CHARLESTON — “Charleston has always embraced new ideas,” says Krewe of Charleston President Mitzi Ball. One that is now ruminating in the Holy City is the idea that formal Mardi Gras celebrations should be listed on Charleston’s coveted calendar of exciting and attractive annual events.
On Feb. 12, the Krewe of Charleston will host its second annual Mardi Gras ball at the Charleston Marriott on Lockwood Blvd. This affair is a manifestation of the grand idea hatched several years ago by Krewe of Charleston founder Donnie Bulliard.
“Why not make Mardi Gras celebrations one more thing that people think of when they think of Charleston?” Buillard recalls asking several prominent Charlestonians. Inspired by his enthusiasm, they have since become founding members of the Krewe of Charleston.
A Louisiana native who is now serving as the Krewe of Charleston’s captain, Bulliard is quick to point out the festivities planned by his krewe are not possible without the help of many, and the excitement of many more. “Krewes like ours are nonprofit volunteer organizations that really put a lot into all of this,” Bulliard notes while taking a break from his work tackling the seemingly infinite details he and other krewe members must tend to for the ball to achieve the success and notoriety they hope it will this year. “In every sense, Krewes are truly the hosts for Mardi Gras events in that the members are called on to help with just about anything and everything that goes into them. This is very much a hands-on effort for a lot of us — it’s really like a big family party in that sense,” Bulliard says. He adds: “Of course, we do want our ball to be the party everyone who celebrates Mardi Gras wants to attend.”
While its organizers have incorporated many aspects of other such festivities, by design Charleston’s Mardi Gras celebration will be markedly unique. “It’s a fun event for Charleston that is very much family focused. This effort benefits the kids of the Lowcountry, and the Krewe of Charleston will use the ball to raise money for the MUSC Children’s Hospital,” explained MajGen James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret). Gen. Livingston a founding Member of the Krewe of Charleston who is serving as the Grande Marshall and Master of Ceremony for this year’s festivities. Livingston is also a former resident of Louisiana. Before retiring from the Marine Corps and moving to Charleston, the Medal of Honor recipient served as commander of the Marine Reserve base located in New Orleans.
For many, New Orleans is synonymous with the celebration of Mardi Gras. Borrowing from the New Orleanian tradition of procession that entails the deliveries of “royalty” by boat on the city’s waterfront, the Krewe of Charleston will host a public ceremony on Charleston Harbor to present this year’s Queen and King.
Decorated boats carrying revelers and other members of the 2011 Charleston Mardi Gras Court will depart from the Charleston City Marina at 10:00 a.m. on February 12. This fleet will help celebrate the arrivals of the 2011 Queen and King during a floating parade hosted along Charleston’s Battery. These festivities will continue through mid-afternoon.
“I am thrilled to be part of a fun evening that will benefit such a great cause,” noted former South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sullivan Sanford, a member of the Krewe of Charleston who will be featured as the Queen of this year’s ball. New York businessman and Charleston resident John McAvoy has been selected to accompany Ms. Sanford as the 2011 Charleston Mardi Gras King.
“We are very excited to be able to present this kind of spectacle this year, and we hope our efforts will inspire more members of our community to join our krewe and attend our events. Boat owners who want to participate in the parade should contact us soon. Next year, we hope the City of Charleston will accommodate our interest in hosting a full-scale parade downtown,” Bulliard says.
More than 60 costumed participants will be presented as members of the 2011 Charleston Mardi Gras Court during the ball. Aside from Queen Sanford and King McAvoy, participants include Returning Queen Joya Darby Wolf, Grand Duke Robbie Crawford, Queen Mother Hatsy Bayse, as well as visiting royalty from Louisiana Mardi Gras courts like Doerle Foods owner Carolyn Doerle.
The 2011 Charleston Mardi Gras Ball benefitting the MUSC Children’s Hospital will be hosted on February 12 at the Charleston Marriott located at 170 Lockwood Blvd. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase. Tickets are priced $150 per guest. To reserve ball tickets or find out more about the 2011 Mardi Gras boat parade please visit www.kreweofcharleston.net, or contact the Krewe of Charleston via kreweofcharleston@yahoo.com or 843.437.1519.