FestiGals Announces Stiletto Stroll To Return To The Vieux Carré
NEW ORLEANS – FestiGals, the first and only New Orleans festival that inspires, connects and celebrates women while supporting causes important to their well-being, announced at a news conference June 6 that the celebrated Stiletto Stroll is returning to the French Quarter on Saturday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m.
New Orleans songbird and fitness leader Robin Barnes, this year’s Grand Diva, will lead hundreds of women in an authentic New Orleans walking parade as popular women’s marching krewes, Cori Walters and her all-female Universe Brass Band, costumed performers, and FestiGals’ dynamic divas sashay to a fabulous After-Glow Party.
Proceeds of fundraising marching krewes and newly-formed groups will be donated to the New Orleans Family Justice Center, which helps families and individuals impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Support local marching krewes with a donation here and click on the Stiletto Stroll.
The seventh annual FestiGals weekend is slated for June 22-24 at the JW Marriott, 614 Canal St. During Tuesday’s news conference, FestiGals also announced that Zoe McLellan, who was known as Brody in early seasons of “NCIS: New Orleans,” is this year’s featured speaker at the Bodacious Bras for a Cause Brunch and Auction. The signature event auctions the top fundraising bras from the Bodacious Bra Challenge and original artwork inspired by the cancer journey to benefit the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans and Breastoration Inc.
The Bodacious Bra Challenge, FestiGals fundraising initiative that debuted two years ago, currently has 27 teams competing for top prizes and competition is fierce, event reps said. Make a donation to a team’s bra here and click the Bodacious Bra Challenge link.
On Friday, June 23, Linda Alvarado is headlining the New Orleans Women’s Leadership Conference. Alvarado is president and CEO of Alvarado Construction, Inc., a commercial firm headquartered in Denver that develops, design, builds and manages property. Alvarado made history when she became the first Hispanic owner of a Major League Baseball franchise, the Colorado Rockies. She is a nationally-recognized speaker and advocate for business issues and was formerly a commissioner of the White House Initiative for Hispanic Excellence in Education.
Other featured speakers at the 2017 New Orleans Women’s Leadership Conference will include Intentional Kate, acclaimed attorney Kim Boyle, Chef Kristen Essig, Burlesque Diva Trixie Minx, Coulter IdeaPitch award winner Crystal McDonald, fitness pro April Dupree, Angela Grittman of Wayward Owl Brewery, Loyola’s communications and management expert Michelle Johnson, self-proclaimed food goddess Lorin Gaudin and other notables.
Returning this year are the FestiTalks, a series of rapid-fire, dynamic presentations on a variety of topics, which are delivered in small segments.
FestiGals single event tickets are available; but for the truly festive ladies, the FestiGals Diva Package is available and includes added perks such as private home tours, dinner with Chef Samantha Carroll, and an opening reception at the Louisiana State Museum’s Presbytere.
Due to popular demand, limited tickets to the exclusive Culinary Demo Dinner with Chef Sam Carroll at Sac-a-lait are now available outside the Ultimate Packages and may be purchased here.
The women-centric weekend is made possible with the support of Morgan Stanley, Cox Communications, Bienvenue Bar and Grill, Bevolo, Infinite Health, Ochsner Baptist, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, WBEC South, Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, Downtown Development District, First Bank and Trust, Fidelity Bank, CPA Realty, Etre Cosmetics, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Louisiana Tax Free, Patrick A. Gros, CPA, Stein Mart, Entergy, Degas House, Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, Louisiana State Museum, Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture and Sac-A-Lait, as well as various community partners.
