Parents and students enjoyed a night of mardi gras madness Saturday at Jefferson school with a chili supper.

Along the fifth grade wing of Jefferson school, games such as ring toss and mask making were played. The gym was turned into a miniature carnival with obstacle courses and a bungee run, while the library supported a scholastic book fair. The major event making the whole night a tradition, is the chili supper.

Alan and Pam Bumpus have been the backbone of the chili supper for the past 15 years. They have made the chili every year with the donated ingredients from the parents of the students.

“My dad was a navy cook,” said Pam Bumpus as she stirred her chili. Pam’s father taught her how to make it in bulk.

Alan, a cook, said the night was fun for everyone involved.

“Our daughter is here, and actually her daughter is here too,” Alan said. This night has been a community favorite for a long time.

In addition to the school making money, Kathy Armstrong, the food coordinator, said: “It’s more of a social event than a fund raiser.”

Kathy, along with five others, are part of the Jefferson parent teacher association committee. Food and prizes for the mardi gras and chili supper were donated and the parents volunteering their time to help out.

It was a night of the community getting together to make memories and show the kids a good time, Armstrong said.

It’s also a time for the students to gather and enjoy their school.