Post-Festival International Blues

Welp, the five-day staycation is over and the real world has blown back in like a category 1 hurricane. My feet are slowly recovering, and my house needs some serious TLC.

Did you make it out to Festival International? Did you geaux green?

We recycled Festival cups and saved a bunch to reuse; I reused a plastic fork until it fell on the ground and then I recycled it; we used my clean cloth napkin as a sweat rag on the last day; I went for the refillable daiquiri cup so I could cut down on the amount of new cups to have to recycle; I found myself picking up litter and throwing it in the appropriate bin; we rode our bikes all five days; and I supported local vendors.

Project Front Yard conducted two trash mobs over the weekend, helping to pick up all the litter left around.

Be the Y in Lafayette. Y? Because you can make a difference!


All decked out in its Festival outfit.


The recycling volunteers and crews did a great job of emptying the bins once they got full. It was so great to see the bins being used, although I know there was a crazy amount of non-recyclable stuff in them...mostly styrofoam. If only we could work on the vendors to serve food in a styrofoam alternative!

 

The downtown parklet is still kicking, and it's been refreshed with some new plants and new sunny yellow umbrellas. It provided a great vantage point for the band on the first evening.

 

 The parking garage top level provided a unique vantage point to Scene Fais Do Do and the parklet.


The handy dandy backpack. Made from recycled cotton, this Baggu bag worked out perfectly. Added my own patches for some uniqueness, and it literally makes this the Eco Cajun backpack. Packed with my reusable water bottle and travel fork.


You know, the more you bike and walk, the more fried goodness you can eat!


Watching my frands Sean Bruce and Fawn Larson! I remember when Sean first played Festival five years ago...on the sidewalk in front of a bar. And now he's playing the big stages!



You can do more than just recycle Mardi Gras beads for reuse in future parades...they also make a great craft material. New Orleans' UP Unique Products makes lanterns, bowls and other home decor pieces by melting beads down.

 
At least there was really only one day of brutal Louisiana heat and sunshine...napkins work out great to keep the sweat out of your eyes.


Reusing the drink cartons as a makeshift bridge over the deep mud. It's repurposing, or coonass ingenuity! 


These guys walked around Festival all weekend, and they were made with recycled materials! Mrs.' hair on the left is made with soft drink cans. Her dress is made with rice bags. Mr.'s hat is made with Whole Foods paper bags. His jacket is newspaper.


By 5:30 on Saturday afternoon, you'd never have known it was pouring down rain just five hours earlier.


Heavy rain and cardboard trash bins may not be the best combination...


Until next Festival...


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