Despite a dress shop employee and others saying the new krewe wouldn't last more than three years, Krewe of the Island has continuously "gotten bigger and better" since its establishment in 2017 and first ball a year later.

This year will be the eighth season of celebration for Krewe of the Island.
Brittany Stephens, krewe president, said it was founded by Amanda Landry, Nikki Weinberg, Jennifer Lawrence, Todd Cross and herself. Though Landry and Weinberg's idea, the group of friends worked together to create a space for locals to have opportunities for "serving our community and having great time doing it."

"It just felt like there wasn't a place for local young professionals to get to network, and we also didn't like that other krewes did set guidelines of who could join their crew," she said. "Our goal was community service and networking, so we were like, 'Everyone should be allowed to do that, right?' We just wanted it to be open."

Krewe of the Island has helped several nonprofit groups and volunteered at community events throughout the years, including Little Pink Houses of Hope, which provides vacations to breast cancer survivors and patients, and the Alabama Coastal Cleanup event. One fundraiser raised $10,000 for the Alabama chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

The krewe is open to all, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, etc. About 50 to 100 members are allowed each year to create a "more intimate setting to build real connections."

"We have a mix of people in our krewe from all walks of life," she said, "and this helps us keep our hearts and our minds open."

Keep an eye out for Krewe of the Island's float in upcoming parades, including Elberta, Fort Morgan on Joe Cain Day, Orange Beach on Fat Tuesday and the Mystic of Pleasure's nighttime parade.

Their Mardi Gras ball is open to the public and will be held Feb. 7 at the Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores. Tickets are $150 for a couple and $85 for a single ticket. Heavy hors d'oeuvres — featuring shrimp from Auburn University's extension office in Gulf Shores and oysters from Fort Morgan's Navy Cove Oysters — beer and wine are included with the purchase. Reach out to Krewe of the Island on Facebook to purchase a ticket.