Thank you!
To the thousands of runners, joggers and walkers of all abilities who joined us for the first-ever FCF 5K Run/Walk on October 4 at the New Orleans Lakefront–making it the largest inaugural 5K in Louisiana in the last DECADE! Get ready to run it back (literally) as part of the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration this fall.
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Thank You! for a fantastic inaugural 5K
We can't wait to see you in 2026!
DID YOU KNOW?
The National Fried Chicken Festival 5K was the largest inaugural 5K in Louisiana in the past 10 years. And that is all thanks to each of you!
RACE RESULTS
Post Race Party
Come for the Run. Stay for the Fun.
Some will go hard. But, let’s be real — it’s not about your pace. It’s about the golden, fried finish line and a family-fun Post Race Party — unlike any race you’ve ever been to before.
Your ticket will include:
Race registration is open now!
Want to run as a Party of 5 or more — or create/join a Team?
thanks to our sponsors
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
You’ve got questions. We have answers!
Where
The New Orleans Lakefront; Lakeshore Drive @ Franklin Avenue
The run will line up outside of The National Fried Chicken Festival — held at the scenic New Orleans Lakefront along Lakeshore Drive in the green space directly behind the UNO Lakefront Arena.
The start/finish line begins in front of Fried Chicken Festival Front Gates. From there, the course will travel down Lakeshore Drive westbound. There will be water stations along the route. After turning around at the Bayou St. John marker, you’ll follow the same path back to the finish line of the race. The race winds around the historic Lake Pontchartrain. Expect to watch the sailboats on the water, palms blowing in the wind, your family cheering you on, and crispy, crunchy, fried chicken waiting for you at the end with a post race party.
When
DATE: Saturday, October 3, 2026
5K RUN / WALK
Start Time: 8:30AM
1 mi KIDS FUN RACE
Start Time: 10AM
POST RACE PARTY
As racers make their way back to the finish line—sweaty, smiling, and maybe slightly regretting that last kilometer—our Festival Gates will swing open for a well-earned post race celebration.
What
This FCF 5K Run/Walk is USATF Certified and timed by Grounded Running. A 5K is a 5 Kilometer (3.1 mile long) race.
Who
We encourage participants to come comfortable to run/walk — come rain or shine.
Themed costumes and unique outfits are encouraged and welcome. ADA and accessibility accommodations are available. Click here to learn more.
- Our FCF 5K is perfect for walkers, runners, joggers of all abilities.
- Our 1-mile Kids Fun Run for kids 12 & under.
- Children in strollers do not need to be registered but will need to stay in the stroller for their safety and and to ensure the race runs smoothly for all participants
Children under 7 years old will not need to be registered; however, they will need to remain in a stroller for their safety and to ensure the race runs smoothly for all participants.
FCF 5K T-Shirt Giveaway
On your Race Registration, please select your size and style.
Your t-shirt will be available for pick-up the day before the race during Race Packet Pick-up or day of the race at the Start / Finish line. We cannot guarantee availability of your size preference for any registrations made a week to the race.
Charity / Donations
Every runner, walker, and community member has a story—and ours started with bringing people together around classic southern food, and Fried Chicken.
Before race day, you can choose to donate to a worthy cause or an organization whose story speaks to you. Your donation helps support and uplift our community.
The Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) brings together food, music, family, culture and—new this year—a healthy 5K run or walk, followed by a vibrant community post-race party. Since our founding in 2016 we have helped dozens of small, independently owned chefs and restaurants grow through the exposure received at our festival, and now our step towards integrating our cultural love of food, while balancing the need for health and wellness if our newest frontier.
We are grateful for your participation in the 5k, and if you feel so compelled to chip in an extra $10 or more to help advance the mission of the National Fried Chicken Festival of bringing diverse groups of people together around a common love of food, while supporting small businesses, we would appreciate your support! The National Fried Chicken Festival is owned and produced by Festivals for Good, a 501c3 Nonprofit organization.
What Can I Bring
Can I bring a stroller? Yes, we are stroller-friendly, but we encourage you to stay at the back of the start line for the safety of others! We want even our littlest “runners” to experience our 5K or instead sign up for the 1 mi Kids Fun Run where they can run with kids their age.
Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not allowed at the 5K event.
Are there awards?
Besides the satisfaction of crossing the golden, fried finish line, we award medals to all runners and walkers!
- A cash prize of $250 will be given to the following categories
- 1st Male
- 1st Female
- 1st Male Student
- 1st Female Student
- A $1000 cash prize will be given to the team with the most participants
How do I create a team?
Visit our registration page and select a team when purchasing tickets.
You can register 5 or more people at once and save $5 per registrant.
How can I become a sponsor for this event?
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us at [email protected]!
