Max Monaghan and his friends on the lead float in last year's parade. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Last year, Brockport fire department volunteers offered a dramatic commemoration to 9-11 rescue personnel and victims. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Max's Mardi Gras Event Organizer Bill Andrews gets dressed up for the day (2002 photo by John Payne).

Brockport's annual Max's Mardi Gras celebration will have more this year: more beads, more floats, more games for the kids at the festival, and more community participation. "We're going to have four inflatable games at the festival ... we've never had those before," Event Organizer Bill Andrews said. "The Varsity Club at the high school is also going to host a Mardi Gras dance at the senior center this year in honor of the event."

Andrews said the parade organizers are expecting more floats and more children's groups walking in the parade. "The Color Guard will lead the parade with Max riding on the float followed by the high school hockey team," Andrews said. "We want to honor the team for their success in the state championships."

The parade has been a good thing for the Brockport community, Andrews said. "It really pulls people together," he explained. "We get sponsors for things and we never have any problem getting donations from businesses or service clubs. This is just such a community event."

Organizations who are involved with helping serve children with disabilities or life threatening illnesses are the recipients of the goodwill raised by event participants.

"This has been a tremendous event," Andrews said. "The first year we had 1,100 parade participants and more than 4,000 people lined the streets." The parade will be followed by games, activities and music by a Dixieland Band at the Special Olympics Park at SUNY Brockport.

The idea of the parade was born in 1999 when then 10-year old Max Monaghan, who is HIV positive, was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York. Max's wish was to attend the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, but he decided he wanted to have a parade in Brockport so he "could share it with his friends."

That initial parade united the community of Brockport and the surrounding areas responded with a rare display of support for the event. The success of the initial parade was so great that the Village of Brockport decided to make it an annual event.

Max Monaghan has been the Parade Marshal every year. Medication has stabilized his condition and enables him to lead a normal life most of the time. He and his family have provided the lead float each year. Andrews said Max and his father have already been constructing their float. "This is an exciting event that benefits a lot of organizations," Andrews said. "Anything we can do to make it fun for everyone is what we are looking to do ... it's a Mardi Gras for everyone." Andrews said there are plenty of beads for sale and individuals can call Eileen Monaghan at 352-5202 or Andrews at 637-3721.

The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from Market and Main Streets on April 26. It will follow its normal route down Adams Street and end up at the college where the festival will be held.