It was a night for sparkling masks, rollicking blues tunes — and celebrating the arts in Suffolk Public Schools.

More than 225 people showed up for the Suffolk Education Foundation’s annual

Masquerade Gala fundraiser on March 1 at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront, according to Renyatta Banks, the foundation’s executive director.

“We had an amazing turnout,” Banks said. “I think people enjoyed it because the children were the entertainers and this was an opportunity for the students to showcase the talents they have developed through Suffolk Public Schools.”

The foundation is still waiting for final donations and doesn’t know exactly how much it raised from the gala, Banks said.

“Money is still coming in but I would definitely say we doubled the proceeds from last year,” said Banks. The fundraiser generated about $3,000 last year, she said.

All proceeds will go to arts programs at the 11 schools who participated by providing entertainment or decorating the masks that were sold at the Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser, she said.

Students performed traditional jazz and blues, including “The Entertainer,” “Cotton-Eyed Joe,” “Mack the Knife,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and “House of the Rising Sun.”

“It was fun for the students,” said Linda Hurwitz, orchestra director at John Yeates Middle and Lakeland High schools. “It was a great opportunity for students from different schools to collaborate on an arts project.”