Fourth-grade students at Montgomery Academy celebrate Mardi Gras

Fourth-grade students at Montgomery Academy hold Mardi Gras parade, Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

Some fourth-grade students are celebrating Mardi Gras at school as they learn about Alabama history.

The holiday was marked this morning at Montgomery Academy as part of the school’s fourth-grade curriculum.

A total of 45 students made shoebox floats to share with their classmates and students at the school. Each shoebox was decorated with a student’s five favorite things about Alabama.

They showed off their shoebox floats in a parade outside the school.

“This is actually the first year that we’ve had a Mardi Gras parade, and I just wanted them to have fun exploring and showing creative expressions as they teach everybody about Alabama,” teacher Tara Gbadamosi told Action 8 News.

“I really like the idea of doing this because it feels like people who may not get to go to Mardi Gras get to experience it right here at the school,” fourth-grade student Molly Farr said.

Mardi Gras was first celebrated in Mobile in 1703, before the holiday spread to other cities.