Flower Fest Names Allison Dumas First Chairperson
The Baton Rouge St. Jude fundraiser has selected its first chairperson to lead the 2027 event.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
Flower Fest, a Baton Rouge non-profit that raises money for St. Jude, has named Allison Dumas as its first chairperson for the 2027 event. The group is also hosting a craft night on November 12 to prepare for the event.
Why it matters
The chairperson role is intended to bring more sponsorship collaboration and community involvement to the cause, after the effort previously relied on a small core group. For Baton Rouge residents, it marks a structural change in how the local St. Jude fundraiser is led.
The 2027 event runs April 9 and 10 at Pointe-Marie, 14200 River Road, in Baton Rouge, following the first Flower Fest in 2022. The craft night is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Raising Cane's Baton Rouge River Center, 275 S. River Road, open to participants ages 12 and up.
The players
Flower Fest
A Baton Rouge non-profit that raises money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through a floral-focused community event featuring artists and market vendors.
Allison Dumas
A Baton Rouge parent who has volunteered with Flower Fest every year and whose daughter was the first St. Jude Flower Child honored by the event.
The details
Dumas was selected because she has participated in Flower Fest every year, helping with St. Jude families and events. Her daughter Mavis, diagnosed with childhood cancer in 2022 at age one, was the first St. Jude Flower Child honored by the event; the 2027 theme is Geaux Vogue, and crafters will make paper roses from magazine pages for a Vogue installation.
Timeline
2022: Mavis is diagnosed with childhood cancer and the first Flower Fest takes place.
Nov. 12: Flower Fest hosts a craft night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Raising Cane's Baton Rouge River Center.
April 9 and 10, 2027: Flower Fest holds its 2027 event at Pointe-Marie in Baton Rouge.
Market Landscape
Flower Fest's chairperson model follows the pattern of St. Jude's community fundraisers, which are typically led by families with a personal connection to the hospital. Placing a family-connected leader in the chair role extends that approach to a floral event built around local artists and vendors.
Baton Rouge residents who want to support St. Jude through Flower Fest can attend the April 2027 event or join the November 12 craft night. Crafters ages 12 and up can take part in building the Vogue paper-rose installation.
The takeaway
Community fundraisers gain momentum when families with a personal connection to a cause take on leadership roles. Residents can support local St. Jude efforts by volunteering, crafting, or attending events.
What happens next
Flower Fest's 2027 event is scheduled for April 9 and 10 at Pointe-Marie, 14200 River Road, in Baton Rouge.
Further reading
Explore more Baton Rouge philanthropy coverage for other local charitable efforts.
More information
Visit the Flower Fest official website for event details and registration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Advocate.
