166 MARDI GRAS GUIDE 2018

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Rex, the oldest parading Carnival organization, presents its 137th parade, led by the captain on his white horse. Thirty-four horse-mounted riders appear in the

29-float procession, which brings history and beauty to the streets of New Orleans. The 2018 theme, L’ANCIENNE NOUVELLE-ORLÉANS, presents elements of the city’s rich history and culture with a focus on its first century—Beginning with a float portraying Father Mississippi and the indigenous people who first lived here and concluding with Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans. The animated Butterfly King float returns, along with the iconic King’s float, Jester, and Boeuf Gras floats. The parade features a band contest. Rex throws tossed by the 455 riding members include float-specific beads—many parade-goers try to catch a full set—and, of course, gold aluminum doubloons, Carnival’s first krewe signature throw which Rex introduced in 1960. Lieutenants will be handing out riding crops.

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©2018 Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc.

U P T O W NSince his first appearance in 1872, Rex has been the global symbol of New Orleans’s most famous holiday. Sponsored by the School of Design, the all-male krewe is responsible for the concept of day parades, for the official Mardi Gras flag and colors—green for faith, gold for power, purple for justice—and for the anthem of Carnival, “If Ever I Cease to Love,” as well as for one of the most popular throws, the doubloon. The men of Rex operate Pro Bono Pu-blico—For The Public Good. Rex selects an outstanding civic leader to reign over Mardi Gras, and his queen is always a debutante. www.rexorganization.com

Rex

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aRgusThe Krewe of Argus continues its tradition of parading on Fat Tuesday in Metai-

rie for the 46th time. The captain’s float leads the parade with the King, Queen, and Royal Court close behind and 600 riders to follow. Twenty floats will portray this year’s theme, ARGUS UNDER THE BIG TOP. Reigning as Argus XXXIV is Michael Maenza and Queen Argus XXXIV is Alexis Carroll Hartline. The Queen’s doll is a very special throw because it’s printed with the Queen’s face and the mantle has the krewe crest. Krewe signature throws include two new items—a ten-inch plush peacock named “Gus” and the Argus Kite Ball. Doubloons tossed include black, purple, gold, and “peacock” blue. The Argus parade traditionally features more than 50 units. The Argus Galaxy ball is set for the Grand Hall of the Pontchartrain Center on January 19, 2018.

The Krewe of Argus is named after the mythological, 100-eyed Greek guardian of Io. The peacock-emblemed krewe presented Metairie with its first Fat Tuesday parade in 1974. Entertainers such as Barbara Eden, Phyllis Diller, and Loretta Swit reigned as Em-presses of Argus in the early years. In 1985, with a male and female membership that had tripled in size since 1982, a new custom of selecting royalty from within Argus’s own ranks was agreed upon. Argus allows commercial sponsorship of its floats. The procession is followed by the 130 truck-floats of the Elks Jeffersonians and the Krewe of Jefferson. www.kreweofargus.com

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EL DORADO©2018 Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc.