VIDALIA —Vidalia is joining in the Mardi Gras fun this year, hosting a parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 19.

Line up for the parade will be at Vidalia Upper Elementary, and the parade route will go from the VUE on to Carter Street all the way to Vidalia High School.

Vidalia resident and parade organizer Cassandra Lynch said her memories of going to Mardi Gras parades while she was growing up in New Orleans gave her the idea.

“I enjoyed it as a child, and I still enjoy it today,” she said. “I know our children and residents will enjoy the parade as well.”

Lynch said she moved back to Vidalia more than a year ago to be with her mother, and during that time she has actively made efforts to give back to the community.

“If you see something that is wrong or there is a problem, you need to find the solution to it,” she said. “Vidalia is a unique town. It is one of the best kept secrets in the state, and I noticed Natchez has a parade, so why can’t we?”

Lynch said she set out to have an event during Mardi Gras so residents in Vidalia would have something to do to celebrate.

“Vidalia’s motto is ‘A City on the Move,’ and I decided we needed to have a parade,” she said. “We just want Vidalia to keep moving forward.”

Lynch said with help from Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland, Alderman Triand “Tron” McCoy, convention center marketing and public relations director Sherri Rabb and local bar Joe’s Place in Vidalia, she has been able to successfully get everything in line for the parade.

“I just wanted to see if I could do it. I always try and shoot for the stars,” she said. “You never know what you can do until you try, and we are going to continue to try, no matter how big or small the parade is.”

Lynch said the grand marshals of the parade will be Copeland, McCoy and Vidalia Police Chief Arthur Lewis.

Lynch also said the parade is open to anyone who wants to participate.

“There is no entry fee, we want people to come out and have fun,” she said. “Any krewe, civic group, church, school, person in a new or old car or person on a horse or motorcycle can come out.”

Lynch said she hopes the parade will open the community up to more unity in the future.

“It is always good to see a community working together,” she said. “Especially on something that will make someone’s day brighter.”