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New Orleans celebrates tricentennial with ceremony in Jackson Square

The celebration continues Saturday night with fireworks at Woldenberg Park at 9 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS – The city of New Orleans has been celebrating its 300th birthday all year long and on Saturday, those celebrations culminated with a huge official ceremony at Jackson Square.

The U.S Marine Band New Orleans kicked off the ceremony with a couple of songs and then played as the dignitaries from all over the world walked in. Then Archbishop Aymond spoke first.

After, Governor John Bel Edwards took the podium.

“Over the past 300 years, New Orleans has born witness to wars, fires, floods, and hurricanes. And yet, here she stands, and mayor I would say she is better and stronger than she has ever been before,” Governor John Bel Edwards said.

It wasn’t just New Orleans officials that were at the celebration, 24 countries sent representatives to be a part of the celebration.

“We the French are so proud to be a part of the rich history of your city,” Consul General of France, Vincent Sciama said.

“New Orleans still reveals in its architecture, family and names of places of its Spanish roots,” Consul General of Spain Enric Calpe Panes said.

Even the First Lady of Haiti spoke.

One of the highlights of the program was a cultural performance where the city honored groups of people that have made a huge impact on the culture in the city.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu also spoke about the celebration.

“I want to thank you for joining us on this truly remarkable day to celebrate and reflect on our three-hundred-year anniversary of the founding of this spectacular and great city,” Landrieu said.

His speech walked everyone through the history of New Orleans and the post-Katrina recovery. As his term as mayor comes to a close, he finished one of his last speeches by saying, “Here's to the next 300 years. Happy Birthday New Orleans I love you so very much. God Bless you all, God Bless the City of New Orleans, and God Bless the United States of America. Thank you all very much.”

The celebration continues Saturday night with fireworks at Woldenberg Park at 9 p.m.

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