New Orleans has faced multiple challenges over the past several weeks, but tourism officials say that all systems are go for what they predict will be two very successful large-scale events: Super Bowl LIX, which will take place Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome, and Mardi Gras Season, which is alre3ady underway and comes to a head March 4.

Following the Jan. 1 truck attack and the freak snowstorm that delivered multiple includes of snow, the city has taken proactive stance to prepare for upcoming events, according to Mark Romig, senior advisor for New Orleans & Company, the city’s tourism organization.

“We’ve got all the efforts underway to protect ourselves,” he said “the focus that is occurring in New Orleans right now gives me, as a citizen, comfort.”

To ensure that upcoming events are both successful and safe, the city is taking significant steps. For one, to keep both travelers and travel advisors up to date, New Orleans & Company has posted a comprehensive visitor safety statement that includes common sense travel tips as well as information about strengthened security initiatives- including expert assessments, strengthened partnerships with the New Orleans Police Department and Louisiana State Police and additional federal resources.

Notably, the city has secured a Special Even Assessment Rating of 1 (referred to a SEAR 1) for the dates around Super Bowl and Mardi Gras; this is the highest priority level of federal coordination, guaranteeing top-tier security, personnel and resources for these major events.

In addition, visitors arriving in New Orleans in the coming weeks are likely to find some impressive improvements to the city’s infrastructure, according to Romig, thanks to more than 400 projects aimed to improving the streets for residents and visitors alike.

“We’re into those final days of getting everything buttoned up, rolling out the reddest of red carpets,” he said “Those who haven’t been to New Orleans within the last year will notice so many changes- upgraded streetscapes, sidewalks, lighting. It’s going that not only is good for the Super Bowl; it’s also going to last us for a decade. We’re very excited about that.”

Super Bowl Activities

While the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is obviously the main event for sports lovers in the Big Easy in February, the days before the Super Bowl are filled with interesting, affiliated events, and individual tickets are available for each of them.

These events include Super Bowl Opening Night, which will take place Feb. 3 at Caesars Superdome and include family-friendly activities; Super Bowl Experience, an immersive football festival at the Ernest N. Morial Convection Center slated for Feb. 5-8; Super Bowl Soulful Celebration, which will bring R&B, gospel and country musicians to the stage of the Mahalia Jackson Theater on Feb. 5; and Louisiana Culture Festival, which will take place at the French Market from Feb. 7-8.

Also scheduled for Feb. 8 is a Madi Gras-style parade that’s billed as the first-ever Super Bowl Host Committee Parade; the event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, with Super Bowl-themed floats taking to the streets of the French Quarter.

Madi Gras Activities

Mardi Gras season is underway, and festivities kick into high gear in the coming weeks. The largest number of parades and events will take place between Feb. 15 and March 4, which is officially “Fat Tuesday”– also known as Mardi Gras.

Romig from New Orleans & Company says that visitors to the city tend to stay about three or four nights when attending large events- but with Mardi Gras, “some people will actually come in and then spend a week here, because they’re just really parade fanatics, and they want to get as much in as possible.”

Several hundreds of thousands of people will come in and out of the city in those two weeks around Mardi Gras, he says.

Considering the number of visitors expected for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, it’s no surprise that planning ahead is crucial. Romig recommends travel advisors and travelers use his organization’s website, NewOrleans.com, as a resource. It’s a great trip-planning guide for finding everything from restaurants and attractions to buying tickets to those attractions, he notes.

Is it too late to book a trip for the Super Bowl and Madi Gras? Not necessarily, according to Romig, although rooms and flights are filling up.

“I’ve gone online just to test it out and you can buy a room,” he said. There are rooms available. I’m reminded of the Taylor Swift Phenomenon that we had here back in October.”

Regardless of the festivity, Romig says the Big Easy’s unique, welcoming vibe shines through.

“No other city can do it like New Orleans does it,” he said “When we throw a parade, all the neighborhoods come together, and it’s a beautiful thing.”