Costumes, Cash Prizes and Scholarships: Marshalls Host Mardi Gras Monster Mash in Orange Beach Oct. 16
The Marshalls krewe hosts the Mardi Gras Monster Mash Oct. 16 at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, with costume and table-decorating prizes and proceeds supporting Trades of Tomorrow scholarships.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Mardi Gras is still months away, but one Pleasure Island krewe is pulling out the costumes early. The Marshalls will host the Mardi Gras Monster Mash from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 16, at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, a Halloween-themed party that raises money for students headed into the skilled trades.
Proceeds benefit the Marshalls’ Trades of Tomorrow scholarship program, which supports students from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley and Elberta.
What’s included
The Monster Mash is an all-inclusive evening. Tickets cover:
- An open bar
- Barbecue from Jim ’N Nick’s
- Live music from the Six Piece Suits
- A shot at the night’s cash prizes for costumes and table decorations
Jim ’N Nick’s, which started in Birmingham in 1985, is known across the South for its slow-smoked barbecue.
Cash prizes for creative crews
The Monster Mash rewards guests who go all out. Prizes on the line include:
- $1,000 for the best table decorations
- $1,000 for the best group of costumes
- $500 for the best solo costume
That structure makes the event a natural fit for groups of friends, office crews and fellow krewe members who want to theme a table and dress to match. Mardi Gras societies on the Gulf Coast are known for elaborate costuming, so expect competition to be stiff.
Event details
- What: Mardi Gras Monster Mash, hosted by the Marshalls
- When: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. to midnight
- Where: Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, Orange Beach
- Tickets: $100 per person or $900 for a table of 10
- Includes: Open bar, Jim ’N Nick’s barbecue and music by the Six Piece Suits
- Benefits: Trades of Tomorrow scholarships for students from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley and Elberta
Why trade scholarships matter
As its name suggests, the Trades of Tomorrow program is aimed at students headed into the skilled trades, the careers in construction, electrical work, plumbing, welding, HVAC and similar fields that keep a fast-growing region running. Baldwin County has been one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties for years, and the steady pace of home building, commercial development and, in the wake of storms such as Hurricane Isaias, repair work keeps demand for skilled workers high.
Trade and technical programs, often offered through community colleges and career-tech centers, can lead to well-paying jobs in far less time than a four-year degree, but tuition, tools and certification fees can still be hurdles for students. Scholarships aimed specifically at those paths help close the gap.
A Mardi Gras krewe with a fall party
Mardi Gras runs deep on the Alabama coast. Mobile is widely recognized as home to the oldest organized Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, and the tradition has spread across Baldwin County, where Orange Beach and Gulf Shores host parades each Carnival season. The Marshalls are among the krewes that have paraded in Orange Beach during Carnival season.
Like many Mardi Gras organizations, the krewe raises money for causes outside of Carnival season, and a costume party in October gives members and supporters an excuse to dress up well before the first parade rolls.
About the venue
The Orange Beach Event Center sits within The Wharf, the waterfront entertainment district on the Intracoastal Waterway that is also home to an amphitheater, a marina, restaurants and shops. The center regularly hosts conventions, banquets, galas and Mardi Gras balls.
Orange Beach businesses reopened quickly after Hurricane Isaias, and the Monster Mash is one of several Halloween-season events on the Wharf calendar this month, including a free trunk-or-treat night on Oct. 28.
Guests who plan to enjoy the open bar should arrange a designated driver or ride home.
