How to See the Argus Parade at Mardi Gras

The Krewe of Argus began in 1972 and was named after the Greek god Argus. Argus is the all-seeing god with one hundred eyes who caught Jupiter cheating on his wife. Argus' eyes were removed by the goddess Juno and put onto the peacock's tail. The peacock is the logo of the krewe. The Argus parade at Mardi Gras has grown into one of the most popular parades in New Orleans, with over 600 members in the Krewe of Argus. Every year, over 1 million people line the streets to see the Argus parade.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Camera
• Jacket
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Comfortable shoes

See the Argus Parade at Mardi Gras

1. Plan to arrive early for the parade to get in a position to see everything coming down the street. You may want to arrive before 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. parade.

2. Mark the parade route on a map so you know where the parade is going. The Argus parade starts on Veterans Memorial Blvd. at the corner of Houma and Veterans, near the Clearview Shopping Mall (The mall serves as the staging ground for the parade). This Mardi Gras parade goes east on Veterans, north to 12th, east on 12th, south on Severn, east on Veterans, north to Nero, east on Nero, south on Bonnabel and east on Veterans to end at Martin Behrman.

3. Look for a place at a corner where you can see the parade longer and listen to the music as it comes by.

4. Participate in the parade as a spectator by interacting with people in the parade and cheering them on.

5. Dance to the music as it comes down the street. There's no need to be shy at Mardi Gras!

6. Jump up and catch beads and other souvenirs tossed into the crowd. If you catch something you can wear, put it on.

7. Take lots of pictures to remember this day for years to come.

Tips & Warnings

• You will be standing for a long time to wait for the parade and to watch it go by, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle with you.
• Wear some shades to protect your eyes as you watch the parade.
• It can be cool in the mornings in New Orleans, so bring a jacket with you to stay warm.
• Try to find a place to stand where your back is to the east where the sun is coming up. This will help keep the sun out of your eyes.
• After watching the parade, you may want to participate in the parade yourself. For a small fee, you can be the one throwing the souvenirs to spectators and going to the after-the-parade party.
• With all of the people, be aware of where you valuables are so pickpockets can't get to them. Men should keep wallets in a front pocket and women should hang purses in front of their bodies.