The Red Dress Run is an event organized by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3) on the second Saturday of August each year and thousands of men and women wearing red dresses will be running through the French Quarter on August 10 with drinks in hand.
Now in its 25th year, the purpose of the run is to raise money for local charities and nonprofits. The event is similar to Hash House Harrier events in other parts of the world, except this one is in New Orleans.
The Hash House Harriers is a worldwide social organization of people who get together for non-competitive runs and drink alcoholic beverages. Their slogan is “a drinking club with a running problem.” The term hasher refers to members of the social club.
Red Dress Run co-rganizer Bill Healy told WVUE’s Nancy Parker that the run originally began with 60 to 100 of the NOH3’s members in the first few years. Eventually, the club allowed non-members to join and let them register. All of the money for registration goes to charity, Healy said.
Now the event attracts thousands. Co-organizer Chris Vial told Parker that as many as 4,000 people could participate this year. In addition to the people who pay to register for the actual run, Vial estimated that as many as 15,000 people will just show up to the French Quarter wearing red or red dresses—meaning you don’t actually need to register to enjoy the festivities.
“It’s about that big every year,” Vial said. “We’ve grown exponentially each year in small increments. It’s New Orleans, it’s a big party.”
The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at Crescent Park and the run begins somewhere along North Peters Street at 10:30 a.m. The run itself is only a short distance, but the event lasts all day. Only those who register can participate in the run.
Registration is $65, which includes free beer, lunch, live bands, and a bib with a registration number. Parking costs $20 at 450 Mandeville St. for all day. For more information, visit neworleanshash.com.