Can you picture a Mardi Gras parade on the streets of Charleston? With all of the "best" designations being handed out to the Holy City, it seems only fitting that Charleston should become the next major Mardi Gras destination in the United States.

The Krewe of Charleston is working toward that goal, and each year they get one step closer.

Established in 2009, the Krewe of Charleston is the only Mardi Gras krewe on the East Coast. They've brought the rich history and tradition of Mardi Gras to the Carolinas and the all states on the Atlantic with their annual Masquerade Ball.

This year's grand event, the Royal Bal Masque MMXII, will be held Feb. 4 at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium. Complete with costumes, music and revelry, the Royal Bal Masque MMXII is set to be an even larger and more elegant affair than in years past.

The ball is hosted to bring awareness to the krewe, but also to support local charities with the Mardi Gras spirit.

The krewe has also given back through the donation of time, food, beads and/or additional goodies to numerous local charities including: the Food & Wine Festival, Communities in Schools, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Save Our Seas. They also made two children from the Medical University of South Carolina's Children's Hospital Junior King and Queen at last year's Royal Bal Masque.

"Our hard work in bringing the rich history and tradition of Mardi Gras to Charleston has not gone unnoticed. Our Krewe - the only Mardi Gras Krewe on the East Coast - has been written about by the Associated Press, USA Today, The Post and Courier, Charleston Mercury, City Paper, Charleston Magazine, Deep South Magazine and has been seen and heard on all of the local television and radio stations in the Lowcountry," said founder and captain Donnie Bulliard.

"We have been honored with resolutions from Rep. Peter McCoy of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Mayor Joseph Riley of the City of Charleston. Mayor Mitch Landrieu of the City of New Orleans also deemed Feb. 12, 2011, "Krewe of Charleston Day" and gifted us with a key to the city of New Orleans."

Preferred seating for this year's ball for members and sponsors will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual memberships include one ticket to the ball, while memberships for couples include two tickets to the ball. A limited number of founding memberships remain at the time of this writing; these include two tickets to the ball with additional privileges

"The main objective is to put on a parade, but that's very costly, totalling several million dollars. "But if we draw a national audience we can do it," said Bulliard.

"Much of Charleston is alien to Mardi Gras and they don't understand it yet," he explained.

"Some of the krewes in Louisiana, especially the older ones, operate only within family blood lines. Others began letting women in and people from outside of Louisiana in their krewes. And their kings have been everyone from Bob Hope to Dick Clark to Hulk Hogan."

This year's choice for King and Queen are: King Charles II, Cpt. Brian Brenner and Queen Catherine of Braganza, Susan Marlow.

Grand Marshall will be actor Tom Berenger and Grand Duke is General James E. Livingston.Other national and local celebrities have been invited to participate as well. Krewe of Charleston has more than 100 members now, and the ball is expected to bring in at least 800 people.

Many of those will be part of the royal court such as the eight duchesses, eight dukes, a prince and princess and pages to the king and queen as well as the bishop and queen mother.

Michael Mule, co-captain of the Krewe of Charleston, is from New Orleans and grew up around the whole Mardi Gras scene. He attended a number of balls and said the biggest difference between New Orleans Mardi Gras balls and the Krewe of Charleston's ball is the exclusivity.

In New Orleans you must come from a prominent family or spend lots of money to be part of the ball, where as the Charleston ball is open to anyone. "Everyone is welcome to come to the ball and to become members of the krewe," he explained.

However, he warned most krewes cap membership at 500 to 700 members then you're placed on a waiting list.

While the cost of the ball may seem steep, it is important to remember that all funds cover the elaborateness of the affair which has been said to be the best party ever in Charleston.

From the lighting to the drapes to the background, stage and costumes - it is costly to have a world class event.

"What makes the event truly stunning are the costumes. "The king's attire and the queen's gowns and train are breathtaking," Mule said.

"From the sparkle and shine to the glitz and glamor, you really feel like you're looking at a king and a queen. Most people are taken back when they see how beautiful everything and everyone is."

The women's dresses, right down to the duchesses are large and ornate.

It's the stuff you see in movies and magazines but think doesn't really exist.

The process of the ball includes a formal presentation of the royal court and turns into a great giant party with music, dancing, food and drinks.

Attendees can take pictures with the court and their costumes as well.

This is a black tie event and a lot of attendees come in costume to let loose and enjoy themselves and the atmosphere of everyone else around them.

To buy tickets to the Royal Bal Masque MMXII call 843-437-1519 or visit their website at www.krewecharleston.org.