NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Saints fans hugged, kissed and spilled onto the streets Sunday as a citywide party erupted after their once woebegone NFL franchise defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.
French Quarter crowds, beefed up by tourists in town for Carnival season and by those wanting to experience the euphoria of a Saints victory, poured onto Bourbon Street to celebrate in a scene that looked more like Fat Tuesday than a Sunday night. The Saints won 31-17 in the franchise's first appearance in the big game.
As a brass band played "When the Saints Go Marching In" inside Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse, revelers jumped up and down, stood on chairs and tables and waved black and gold umbrellas when the Saints won.
"This is so awesome," said Darlene Milliet, as she hugged her sister, Cindy Lasiter, both of them crying in the French Quarter. "I can't believe it!"
"It's like a dream come true. It's just a dream come true," Lasiter said.
It was a similar scene along a row of neighborhood bars and restaurants on Maple Street, not far from Tulane and Loyola universities, where college students and area residents, most clad in black and gold, hit the street screaming and cheering. Fireworks resounded and flares lit up the sky.
"House of the Rising Sun" blared from speakers at Bruno's Tavern, where patrons sprayed each other with champagne and beer.
The victory capped a weekend of Saints-centered celebration along Carnival parade routes. The spirit bled into the political arena. The city had elected a new mayor Saturday, Mitch Landrieu, and supporters prefaced his victory speech by chanting "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints."
The celebrations began hours before the game. Dogs dressed in Saints jerseys and gaudy floats carrying masked riders provided a rolling pre-game tailgate party for thousands as New Orleans started partying long before the Super Bowl kicked off.
David Frazier and Daphne Naro, of the San Francisco area, were among the parade-goers along Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter. The game brought them back to New Orleans, Frazier's hometown.
"The Saints in the Super Bowl, man. That's a once-in-forever thing," Frazier said.
In the French Quarter, the afternoon celebrations began with the procession of the "Krewe of Barkus," a mini-parade for dogs. Dogs sporting black and gold feathers, beads, sequins and Saints jerseys marched with their owners through the Quarter.
