VIDALIA – It was &uot;A Red, White and Blue Christmas&uot; in Vidalia Sunday afternoon, with 30 minutes’ worth of patriotic floats and marching groups making their way down Carter Street.

The theme, for example, could be seen in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church’s float, which featured cardboard cutouts of a New York skyline and a bald eagle.

Parishioners dressed as Betsy Ross and President Bush were also aboard, as well as Father Paul Kunnumpuram dressed in the uniform of a Revolutionary War-era patriot.

&uot;From the Cotton Fields of Louisiana to the Twin Towers of New York, United We Stand,&uot; read the banner on the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office’s float.

Others, including Concordia Bank & Trust, which featured a holiday fireside scene, and Curtis Wrecker Service floats, had Christmas trees adorned in red, white and blue.

Other highlights included the Vidalia High School band and cheerleaders, the DARE train, local officials and dignitaries in convertibles, baton twirlers, tractor and horseriding groups and Ronald McDonald.

And, at the back of the parade, was the jolly elf children were there to see.

&uot;We’re here so my little boy can see Santa Claus – and so the kids can get some candy,&uot; said Joani Kenney, referring to her 4-year-old son, Nicholas.

She was also accompanied by her husband, Steve, and sons Andrew, 13, and Tyler, 12.

Santa Claus – and the candy thrown from floats – were also the reasons Mary Colton of Vidalia and her sons, 7-year-old Colt Davis and 2-year-old J.R. Davis were at the parade.

&uot;Plus, we know people on a couple of floats, so we’re here to see them,&uot; Colton said as her sons scrambled to gather candy in plastic bags.

Judge W.C. Falkenheiner served as the Vidalia parade’s grand marshal.