Shelby County Arts Council to host Mardi Gras Gala

Published 3:07 pm Monday, January 27, 2025

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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer 

COLUMBIANA – Residents from around Shelby County can anticipate a night full of entertainment while helping to support local arts programs at the Mardi Gras Gala hosted by the federated Women’s Clubs of Columbiana and the Shelby County Arts Council.

The Mardi Gras Gala will be the major fundraiser for the SCAC in 2025, and will be held on Saturday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square in Columbiana. This year’s benefit is made possible by its sponsors, three clubs: the Novela Club of Columbiana, the Culture Club of Columbiana and the Vignette Club.

Mardi Gras Gala coordinator Liz Grandy expressed how significant the event is for the city, as it helps the council to continually gather support for the many things and places it serves every year.

“I think a lot of times we forget that the Shelby County Arts Council touches a lot of lives outside of Columbiana. It’s a massive organization (with) a massive presence in Columbiana, but we reach far outside of Columbiana,” Grandy said. “I think just getting the word out that we even exist is massive and so important. We need people to know that we’re here, and having this event and inviting people from all around Shelby County, Jefferson County, inviting those people to come and see for themselves what the arts council has to offer, it helps so much.”

The gala will begin with a reception and silent auction, with a dinner to follow. Dinner for the festival will be catered by The Fish Market in Hoover, while the reception will feature hors d’oeuvres that guests can snack on to start the night.

In addition to the silent auction, the gala will also hold a live auction where those in attendance can bid to take home other items that are not a part of the silent one that will take place throughout the night.

The benefit will also feature the sounds of Matt Devine and The Big Greasy Brass Band, serenading guests with various pieces of music to dance to for entertainment.

Grandy touched on how she feels the night is going to be an eventful and fun one, celebrating all that the SCAC needs and has to offer to those in the area.

“We’re always needing more,” Grandy said. “It’s just going to be a party and a celebration of what the arts council gives and provides to the community and a celebration of the community of Shelby County and hopefully Jefferson County too.”

All proceeds that are raised from the Mardi Gras Gala will be put towards supporting the SCAC’s numerous programs like Writing our Stories and Art Therapy with The Arc of Shelby County, as well as scholarship funding that is provided for the classes and programs offered by the SCAC.

For Grandy, she has enjoyed the unity that has been displayed throughout the process of helping put this together, as it really hits home for her and the rest of the committee.

“I’ve loved seeing all the ladies come together and really just banding together for something that’s really near and dear to all of our hearts,” Grandy said. “A lot of us go to the shows here, a lot of us take classes here and it’s been a lot of fun to see everyone just jumping all in.”

Tickets start at $75 for just an individual ticket, while a couple’s ticket can be purchased for $125. For $400, a group can reserve a table of eight for the night.

There are also different sponsorship levels that companies can buy. The Silver Level is $1,000, the Gold Level is $2,000, the Platinum Level is $3,000 and the Diamond Level is $5,000. Each level comes with a certain amount of tickets and at least some form of advertising for the company, starting with being recognized at the event and in press releases and going all the way up to having a full page ad in the program, as well as premium signage at the event.

Tickets can be purchased at Shelbycountyartscouncil.com/2025-mardi-gras-gala.