NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – If you’re in downtown New Orleans during the next few days,  you may notice more women than usual! It’s the sixth annual “Festigals” weekend, which means scores of women from across the country are in town to strut their stuff and raise money for several important causes.

“Women love to give back — and they love to network. So this is a weekend about empowering women, celebrating women, inspiring women and connecting too!” says Festigal Founder, Diane Lyons.

Diane is a petite blonde who will be going non-stop, along with her team of Dynamic Divas, making sure everything’s in place for the 26 events happening over three days. It’s a smorgasbord of eclectic fun, including a Haitian Vodou Ceremony (Friday at 3:30 p.m.) a keynote luncheon with Morgan Stanley’s Carla Harris (Friday at 11:15 a.m.), the famous “Bodacious Bras for a Cause” brunch and auction (Saturday at 10:30 a.m.), and the city’s largest female second line parade on Saturday night: The Stiletto Stroll to Shine Light on Domestic Violence ( the pre-party kicks off at 6 p.m. at Harrah’s Casino).

Here are a few things you may not know about Festigals:

1. It’s not just for women.

Guys are encouraged to join the fun too! Festigal organizers say they would love to see more men in the crowd at two events in particular:

Tickets are still available for the Saturday brunch and the Saturday night “After Glow Party” with Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters.

The party — which is the grand finale of the Stiletto Stroll — is from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Mardi Gras World. And WGNO’s own Kenny Lopez is the emcee!

2. The Bodacious Bras for a Cause Brunch raises money to fight all types of cancers.

With all these fancy bras as the center of attention, one might think this is an event held exclusively to help fight breast cancer, but that’s not the case.

“It’s about the bras are out front,” laughs Festigal Founder, Diane Lyons, “It’s not about the bras representing breast cancer. It’s for women’s cancer services — that can be anything from childcare to gas money — whatever a woman needs when she’s going through treatment.”

CAGNO (Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans) and Breastoration are the two organizations that benefit from all the hard work of the Festigals.

3. You can wear sneakers to the Stiletto Stroll.

Of course, if you want to wear your new Manolo Blahniks, that’s okay too! The dress code is fun and festive.

“It’s a long walk this year, so sneakers are just fine,” says Diane.

This year’s stroll route stretches from Harrah’s Casino to Mardi Gras World, where the exciting “After Glow Party” will take place.  There are 16 marching clubs taking part in the stroll, which (for the first time!) benefits the New Orleans Family Justice Center.

“It’s a phenomenal center and an incredibly important cause — for women and children everywhere, not just in New Orleans,” says Diane.  “We are thrilled to be working with them.”