Media Contacts: 
Kelly Schulz 
Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Relations 
kschulz@neworleans.com | 504-421-0962 

William Chaney 
Communications Coordinator 
wchaney@neworleans.com | 504-556-5867 

*** MEDIA ALERT: NOTICE OF NEW ORLEANS MARATHON ROUTE, TEMPORARY PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES TO CITY PARK AREA ON NOVEMBER 13-14 FOR FIT FETE *** 

The Inaugural Fit Fête Weekend, November 13-14 at New Orleans City Park, features New Orleans Community Games, 2026 New Orleans Marathon and the free WELLNXT NOLA Health & Wellness Festival 

NEW ORLEANS, LA – November 5, 2026 – New Orleans & Company and its partners are excited to host the inaugural Fit Fête Weekend, a series of events celebrating fitness, health, wellness and community November 13-14 at New Orleans City Park. In preparation for the festivities, the public is advised of temporary parking restrictions and road closures in the area surrounding City Park. 

Fit Fête is comprised of three distinct events - the New Orleans Community Games, the free WELLNXT NOLA Health & Wellness Festival, and the return of the New Orleans Marathon, which will bring participants and spectators to City Park and adjacent neighborhoods. 

Friday, November 13 - New Orleans Community Games 
The New Orleans Community Games are taking place in City Park on Friday, November 13, with opening ceremonies beginning at 8:30 a.m. Local businesses and corporations will be participating in team building events and activities throughout City Park. Residents and Park visitors should expect increased pedestrian activity and heavier than usual use of Park amenities and communal spaces. Attractions and facilities will remain open and accessible to the public, with the exception of the Louisiana Children’s Museum, as it will be closed for a private event.  

Saturday, November 14  - The New Orleans Marathon 
The Return of the New Orleans Marathon will welcome over 4,000 participants from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 24 foreign countries. Fifty seven percent of all registrations are from outside the State of Louisiana. 

Most race-related road closures and detours will be in effect beginning at 4:30 a.m. as participants arrive at the main prestaging area near Tad Gormley Stadium and Victory Drive. At the event start, Wisner Boulevard from Lelong Avenue to Allen Touissant Avenue will be closed for runners heading north and south on Wisner Boulevard. Motorists heading east and west on cross streets to Wisner Boulevard will either be redirected, or allowed to cross runners with the assistance of NOPD officers and New Orleans Levee Board Officers stationed at intersections along the route.  

As runners proceed toward the lakefront, the course will follow St. Bernard Avenue north toward Lakeshore Drive. Participants will travel east along Lakeshore Drive near Shelter No. 4, make a U-turn, and follow the route back along Lakeshore Drive and St. Bernard Avenue toward Wisner Boulevard. The course will then continue south along Wisner Boulevard before turning west onto Harrison Avenue and proceeding through City Park via Diagonal Drive, Magnolia Drive, Zachary Taylor Drive, Henry Thomas Boulevard, and Palm Drive. Runners will return to Roosevelt Mall through the finish line. 

Temporary closures and crossing restrictions will affect travel along portions of this route, with closures terminating on a rolling basis  until race participants have made their way through the double loop route. 

Residents, businesses and visitors located near the race route are encouraged to plan ahead and account for extra travel time and plan on alternative routes to surrounding road closures. 

Detailed road closure information, including a neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown and course map, along with race information, parking guidance, and other event details, is available in the 2026 Athlete Guide. 

New Orleans Marathon Map 2026 

Key Closures and Parking Restrictions for the 2026 New Orleans Marathon in City Park 

  • Lelong Avenue  - Closed from 12:00 a.m. Friday, November 13, through 8:30 a.m. Saturday, November 14. 

  • Victory Drive  – Serving as the Marathon staging location, road closure begins at 2:00 a.m. Saturday, November 14 through 9:00 a.m.  

  • Roosevelt Mall - Closed to all traffic from 12:00 a.m. Saturday, November 14, through 4:00 p.m. Parking will be prohibited during this period, except for authorized emergency and first-responder vehicles associated with marathon security and medical operations. 

Race Start and Expected Race Finish Times for the 2026 New Orleans Marathon – Saturday November 14: 

  • New Orleans 5K Race Start: 6:30 a.m. / Race Finish in Roosevelt Mall - 8:15 a.m.  

  • New Orleans Half Marathon Start: 7:30 a.m. / Race Finish in Roosevelt Mall - 11:45 a.m.  

  • New Orleans Marathon Start: 7:30 a.m. / Race Finish in Roosevelt Mall - 2:45 p.m.  

  • New Orleans Marathon Post Event Party in Tad Gormley Stadium - Starts at 7:00 a.m. / Finishes at 3:30 p.m. 

WELLNEXT EXPO – November 13-14 
The free WELLNXT NOLA Health & Wellness Festival will take place Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans City Park, with doors opening at 8:00 a.m. both days. As part of the inaugural Fit Fête weekend, this free, public-facing festival will feature interactive wellness experiences, fitness classes, educational workshops, live entertainment, health screenings, and programming focused on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Attendees can explore activities led by health professionals, wellness experts, and local and national brands, with programming designed for all ages and fitness levels. 

Programming highlights include “If You Love It, Live It: The New Orleans Guide to Longevity,” featuring Commander’s Palace owner Ti Adelaide Martin, Executive Chef Meg Bickford, and Dr. Felicia Stoler on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. New Orleans performance coach Mackie Shilstone will join WWL-TV’s Meg Farris for “The Discipline Behind Performance” on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and his son Spencer for “Performance Across Generations” at 1:00 p.m. 

Additional offerings include the Healthy Hospitality Hub with Turning Tables, providing free massages, physical therapy checks, and benefits assistance for service workers, along with sessions on sleep, men’s health, and self-care. Live entertainment will complement the health and wellness programming, with Bourbon Vieux Party Band on Friday, The Rumble on Saturday, and DJ Jubilee on both days. 

Live entertainment will complement the festival’s health and wellness programming, with Friday performances by DJ Jubilee and Bourbon Vieux Party Band, followed by FaSho Brass Band, The Rumble, and DJ Jubilee on Saturday. Dr. Brice “Doc” Miller and Keith “Mr. Voice of St. Aug” Wilson will serve as emcees throughout both days. 

The free festival will also serve as a central gathering place for Community Games participants on Friday and New Orleans Marathon runners and spectators on Saturday, including post-race celebrations and recovery activities. Admission is free, with advance registration encouraged at https://neworleans.com/health.  

For more information, please visit www.neworleans.com/fit-fete/. 

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About New Orleans & Company 
New Orleans & Company is the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans’ tourism industry. We work to attract leisure visitors, meetings, conventions and major events to New Orleans, strengthening the city’s economy, supporting local businesses and jobs, and generating economic impact that benefits communities throughout Louisiana. 

Founded in 1960, our mission is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to New Orleans for the economic, social and community benefit of our city and its people. Our work is driven by a belief that a strong visitor economy should strengthen New Orleans as a place to live, work, learn, invest and visit—and reinforce its position as one of the world’s most remarkable, unique and welcoming cities. 

For more information, visit NewOrleans.com⁠ or follow @VisitNewOrleans and @NewOrleansandCo.