When talking about 10-kilometer road races, a “good time” usually refers to how quickly a runner finishes the race. For men, that’s 45 minutes or under. For women, 55 minutes or less.
But when it comes to the LCMC Health Crescent City Classic, a “good time” more likely refers to the overall experience. With many runners in costume and a post-race party featuring Flow Tribe, food and beer, a general sense of merriment prevails.
On the Saturday before Easter, nearly 20,000 runners, joggers and walkers will embark from the Caesars Superdome along a 10-kilometer — that’s 6.2 miles — course through the French Quarter and up Esplanade Avenue to City Park. Many will sport decidedly nontraditional running gear: full-body Easter bunny costumes, butterfly wings, formal attire, whatever.
Ahead of Saturday’s 48th running of the Crescent City Classic, here are 10 things you might not know about New Orleans’ signature road race crossed with a Carnival parade.
Participants of the 2025 LCMC Health Crescent City Classic gather in Champions Square before the race in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
A family business
Eric Stuart moved to Louisiana from Schenectady, New York, to run track at LSU. He met his future wife, Terry, at LSU and ended up with her in New Orleans.
He got involved in the local running community and volunteered at various races, including the Crescent City Classic. When it went up for sale, he and his brother-in-law, Ricky Thomas, president of longtime race sponsor Blue Runner Foods, took it over. They debuted a revamped CCC in 2013.
The Crescent City Classic Foundation, the nonprofit that produces the Classic and several other races, has three full-time employees. Eric Stuart is the race director. Terry Stuart handles registration and customer service. Their daughter-in-law, Kristen Stuart, is director of operations.
Working with her in-laws “could have been really bad,” Kristen Stuart said, laughing. “But it’s been really great.”
The third group gets ready to take off down Poydras Street during the 2025 LCMC Health Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
Runners get corralled
Once upon a time, everyone started in a big group, regardless of ability or ambition. “It was mass chaos,” Kristen Stuart said.
Now participants are assigned to different “corrals” based on their estimated finish time and take off at timed intervals.
Serious runners are grouped so they get a clean, fast start. Less serious participants, such as those pushing or pulling wagons, strollers, beer kegs on wheels and other “rolling objects,” start at the back of the pack.
“We’re a nice hodge-podge of athletes and people just out there for a second-line or a good time,” Stuart said. “We really lean into that. It’s not all just fast endurance runners. It’s an array.”
Evan Pardo of New Orleans wins the 47th Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
First New Orleans winner
The first 46 Crescent City Classics were won by runners who traveled to New Orleans, Stuart said. Many of those winners were part of the Crescent City Classic’s elite runners’ program, in which the race flew in professionals from the international runners’ circuit to build the event’s prestige.
But post-pandemic budget cuts forced the CCC, like other races around the country, to suspend its elite runners’ program.
Without having to compete with elite runners from around the world, University of New Orleans student Evan Pardo crossed the finish line ahead of the other 18,221 runners/walkers/joggers in 2025.
Mac DeVaughn, founder of New Orleans’ Crescent City Classic 10k race
Remembering the founder
Mac DeVaughn launched the race in 1979. A native of Tampa, Florida, he got into running while working in insurance in Atlanta. In the mid-1970s, he moved to New Orleans and opened a Phidippides branch on Magazine Street, selling shoes, shorts and other running gear. It became an informal headquarters for the local running community.
His wife at the time worked for Hibernia National Bank. DeVaughn convinced Hibernia to put up $100,000 to fund the first Crescent City Classic in 1979. Around 900 runners showed up.
The race grew exponentially before DeVaughn sold it in the mid-1990s. He died in January at age 82.
Kristen Stuart attended Mount Carmel High School with members of DeVaughn’s family. She met him when he spoke at the 40th anniversary Classic’s pre-race expo.
“It was incredible to hear his side of things — he made this happen,” she said. “It was cool to see his face light up when he saw all the people at the expo. Everybody was shaking his hand. We feel his loss.”
Participants walk under the Mile 2 sign on Esplanade Ave. during the 2025 LCMC Health Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
Different routes
Originally, the race started at Jackson Square and went up Prytania Street to Audubon Park. In 2013, Eric Stuart and Ricky Thomas moved the starting point out of the Quarter to ease congestion and parking. They also changed the course to take runners up Esplanade Avenue to City Park.
By then, the race had already moved to Easter Saturday. The organizers are very much committed to keeping it on that date.
“We don’t ever want to compete” with other major springtime events in New Orleans, Kristen Stuart said. “There’s no reason to have two huge events on the same weekend.”
All about the after party
During last year’s post-race party in City Park, 18,000 Michelob Ultras were poured. That’s not the case at other races around the country.
“While they’re amazing, they’re not the same vibe,” Stuart said. “Usually, you’ll get like an orange or banana and they’ll send you on your way. We have to kick people out of our after-party at 2 p.m. after live music and red beans and Michelob Ultra.
“If you don’t have a good after-party, is New Orleans gonna show up? It’s kind of required at this point.”
Runners finish the 47th Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
Medical help
Now in its third year as the title sponsor, LCMC Health stages medical personnel along the race course and staffs a medical tent at the finish line.
“We’re there to provide any and all support that people need along the route and once they get to the finish line,” LCMC Health Chief Wellness Officer Kristen Gradney said.
And that runner in medical scrubs next to you might actually be a doctor — several hundred LCMC employees participate in the race itself.
Participants run down Poydras Street during the 2025 LCMC Health Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
Nonprofits benefit
Eric Stuart and Ricky Thomas instituted a philanthropic element to the race. The nonprofit Crescent City Classic Foundation’s “Run For It” program enlists teams of runners who commit to raising at least $200 and, in return, receive various perks.
That money is then distributed to New Orleans-based nonprofits. In 2025, it was more than $800,000. Since 2012, the CCC has raised nearly $9 million for nonprofits.
Locals show out
About 88% of the people who will take to the streets on Saturday are local to the area. Race organizers would like to see more out-of-towners participate.
“We want people to come into town,” Stuart said. “We want to make sure we’re helping out the city economically.
“But on the other hand, I’m proud as a local that we get everyone and their grandma at the race, and they’re all from here.”
Blues Brothers Elwood Blues, left, and Jake Blues, cool down after finishing the 46th Crescent City Classic at City Park in New Orleans, Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
Costumes gone wild
One group of runners who call themselves the Classics are now on their fourth generation. They wear top hats, tuxedo jackets and running shorts.
By Crescent City Classic standards, that’s conservative.
Firefighters have done the race in full gear. Fairies abound. Beyond the inevitable bunnies, racers costumed as Peeps and other Easter-associated treats.
And there are more Speedos on the streets than you might expect.
“I’ve seen people that need to put more clothes on,” Stuart said. “But I appreciate the confidence.”
Braeden Dunne of New Orleans is the first bunny to finish during the 47th Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
