The Carnival season has begun throughout the Southeast and the City of Vidalia is once again gearing up of their parade on wheels.
The parade will start at the Vidalia High School and makes it way to the riverfront. This year, the crowd can follow the glittering troupes, floats and Krewes all the way to the River Front for a lagniappe – a little something extra. This all happens on February 18th at 3 pm – line up is 1:30. Vendors are allowed to setup on the River Front at no cost. Founding member Ms. Cassandra Lynch is certain this will be a lively and loving celebration of unity to the city of Vidalia.
“When I decided to do this parade, it was because of my mother. We were from New Orleans and my mom loved Mardi Gras. One day she asks me why don’t we have Mardi Gras here in Vidalia? In a swift response I said, “We can.” That was my mission for creating Mardi Gras in Vidalia, because of my mom and it started in 2011.” Ms. Cassandra explained.
Ms. Cassandra thought well, she’s got it done and that’s would be it, but now it’s 2023 and she is 70 years old and still doing it because she loves it and because she is hoping and praying that it could bring complete unity to the Miss-Lou area. “It’s not just for blacks, whites, Hispanics, old or young, but for everyone within the Miss-Lou area that wants to participate,” she said.
To be a part of the parade you simply must fill out an entrance form or call Ms. Cassandra at 318-518-7656. There is no entrance fee. In the beginning all you had to do was call Ms. Cassandra and said you wanted to participate and she would say, “See you there.” With the entrance form it gives the committee a clear picture of where they are pulling people from.
All that is ask it that participants keep it decent and respectful so that everyone can enjoy it. The wrong type of slogans and music on the floats is discouraged because it’s all about having fun and showing a little love with each other.
Ms. Cassandra’s Krewe is named the Krewe of Vidal after Don Jose Vidal, who served as Spanish Consul for the Spanish Crown in both Louisiana and Natchez and whom the City of Vidalia is named after.
Ms. Cassandra stated that the parade was started with the help and full support of Mayor Copeland and Troy McCoy and continues now with the same support from the present Mayor of Vidalia, Mayor Buzz Craft, the chief of police, Rhonda Havard, Tab Dores, city employees and her hard-working committee for whom she is truly grateful.
“The Mardi Gras parade in Vidalia is a thimble in comparison to New Orleans which has about 80 parades from January 6 until Mardi Gras, but it’s great that the people of Vidalia can get a taste of splendor and share in the fun.” Said Ms. Cassandra.
Ms. Casandra is now a retiree after 42 years of service as a surgical technologist in the operating room at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, instructor for surgical tecs, director of the department that cleans all surgical instruments and hospital equipment at Hour Lake in Baton Rouge, LSU – Shreveport and University of Mississippi and she taught Sterile Processing Technology at Southern University. Beside organizing the annual Mardi Gras parade, she works part time at the clerk of court office, is a member of the Vadalia Beautification Committee and she is a Justice of the Peace. “I love marrying people!” She exclaimed.
