Students celebrate Mardi Gras in downtown Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The students at Saint Mary School in Wilmington celebrated Mardi Gras with a special tradition on Fat Tuesday.

Principal Joyce Price said former facilities manager Clifton Lively started the tradition seven years ago, but he passed away in 2012.

Price said first, all 275 students gather in front of the Basilica Shrine to honor “Clifton’s Tree” in his memory. Price said Lively was from New Orleans and was also known as “Mr. Mardi Gras.” She said he instilled the spirit of his native Louisiana in all of them.

After a quick prayer, the marching begins. The band plays and the students parade down the street until they gather at different balconies on the church to collect as many beads as they can.

“They have been making masks in the art classes and everyone wears beads,” Price said. “Some of the children in middle school come back with beads over the last 7 years, so they are weighted down.”

Price said this is the last big celebration for the students before Lent starts tomorrow.