Students who seek a well-rounded evening of live music, arts, food and physical activity don’t need to venture any farther than the University’s north gates. The North Gate Merchants Association will host its fifth annual North Gate Fest on Friday in the North Gate Area near Chimes Street from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free.The festival will host a 2.5-mile fun run through campus. Students can register early for $15 online or in person at The Tiger District. Students can also register the day of the event starting at 4:30 p.m. for $25. The race begins at 6 p.m.Anyone from walkers to marathon runners are invited to participate, said Jared Loftus, North Gate Merchants Association president and owner of The Tiger District. All participants will receive T-shirts.First-place overall male and female participants and the first- and second-place male and female of varying age groups will receive gift certificates from local area merchants. The age groups include 8-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60 and older.Ashes of Babylon, Givers and The John Madere Trio will provide live music for the event. The stage will be set up on the east side of Chimes Street by The Tiger District.Various food businesses in the North Gate area will provide specials, and beer trucks will also be at the festival.North Gate Fest patrons will be able to visit various arts and crafts booths of some of Baton Rouge’s premier artisans.The North Gate Merchants Association predicts a turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 people.”I’m really looking forward to it,” Loftus said. “The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and since Carlotta [Street party] was a bust with the rain, it should definitely make up for it.”This event first began in 2005 as a showcase for the businesses of the North Gate area, Loftus said. The historical area was founded in the ’20s and has had its ups and downs. It was at one point characterized by closed businesses and panhandlers but is now on the upswing, Loftus said.”Baton Rouge has a lot going on with the city trying to progress forward, and we don’t want to be left behind,” Loftus said. “This has become my home, and I want to make it the best that it can be.”- – – -Contact Lindsay Nunez at [email protected]