The French Quarter is more than a top tourist destination. More than 3,000 people are proud to call it home. Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré, the non-profit behind beloved events such as Caroling in Jackson Square, has made it their mission to promote the neighborhood aspect of the French Quarter. To encourage community spirit, they sponsor decorating competitions at Halloween, Christmas and, yes, Mardi Gras.
A committee of 6-10 members canvas all the streets of the French Quarter and photograph displays deemed outstanding. This year’s Mardi Gras contest resulted in 68 nominations. Committee members met to narrow the field down to 20 to 25 finalists.
Board members then joined the committee on the official judging vehicle to make final decisions. The top 10 displays were awarded Blue Ribbons and each of the others received an Honorable Mention certificate.
Photos of Blue Ribbon and Honorable Mention winners are published on the Patio Planters website, patioplanters.net, and in the organization’s newsletter, “The Punch.” Check them out here.
