Claim your shopping cart for Mardi Gras

ATHENS-The Athens State ARTHEADS and Athens Arts League are teaming up again to host the Mardi Gras Block Party and Parade with a Purpose on March 5.

There will be mask making for kids at High Cotton Arts at 5:30 p.m. and bead making at the Center for Lifelong Learning.

Line up for the mini-parade will be at 6 p.m. in front of the Center for Lifelong Learning. Thanks to Lowe’s of Athens, this is our second year to incorporate shopping carts decorated as floats. Groups can decorate a cart for the parade theme, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and spectators will be asked to be good neighbors and donate canned goods in the carts during the parade. The canned goods will be given to LCCI’s Food Bank. Attached is a photo showing an example from a shopping cart float last year, called When Pigs Fly, and a photo showing all the food donated.

The parade goes up and down Washington and Marion streets.

If you or your group would like to decorate a shopping cart, please let Gail Bergeron know at Gail.Bergeron@athens.edu. Lowe’s is letting us use 15 shopping carts. They should be available for decorating by Tuesday, Feb. 19.

If you cannot decorate a shopping cart, please join us for the parade and bring canned goods to donate! West Limestone High School’s jazz band is one of the groups performing this year, and the ARTHEADS will have paper mache puppets heads based on the theme.