About Us

A Community Celebration with Heart

The Island Strong Music Festival began as a dream for the Town of Grand Isle—a community fair that could raise much-needed funds for town projects, just like Lafitte’s Seafood Festival or Gretna’s Heritage Festival. Over the years, this event has grown into a beloved tradition that showcases Grand Isle’s spirit, culture, and resilience.

To manage the festival’s growth, the Town established a dedicated Community Fair Fund with its own bank account to record and manage all related activities. As planning became more complex, a formal committee was created, composed of Town employees, elected officials, and community volunteers. To preserve and protect the festival’s identity, the name “Island Strong” was trademarked. This step was taken purely to safeguard the brand—no for-profit entity was created.

Trust, Transparency & Integrity

Although the festival collects cash at the gate and for concessions, the Town ensures financial transparency and accountability by hiring an external Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to manage the money room. Internal controls are in place:

• A receipt system is used at each cash box
• All funds are counted jointly by the CPA and on-site volunteers
• Receipts are reconciled daily and matched with Town Treasurer deposits
• Detailed daily recap reports are filed and stored for accountability

All proceeds, including donations, go directly to the Town Treasurer and are held in the special Community Fair Fund. These donations are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines. Furthermore, all expenditures must be approved by the Grand Isle Town Council.

There is nothing secretive or questionable about the Island Strong Music Festival. It’s simply a dedicated effort by a small town to lift itself up, support its people, and celebrate what makes Grand Isle strong.