Call it Carnival Season. Call it Mardi Gras. Call it Fat Tuesday. But no matter what you call it, a big time will be had by all.

The Colley Senior Complex in Troy will host its annual Mardi Gras Gala on Saturday night at Cattleman Park and the tickets are going like hot cakes or, better still, like beignets.

The Gala will feature an eight-piece band, First Generation from Atlanta, that plays everything from Motown to line dancing music.

“First Generation is guaranteed to put on a good show,” said Catherine Jordan, Complex director. “But a good band show and dancing are just part of the fun of the Mardi Gras Gala.

“We’ll have a variety of Cajun food including crawfish, jambalaya and the French Quarter’s signature beignets,” Jordan said. “The silent auction always generates a lot of interest and the bidding is very competitive but friendly.”

Jordan said the silent auction will feature a weekend at Cabin in the Woods, a condo in Costa Rica and a shrimp boil.

“We’ll have paintings by Ann Gilchrist, Mary Page, Susan Berry, Sergei Shillabeer and Mary Ann Casey, memorabilia from different colleges including Troy University, Auburn and Alabama,” Jordan said. “Other items of special interest will be a Waterford crystal eagle and an electric bistro grill. Of course, there will be many more items up for silent auction and the bidding should be heavy.”

The Gala will also have a drawdown for a car. Three hundred tickets will be sold for $100 each and the last name drawn will be the winner of the car. There will be cash prizes for the second and third names that are left in the drawing.

“The Gala is an informal event,” Jordan said. “Wear your jeans or a tux. It doesn’t matter. Just come and have a good time.”

The Mardi Gras Gala will be from 7 p.m. until midnight Saturday at Cattleman Park. Tickets are $25 each or $500 for a reserved table for 10. For tickets, call 334-808-8500 or visit the Colley Senior Complex at 715 Elm Street in Troy.