Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon

Chapeau, bonnet, beret, fedora, fez, Panama, cloche, caps — so many names for an almost infinite array of hats, but only one luncheon in New Orleans’ City Park that celebrates them for good causes.

The Heart of the Park Luncheon presented by First Horizon started as a partnership between the New Orleans Town Gardeners and City Park Conservancy to raise funds to benefit the care of City Park’s 1,300 acres of urban forest and the community programs of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, such as the Edible Schoolyard and the Grow Dat Youth Farm.

“A true rite of spring, Heart of the Park is a wonderful display of support, and style, for our community,” said City Park Conservancy President Cara Lambright.

The park’s Botanical Garden and Pavilion of Two Sisters were the sites on April 26 for all the hat finery, as well as a garden tour, entertainment by Harry Hardin Quartet, a special Hendrick’s Cucumber cocktail and food by City Park Catering and Maurice’s Fine Pastries. Brothers Jay Batt and Bryan Batt proved to be deft auctioneers who got the audience to bid up nine auction items, including “Crossing Borders” by featured artist Regina Scully.

Event co-chairs were Molly Baumer, Vivian Cahn, Jenny Charpentier and Peggy Scott Laborde.

Fun Fact

The luncheon was founded in 2018.