VIDALIA, La. &045; Mardi Gras was in full effect as the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes at Vidalia Lower Elementary School threw a parade for other students, parents, friends and teachers on Fat Tuesday.

The parade was held outside in a commons area where first- through fourth-graders waved Ziploc bags in anticipation of the Mardi Gras parade.

Judge George Murray, who led the parade as grand marshal, was also the king in the Krewe of Phoenix parade held on Friday.

Murray, who was dressed in his king’s outfit, was followed by a long line of students who marched proudly down the sidewalks wearing homemade Mardi Gras costumes.

The students in the parade wore paper bags that were cut out into vests and then decorated with spray paint, jewels, glitter and ribbons.

&uot;I spray-painted it gold and glued flowers on there,&uot; said Kim Bennett, parent of a student in the parade.

Some students also wore Mardi Gras and Dr. Suess hats, colorful streamers on their heads and plenty of Mardi Gras beads.

Teachers led each of their classes down the sidewalks and some carried boom boxes that played the sounds of Mardi Gras.

As the students in the parade through beads and candy Deondra Anderson, a second-grader, explained what she likes most about Mardi Gras.

&uot;I love to catch candy and I love to get a lot of beads and have fun,&uot; she said.

&uot;It teachers them about the culture of Louisiana and Mardi Gras,&uot; said Principal Gary Parnham Sr.

&uot;It’s a home project that the parents get in to and its good for the school and community.&uot;

In addition, &uot;it gets the kids to know what Mardi Gras is and have fun and participate,&uot; said Jermeice Ezell, whose son is in Miss Mallory’s kindergarten class. As the parade line ended its route and the Ziploc bags were filled with beads and candy, the students reunited with their parents to show off their goodies.

Then it was back to class.