Thanksgiving Draws Families to Easton Park Races
Elle
Nov 28th 2025
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The Human Horse Races at Easton Park are building a steady following as families, friends, and residents look for seasonal outings that offer something familiar yet presented in their own community. After nearly 900 people visited last year, organizers say the event’s momentum points to a growing holiday tradition that now shares attention with long-standing Thanksgiving activities across New Orleans.
The event is now in its fourth year and it is a timed heats competition involving adults and children from several races. The mere title of the event is quite intriguing but the method used is pretty straightforward. Competitors simply take on the role of runners and there is no imitation of actual horse racing in any way. In addition to the friendly contests, visitors will find live music, a fashion show, art stations, food vendors, and refreshments at their disposal. As per the statements of the managers, the main thing is that they are able to keep the schedule simple for families to have a good time and at the same time offer opportunities to cheer the participants. The Thanksgiving Day program will open with races for children at 11 a.m. and it will go on until 3 p.m.
As stated by the organizers, the events of the day “are in harmony with the customs at the neighboring Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.” Their purpose is not to supersede the established custom of going to the track on Thanksgiving, but rather to provide a choice for people who wish to be near their home or to make an additional stop in their holiday itinerary. If so, the event of Easton Park has become a kind of local calendar that is different from others.
Thousands are still drawn there annually to the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots which is just a brief distance away. The vintage track kicked off its racing season on Nov. 17 and it is still holding one of its busiest days on Thanksgiving. What’s most exciting is the almost 100 years old Thanksgiving Classic which is a favorite event of both the casual visitors and the fans most experienced. It’s very common to find the racing venue transformed into a holiday party where the guests, among whom are the performers in the races, come dressed in their finest, thus keeping the tradition alive which has been going for many years.
While the racetrack showcases professional competition rooted in tradition, Easton Park offers an informal, family-oriented contrast. The Human Horse Races rely more on neighborhood participation, school groups and community volunteers, creating a setting where guests can spend time together without the intensity of a formal sporting event. Children are often the main focus early in the day, giving families a reason to organize their morning around the younger attendees before turning to holiday meals or afternoon gatherings.
The addition of live music and art activities helps round out the event. Local performers play short sets in between races, providing a continuous source of entertainment that does not dominate the main activities. Art stations welcome both kids and grown-ups to make little crafts that they can take home, most of the time being themed around the holiday or the spirit of the competition. The fashion show, a fan favorite from the past, focuses on the innovative clothes of local designers and community members who have pre-registered.
Food and drink vendors cater to a vast variety of different tastes and preferences. The majority of the people present at the community event, take the opportunity to meet and have a small meal together before going to their respective family celebrations later in the day. Some have relatives coming from out of town and decide to bring them in order to provide them with a local-centered experience which is not always the case with the typical tourist locations. Organizers say this mix of visitors contributes to the event’s growing reputation as a Thanksgiving morning stop.
Part of the appeal lies in its timing. Starting the very first race at 11 a.m., parents and children can be out for a walk or park for quite a few hours, which is directly compatible with their usual lunch or dinner plans. Certain visitors initiate the day with the stuff needed for sitting and resting like chairs or blankets at the side of the running lanes, whereas some others are moving between the field and activity places all day long. The races for children are usually the ones to have the most extreme and loudest fans and particularly at that moment when the youngest runners are approaching the crossing of the finish line with a lot of encouragement coming from parents and spectators.
As the crowds have grown, volunteers have played an important role. Community groups assist with race organization, crowd flow and activity setup. Their involvement helps maintain a smooth schedule even as attendance increases each year.
While the Human Horse Races and the Fair Grounds share a date and general theme, each offers something distinct. Easton Park has been turning into a center where families can enjoy a quiet morning walk and the racetrack keeps being a place that is loyal to the locals for a long time. Numerous people from the community consider these two happenings not as a rivalry of options but rather as two halves making up their holiday customs.
The Human Horse Races with their consistent attendance, favorable response and a schedule appropriate for a family outing seem to be the Human Horse Races that will continue to be a part of the holiday season in Easton Park. Every year with the coming of Thanksgiving more and more people from the community are considering the day as a chance to be engaged in the events of the neighborhood, show the guests the local traditions and have some fun with the races before they proceed with the rest of the holidays.
