(PHOTOS) 2019 Mead Road Mardi Gras
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(left to right) Westchester Elementary School's music teacher Kristen Gwaltney and Caroline Nehmer, 6, a first grader, play ukulele at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that rasies money to support music and arts education in the Decatur City School. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
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By Rebecca Breyer, contributor
The Mead Road Mardi Gras stepped off on March 2, bringing a Gulf Coast tradition to Decatur.
Mead Road Mardi Gras (MRMG) was started by local Oakhurst residents David and Emily Berg as a way to celebrate Mardi Gras without trekking down to Louisiana.
Since 2014, MRMG has donated $25,000 to the Decatur Education Foundation to fund music and arts grants in the Decatur schools. With the money, the DEF has awarded grants to buy instruments for the Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School band programs, as well as choral arrangements for the school choruses, costumes for the DHS drama program and instruments for the 4/5 Academy, Westchester and Glennwood elementary schools.
Charlee Major, 17, a senior at Decatur High School, (center) plays the snare drums at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Geoffrey Kamau, of Decatur, and his son, Patrick Maina, 2, represent Glennwood Elementary School at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
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Ella Talmadge, 15, a sophomore at Decatur High School, sings with the Little Mermaid crew at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Alicia Cardillo, of Virginia Highlands, plays with the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable while her daughter, Kelsey Cardillo, 19 months, sleeps on her back at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
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Steven Cheng, of Decatur, and his daughter, Madeline Cheng, 4, watch the parade together at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Val Suarez, of Oakhurst, and her son, Benny Suarez, 5, watch the parade together at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Michael Boddie (right) dances with the Atlanta Freedom Band at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Terry Hochschild, of Decatur, who is one the judges, puts on some Mardi Gras beads at the Mead Road Mardi Gras in Oakhurst on March 2, 2019. The event is a non-profit community wide celebration that raises money to support music and arts education in the City Schools of Decatur. Photo by Rebecca Breyer
Ellie Ritter contributed to this story.
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