Bringing in the New Year at Jackson Square with music and fireworks
10:51 AM CST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Jill Hezeau / Eyewitness News
People around the world are preparing to celebrate the beginning of 2009.
AP
In New York, they will watch the ball drop; but here in New Orleans, revelers will see a different symbol: a Fleur de Lis.
Since Hurricane Katrina the gumbo pot has rang in the new year, but the Fleur de Lis symbol now replaces the gumbo pot that was introduced post-Katrina. Organizers said the change reflects a changing New Orleans.
Before revelers countdown to 2009, a couple of acts will entertain the crowd. The festivities take place in Jackson Square, with a D.J. and a couple of bands taking the stage.
Soul Rebels Brass Band will close out the set right before Mayor Ray Nagin toasts to the new year. There will also be a fireworks display that will feature the fight songs of the teams playing in the Sugar Bowl.
All this begins at 8 p.m. on Decatur Street.
Because of the city's big New Year's Eve celebration, the NOPD said Decatur Street will be completely closed from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, and officers say they will close any other street if it gets too crowded. There will be a one-lane closure on Decatur from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
While these streets will be open to traffic with the exception of Decatur, if you park on any of them or in front of a parking meter covered by a "no parking" bag, you can expect to be ticketed and towed:
• On Decatur / N. Peters between Canal St. and Dumaine St.
• Chartres St. between Toulouse St. and Saint Peter St.
• Saint Peter St. from Chartres St. to Royal Street
• Saint Ann St. between Chartres St. and Royal St.
• Chartres St. from St. Ann to Dumaine St.
And if you're taking public transportation on New Years Eve and Day, here's the RTA will operate buses on a modified Saturday schedule, and that will include service on three routes that do not normally operate on Saturday. Streetcars will also run on a Saturday schedule, but the para-transit service will operate on its normal weekday schedule.
New Year's Day all streetcars, buses and para-transit service will run on a Sunday schedule
