Laissez les bons temps rouler at the 3rd annual Mardi Gras Ball Masque (updated with photos)

Image by Flickr user Caitlinator

Updates are at the bottom

On February 4th, the Krewe of Charleston will bring the third annual Mardi Gras ball to Charleston's Gaillard Auditorium.

This year's Royal Ball Masque MMXII will be lead by the Royal King, Lieutenant Brian Brennan, a double amputee and an Iraqi Freedom veteran. He will be joined by Academy Award-winning actor Tom Berenger, who will serve as Grand Duke of the ball.

Established in 2009, the Krewe of Charleston is the only Mardi Gras Krewe on the East Coast and is fast-making Charleston the next major Mardi Gras destination in the United States.

The ball takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is open to adults 18 and over. Admission is $150, including open bar and food. Information on joining the Krewe of Charleston is available at http://kreweofcharleston.org.

Update February 6:The Post and Courier had a camera handy at Saturday's Mardi Gras Ball Masque and got some exiting and colorful photos from Charleston's 3rd annual Fat Tuesday celebration.

Take a peek at the photo gallery here.