Krewe of Argus
The Krewe of Argus was founded in 1972 by several civic-minded Jefferson Parish businessmen and rolls on Mardi Gras Day in Metairie. Over one million family-oriented spectators line the Veterans Boulevard route in Metairie, Louisiana to catch our assortments of specialty throws. The Krewe is comprised of over 450 riders- male, female, and children- as well as guest Celebrities and Marching Bands. Each year Argus crowns a Special King, Queen, and Royal Court from its own membership to ride as Royalty. In past Parades, Argus has created special floats designed to honor our heroes in the Armed Services and local celebrities such as Artist George Rodrigue and his Blue Dog.
Argus was named after the God of Greek Mythology, Argus, the all-seeing with one hundred eyes. Argus observed Zeus cheating on his wife, The Goddess Hera. Zeus ordered Hermes to cut the head off of Argus. Hera, seeing this, took the hundred eyes off of Argus and put them on the tail of her peacock, where they remain today. That is why the peacock is the logo of the Krewe of Argus.
In the beginning, the Krewe honored as its Empresses such outstanding entertainment celebrities as Barbara Eden, Phyllis Diller, Shirley Jones, Loretta Swit, Connie Stevens, Cathy Lee Crosby, and several Miss Americas. In 1985, Argus' male and female membership instituted a new custom of selection Kings and Queens from its own membership. The Queen rides through the streets of Jefferson Parish followed by her maids. She also has a junior court of princesses and pages.