​In 2005 Mead Rd. Mardi Gras was started by local Oakhurst residents David and Emily Berg as a way to celebrate Mardi Gras with their kids without trekking down to Louisiana.  It began as a house party when their oldest child started school, and as the kids got bigger, the party grew with them.

Along the way they incorporated as a non-profit, enlisted the help of dedicated neighbor volunteers, and became a beloved Decatur tradition.

In the fall of 2013, the Bergs approached the Decatur Education Foundation with the idea of turning their Mardi Gras parade into a community fundraiser. Since then Mead Rd Mardi Gras has paraded from FAVE to The Imperial, raising money to support music and arts education in the City of Decatur Schools.  

As of the 2023 parade, the Berg kids had grown and flown, and Emily, David, and the dedicated MRMG volunteers had earned a break. They are passing the baton to Decatur residents (with young kids) Erin Hinek and Katie Bauman to kick off the MRMG parade revival in 2024.