Opening Night Awards Gala — A Mardi Gras Celebration
About this Event
The March On! Gala launches the Festival with a vibrant, high-energy Mardi Gras–inspired celebration — an unforgettable opening night filled with music, culture, awards, dinner, dancing, and community. This year's Gala brings the spirit of New Orleans to Dock 5, setting the tone for a powerful week of storytelling, connection, and inspiration.
The evening features: Awards · Dinner · Dessert · Dancing · Delight
6:30pm reception
7:30pm program begins
The proceeds from this event are used to pay for the rest of the festival. The full list of sponsor benefits can be found here: https://marchonfest.org/sponsors/,
Guests will be immersed in the sounds of New Orleans with live music from Crush Funk Brass Band, whose blend of funk, brass, and second-line rhythms sets the room in motion from the first note.
At the center of the evening, March On! honors visionary leaders whose work embodies the ongoing pursuit of justice and equity:
- John Robert Lewis Lifetime Legacy Award → Marc Morial & The National Urban League, presented by Congressman Troy Carter.
- March On! Award → Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
As March On!'s signature annual fundraiser, the Gala directly powers the work that happens the other 364 days of the year — free public programming, archival preservation, and civil rights education initiatives that keep these stories from being lost. Ticket and table levels reflect that investment, with proceeds sustaining March On!'s mission to honor the sung and unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement, past and present.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 1068.91 to USD 53355.49
