This weekend, New Orleans will hold the 39th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic, one of the oldest 10K races in the nation. The race starts at 8 a.m., beginning in the CBD and ending in City Park.

About Saturday’s event

The Easter Weekend tradition, which started in 1979, is a regional race that caters to both professional and amateur runners. The first Classic event had 902 registered runners. Today, the Classic attracts over 20,000 runners across the nation.

The Crescent City Classic’s course is 10 kilometers, (6.2 miles) and runs though the CBD, French Quarter, 7th Ward, Esplanade Ridge and City Park neighborhoods.

Traditionally, at the end of the race, the Crescent City Classic holds Racefest, which is a post-race festival with music, food and drinks. Over 30,000 people are expected to attend the post-race event.

The race-fest is held between 8:30 am. and 1 p.m. at the Festival Grounds in City Park. Admission to the festival is free for participating runners and children under the age of 12. For non-running adults, admission is $10.

Route

Starting at 8 a.m., the race begins at Poydras Street and Loyola Avenue. River bound, the course turns left on Convention Center Boulevard and left again on Canal Street. On Canal Street, the course turns right on North Peters Street, continuing to Decatur Street. At Decatur Street and Esplanade Avenue, the runners continue northbound on Esplanade Avenue. At the Esplanade Avenue and North Carrollton intersection, runners are directed left on North Carrollton Avenue and right on City Park Avenue and right again on Anseman Avenue.

In City Park, runners continue via Victory Lane, turns right on Turner Lane, right again on Dreyfous Avenue and left on Lelong Drive. The finish line is marked in front of the New Orleans Museum of Arts.

Street closures

Beginning at 5 a.m., NOPD will divert traffic away from Poydras Street between South Claiborne Avenue and Convention Center Boulevard. In an official release, The Mayor’s Office stated no parking is allowed on the course during the race. The no-parking zone starts at 12 a.m. on Saturday morning (April 15).

Race festivities are expected to end at 1 p.m.

• Crescent City Classic [Official Site]