St. Mary’s annual Mardi Gras 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run will be held this Sat., April 23.

“We encourage participants to wear their Mardi Gras attire, which adds to the fun,” said committee chairman Debra Gamble.

The event is a fundraiser for the church’s rice and beans program, which provides free rice, beans and non-perishable food items, as well as a hot breakfast, to those in need on the third Saturday of each month.

The event is followed by a lunch of New Orleans-styled red beans and rice and bread pudding for participants, and anyone else interested, Gamble said.

“The lunch is an important part,” she said. “It is symbolic of sharing together as the body of Christ, and it also demonstrates that the simple rice and beans we distribute each month can be really tasty staples.”

The 5K begins at 9 a.m. at Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1307 East Three Notch St., in Andalusia. The fun run will follow at 10 a.m.

Awards will be presented and a red beans and rice lunch will be served for all participants at 11 a.m. Additional lunch tickets are available for $5.

Pre-race packet pick up is Fri., April 22, from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Race day registration and check-in is the day of the race at 8 a.m. Cost is $25 for the 5K, and $10 for the fun run.

Race Crew will time the race with chip timing.

More information can be found at www.active.com, www.stmarysandalusia.org and on Facebook.