Sitting around a table draped with a red and white picnic blanket and a centerpiece mason jar filled with cotton pieces, Mary Piland her friends from Tuscaloosa mingled, bid and ate at the western-themed third annual Blue Jean Ball hosted by the Journey School on Friday evening.

This is the main fundraising event for the school.

“I brought my friends,” Piland said. “They know my granddaughter, and she is a graduate of the Journey School.”

This is Piland’s third time attending the event. “It gets better every year,” Piland said.

Guests had the option to participate in a live and silent auction, as well as purchase items such as tile coasters made by students, and vegetables raised at The Journey School, in the general store. “We have everything from gift baskets to cake,” said Edie Delp, board member. “We tried to get something for everybody, and we had right at 200 hundred items.”

Some of the live auction items were a rifle, 32-inch flat screen television and Gulf Shores vacation package. Guests also had the chance to win two Iron Bowl tickets or bid on two tickets to the SEC Championship game. Local band, Big Nekkid, a 60s and on original music and cover bad, performed during dinner and after the auction as guests ate barbecue donated by Kay Foster.

“We had our good friend that invited us,” said Lorraine Williamson. “I had heard a lot about it. They know how to do it up right.”

Proceeds from the event are used for The Journey School. “I hope it’s a big success,” Piland said. “I hope they make some money for the children and the school.”