NEW IBERIA, La. --- The New Iberia Spanish Festival (April 11 - 13, 2025) invites all crochet artists to enter their inaugural Church Alley Ceiling Crochet Centerpiece Competition.

This new project will help raise funds for the festival to defray costs associated with the installation of the 2025 crochet ceiling on Church Alley in downtown New Iberia. Cosponsored by the La Asociación Española de Nueva Iberia, Inc. (LAENI) and Simple Faith Coffee Company, the competition events will be hosted and held at Church Alley Café and Bistro (116 Church Alley).

For those who don’t want to compete but want to help build out the ceiling, any 2’x2’ crochet piece can be used in the expansion of the crochet ceiling with additional drop off locations to be announced. Out of town competitors/contributors can email for details on where to send their panels. Please allow time for transport to assure the panel arrives in time for the competition. 

People’s Choice Competition:

For five weeks, up to 14 panels per week will be displayed at Church Alley Café and Bistro (hanging vertically to facilitate best viewing) for voting in the People’s Choice competition.

The first flight will be displayed starting Jan. 3, and panels will be changed weekly, until Feb. 6. Each week's flights winners will then be displayed for a final week (February 7-14) for additional voting, with the overall winner being announced at a reception at the Café on Sat., Feb. 15.

Each panel will be assigned a number and will not have the artist name displayed during the voting period. The most votes ($1 per vote) per weekly flight will determine the finalists, and ultimately, the winner.

Winner and finalists’ panels will occupy the centerpiece of the crochet ceiling. All entries, and other panels donated to support the competition, will then be assembled and installed in the City of New Iberia Church Alley pocket park during the weekend of March 1.

In addition to “bragging rights” and a feature location in the crochet ceiling centerpiece, supported by finalists’ panels, the winner will also receive a loaded gift basket from LAENI, Simple Faith Coffee Company, Church Alley Café and Bistro and other local businesses. Weekly finalists will receive a special gift from Simple Faith Coffee Company.

How to Enter & Rules:

• The competition is open to all ages.
• Crochet artist entries will only be accepted at Church Alley Café and Bistro anytime during regular business hours until the submission deadline: Thurs., Jan. 2, 2025 at 12 p.m.
• Entries must be unframed/unsupported and blocked to size (for uniformity) to a standard 2 ft by 2 ft square. 
• Designs may be 100% crochet or embellished with cross stitch, embroidery, etc. All yarns and other recycled, crochet-friendly materials are acceptable. 
• Multiple entries are welcome and encouraged.
• Include your name, contact number and email address for each entry when submitting your panel.

For more information, please contact the festival by email.