HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The Macomb County Sheriff's Department will be watching Gull Island this weekend to make sure the annual funfest help there does not get out of hand.

GULL ISLAND FACTS/PARTY HISTORY The Gull Island party began 26 years ago with four boats. It now attracts over 5,000 people and almost 1,000 boats. The island is located on the Eastern side of Lake St. Clair at the tail end of the the South Channel. The small island is located about five miles east of Metro Beach Metropark. Originally a shallow area in Lake St. Clair, the island was created from dredging material pulled out of the nearby St. Clair Flats Canal in the early 1800s. Revelers call the annual party the Mardi Gras of Michigan because of the scenes of debauchery and party atmosphere. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the vacant island. The U.S. Army Corps uses the island to dump dredged river material. Source: The Midwest Connection, Local 4 reports

About 5,000 people are expected to pack the island to hear live bands and party. Police are concerned about potential problems in light of tragedies last year, when three people drowned in waters off the island, Local 4 reported.

Past celebrations have also been marred by fights.

Sheriff Mark Hackel told Local 4 that his department doesn't want to crash the party, but is concerned about visitors to the island drinking too much and getting rowdy.

People began arriving on the island Friday morning, and more boats are expected to make the trip over the next two days.

Stay tuned to Local First News and to ClickOnDetroit.com for updates to this developing story.