New Orleans is preparing for a Super Bowl without the Saints. If you are familiar with the Who Dat Nation you might expect sadness, despair or at least disappointment. Especially if you can recall the NFL noise meter that displayed their enthusiasm in decibels on your TV screen during Saints home games in the 90’s.
But true to their resilient nature, the people of New Orleans are looking ahead. They have bid adieu to the Saints 46th NFL season that started behind the bounty gate. Now, the city’s focus is on hosting Super Bowl XLVII and its six days of activities in the middle of Mardi Gras season.
Mardi Gras parades start on January 19 and Mardi Gras Day is February 12. By January 29 when NFL Media Day kicks off a string of events leading up to Super Bowl Sunday on February 3, Carnival will be in full swing.
The simultaneously occurring mega events will give homegrowns and guests much to do about New Orleans. Parties, parades, NFL experiences, Mardi Gras balls, second lines, and a sports job fair fill the list of free, low-cost, and pricey picks.
If I lost you with second lines, plan to spend some time 10 blocks from the French Quarter on Frenchmen Street. Here you will see brass bands playing second line music live on the street lined with nightspots.
Peruse the full lists of Super Bowl XLVII and Mardi Gras 2013 activities. Let your curiosity lead you through the streets of New Orleans. Family fun, group adventures, and date nights await. But hotels and bed and breakfasts are booking fast so waiting to make your reservation could be a mistake.
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