. Love the convenient, cheap parking.
Typical hot humid August day. The 20 minute downpour was great — how the hell did they coordinate that? Those folks in corduroy granny dresses suffered. No end to the imagination, bad taste and, in some cases, nerve that people show with their dress. It was hilarious.
For the record, there doesn’t appear to be any running involved. There may have been a day when it was actually a race but other than a starting/​finishing line, I didn’t see any sign of runners. Probably just as well, the only thing worse than ugly guys in poorly fitted dresses is seeing them sweat through them. Not me of course, I had a very classy outfit (see the pictures!)
The actual race was a pleasant; albeit toasty, walk through the French Quarter and Marigny. The scene outside the park with thousands of folks in red hanging out on the sidewalk, in the bars and walking the streets is a site to behold. No organized pub crawl, at the farthest point, the organizers had set up a wagon with free iced-​down beer. I wanted to sit on the ice, but settled for a cold beer.
The food was excellent. Well organized, limited waits and high quality. Beer and portapotty lines were very manageable all day long.
The bands were OK. I’m a longtime Cowboy Mouth fan, but their act is getting a little stale. Still, the crowd was into it, really fun afternoon. Time to start planning next year’s dress…
Ironically, this is the most expensive race I’ve ever entered.
This address is not correct. As noted in other reviews, the 2013 party is at Armstrong Park.

It’s a constant battle over the best event in New Orleans. I just have to say that seeing guys in ill fitting dresses never gets old. Ever. What better excuse to party in the quarter all day?!
Loved the cheers from everyone every time it started raining. It was sweltering!

If you haven’t attended the red dress run, you haven’t lived!
Like New Orleans needed another reason for drinkers to unite, throw everyone in a red dress and watch what happens. The best charity event to attend! Men and women of all ages where red dresses, or less, and parade through the streets of nola. Its a great time for friends and to meet randoms!
I look forward to this event every year and can’t wait to go back!

2013 Armstrong Park
Ooooooooooooh Myyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Goooodddddddddddddddddddddddd!!! This was the bestEST run ever. Fun in a cup !!! The 2013 Armstrong Park Red Dress Run was phenomenal. Down right epic.
The 2013 Red Dress Run was held at Armstrong Park on Rampart Street in the NOLA Baby!!!
Great that the race organizers provided information from start to finish. Email after registration. Email about when & where to pickup your race number & wristband (which were needed for entrance into the park). Checking the «Red Dress Run Facebook page» you were privy to rules about the run & information about the $ 10 parking lot across the street from Armstrong Park.
Abita beer. Miller lite. Galore. Allllll that your liver can handle. Post race food (pulled pork, sausage, green salad, cole slaw & chicken) were provided by Corkys BBQ. Plates & eating utensils were placed on the table, but could be found in the air being passed back to those awaiting food; it was a team effort here. Lines were long, but went swiftly.
Cowboy Mouth was this year’s entertainment & that he did!!! He sang a song about loving her belly!!! How sweet is that??? He worked the crowd & WE LOVED IT!!!
Fun in a cup!!! See ya next year.

You guys. Seriously. Can you say fun? Not just your normal everyday yeah, it was fun. We’re talking off the charts fun.
The Red Dress Run in Nola is one of my favorite things. First of all, all of the money is donated to local charities. That kicks ass.
It’s sort of reminds me of Mardi Gras minus the floats (not minus beads though. errybody always has beads to throw here) and everyone is in red instead of purple, green and gold.
The party starts early (10am) so pace yourself with that free flowing beer. You don’t wanted to be schwasted by the time the race starts at noon.
It’s an easy two mile run but starting at noon in August it’s going to be HOT. That’s part of the fun, however because articles of red clothing start to get removed by some of the less modest (or maybe they’re wasted?) race participants. One year I was behind a guy who had on nothing but a red speedo with the word «Chomper» across his derrière. It was a pretty nice view. =)
In addition to all of this there’s free wine and wine coolers, yummy catered food, and unlimited beer. This year the entertainment will be provided by Cowboy Mouth and Dash Riprock. Whoo!
Who’s coming with me?!!

There isn’t a lot of running at this event but there is a tremendous amount of drinking. This event seems to get more crazy popular every year. They really need to add more port-​o-​potties as the lines get out of control during this long debauched day. So you wear a red dress, listen to live music, and drink beer from 8am till around 2pm when they feed you some Corky’s BBQ and then unleash you to go on a pub crawl up and down Bourbon Street. It is definitely a marathon of drinking and not a sprint so you need to pace yourself… even then you will need a nap most likely… This is a great fundraiser and a crazy fun time.

Holy shenanigans. This event is a blast. The atmosphere is electric. The registration fee was acceptable because the money is donated to local causes not to mention you get free beer, free food, and all the variations of red attire imaginable. Can’t wait till next year.

I’ve participated in the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008 Red Dress Runs over the years and seen it grow from a respectable run of under 1,000 hashers and other runners through the cusp of it becoming the 8,000 person charity pub crawl it is today.
Every August, the Hash House Harriers produce this event and it has grown and the mis-​management have done their best to adjust the event to keep up with it’s bursting popularity.
There is a mix of runners, hashers, and regular non-​running/​hasher participants.
If visiting from a hash in another city remember this isn’t a normal RDR. Don’t expect a live hare, trail will be a dead lay and won’t have any false trails or much shiggy, but there may be the occasional circle jerk for fun and giggles. When I last ran in 2008 we did have a couple stops for songs, but, fellow hasher, there’s nothing saying you couldn’t get a little ditty going on trail or at a beer stop.
For the regular non-​running participants and hashers from cooler climates, remember this event is in August. It’s hot. No really frigging hot, and we usually take off around noon so be prepared to spend a lot of time in the heat. If you’re conditioned for such a thing, more power to ya, cap. If not, pace yourself with some non-​alcoholic refreshments when you can.
Overall this is the largest Red Dress Run in the country, and has never disappointed me.
ON-​ON