After hearing women who had visited New Orleans say they wanted to return with their girlfriends and sisters, Diane Lyons, a New Orleans-based meetings and events planner, decided to make that easy for them.
Lyons created FestiGals, which she describes as "the ultimate getaway weekend for women."
"It's a planned-out, turnkey girls getaway," she said. "It's a lot of work to put together a weekend with your girls. For this one, you just show up; the work is done."
The event takes place June 20 to 23.
FestiGals bills itself as "a fun, safe and enriching weekend" for women of all ages full of special events and unique access to New Orleans culture.
"It's very much a celebration of women and being part of a celebration of women," Lyons said. "There's a bonding that takes place and camaraderie that takes place."
The event offers insider tours of private homes; cooking demonstrations with esteemed chefs; shopping tours such as a Sip and Stroll on Royal Street featuring craft rum cocktails and private visits to shops along the French Quarter's premier shopping thoroughfare, including a viewing of Chanel costume jewelry at the Vintage 329 shop.
A highlight of the weekend is the Stiletto Stroll, a New Orleans-style second-line parade in the streets of the French Quarter. Nightlife includes a karaoke Pajama Party.
There is also a serious side to FestiGals, with professional development seminars, social and networking opportunities and a major charity event. The festival has featured keynote speakers such as former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, and NBC's "Today" co-host Hoda Kotb, who oversaw "Bodacious Broads for a Cause," a charity event that raises money for the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans by auctioning bra-art created by celebrities and artists.
The festival marks its third anniversary this June, and Lyons hopes it will continue to build on the impressive jump in attendance it made from year one to two.
The inaugural FestiGals attracted 150 women from around the country; last year, 400 signed up.
"The numbers are trending up again," Lyons said. "The word has gotten out. For me as an event planner, it's a way to promote New Orleans as a safe, interesting and diverse city for women to come to."
The Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter has been home to FestiGals since its inception.
This year's event features a new offering, a professional development seminar featuring Amilya Antonetti, known as the "Small Business Voice" for Fox News. Seminars on a variety of topics ranging from anti-aging to health, self and well-being, lifestyle and professional development/enrichment will be offered.
For more information, go to www.accentregister.com/events/FestiGals.asp.
Follow Johanna Jainchill on Twitter @jjainchilltw.