February is Mardi Gras month and New Orleans and Mobile have nothing on Troy.

The Colley Senior Complex celebrates the carnival season with a Mardi Gras event of its own and its Mardi Gras Gala has quickly become a winter tradition and social event.

Carol Amos, chair of the Troy Senior Foundation board, said the annual Mardi Gras Gala is both a time of merriment and a time for fundraising.

“The Mardi Gras Gala is planned for Feb. 26 at the Cattleman Complex and will offer great food and dancing to the music of The Fabulous Shades,” Amos said. “It’s also the largest fundraiser for the Colley Senior Complex. So, we want to encourage everyone who enjoys the atmosphere of Mardi Gras and the fun and fellowship of friends and neighbors to mark their calendars for Saturday, Feb. 26, and plan to join us for the Mardi Gras Gala.”

The gala also will feature a silent auction that always has a variety of items on the block that create a lot of excitement and fierce, friendly last minute bidding.

The Mardi Gras Gala didn’t start as such but rather as a dress up ball at Troy Country Club.

“The next year, we went to the Mardi Gras theme because we wanted to do something that wasn’t being done,” Amos said. “And, February is not overloaded with events and, too, February is Mardi Gras time.”

Amos said the Mardi Gras Gala has been very successful as a social event and as a fundraiser.

The funds raised by the Mardi Gras Gala are used for the various programs that are offered free to senior adults though the Colley Senior Complex. Most of the fundraising was through the efforts of krewes that raised money in an effort have their prince and princess crowned King and Queen of the Mardi Gras.

“We are going to do things a little differently this year,” Amos said. “Right now, were are not planning to have krewes but then that could change. Either way, we are looking forward to another great event this year.”

Corporate sponsorships and general admission tickets to the 2011 Mardi Gras Gala will be available next week at the Colley Senior Complex on Elm Street in Troy.

For more information about the Mardi Gras Gala, call 334-808-8500.