Ochsner’s King Cake Festival To Offer Sweet Treats, Exercise This Weekend
NEW ORLEANS – Ochsner presents the 4th Annual King Cake Festival on Sunday, Jan. 29. Held in Champions Square, attendees can taste king cakes from the finest bakeries, enjoy live music and support pediatric programs benefiting babies and children, Ochsner reps said.
The festival is free and open to the public.
The King Cake Festival kicks off with a family friendly one mile fun run and/or an intense 4.5K rep run to eat all the King Cake you want, guilt free! Prizes will be awarded for top finishers and best costumes.
Both the Rep Run and Fun Run courses start/end on the Exterior Plaza level of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome near Gate D. The 4.5K Rep Run is 2.8 miles and includes nine unique workout stations with 25 reps at each, led by Ochsner Fitness Center instructors. The family fun run/walk is one mile around the Dome’s plaza level + up and down the ramps at Gate C.
Entry fees are $25 for adults and $15 for kids prior to race day or $30/ $20 the day of. Registration includes entry to both races, a bib number, T-shirt and 5 free tasting tickets for adult registrants/ 5 game tickets for youth registrants. You do not need to compete in both events, but there is no discount if you are only participating in one.
Registration and Early Bird T-shirt pick-up will be available Saturday, Jan. 28, from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The races will not be officially timed, but there will be clocks on the course. Awards will be given to the 1st overall and 1st youth male and female finishers of both races and to the groups with the best costumes and most decorated strollers.
Awards include a year supply of free Smoothie King, club level tickets to a 2017 Pelican’s game, plus more.
After the races, attendees will sample Smoothie King’s Gladiator and King Cake Smoothies and other post-race snacks before indulging at the King Cake Festival, which opens at 10:00 a.m.
The Festival’s Sunday schedule includes:
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Registration + Bib/ T-shirt Pick Up
9:00 a.m.: Rep Run begins
9:45 a.m.: Family Fun Run begins
10:00 a.m.: King Cake Festival commences
10:30 a.m.: Rep Run and Fun Run Awards on Main Stage
The musical lineup includes:
• Remedy
• Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars
• Flow Tribe
The festival’s bakeries include:
• Loretta’s Authentic Pralines
• Sweet Savors
• Maurice’s French Pastries
• Broad Street Baking Company and Café
• The Buttermilk Drop
• Daddy’s Donuts
• Quintin’s Natural Ice Cream & Sorbet
• HK Nola
• Nonna Randazzo’s Bakery
• Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts
• Whole Foods
• Pain Frais – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
• Caywood and Randazzo Bakery
• Frank’s Supermarket
• Mad Batter Bakery
• Cocoa Bean Bakery and Café
• Cannata’s
• Cajun Pecan House
• Sugar Love Slidell Bakery
• The Kupcake Factory
• Bywater Bakery
• Dorignac’s Food Center
• Sweet Lucy’s Cakery
• Dong Phuong Bakery
• Winn Dixie
• Kettle Works
Bakeries take one tasting ticket per one sample of king cake. Tasting tickets can be purchased upon entry to the festival, as well as inside the festival.
The King Cake Festival’s Art Market vendors include:
• Valois Designs
• Sweet Pea & Tulip
• Happy Hooplala
• Deceaux Art
• Bon Temps Boutique
• Feet First
• Bath-a-Licious
• Belle Vie NOLA
Event organizers request attendees leave all outside food and beverages at the door. Pets are not allowed.
