The gears have started turning for New Orleans’ tricentennial celebration, which will be held in 2018.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced in a press release that planning for the tricentennial event will be conducted by an executive committee and various other sub-committees.

Landrieu said that the event will not only celebrate 300 years of our city’s unique culture, but it will also be a look towards the future of New Orleans.

The executive committee is made up of New Orleans citizens who have excelled in their field and are integral members of the community, according to the press release.

Some members of the executive committee include Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Drew Brees, Tom and Gayle Benson, and Steve Gleason.

The director of the committee will be Mark Romig, president and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Romig said that the tricentennial commission’s main goal is to properly pay tribute to New Orleans’ resiliency over the past three centuries, as well as the continuously growing culture found here.

“This stems from the desires to not only implement programs that celebrate our history, but also those that build on the rich and authentic gumbo of cultures that have paved the way to where we are today,” Romig said.

In addition to the executive committee, there will be eight sub-committees working to make the event a complete showcase of New Orleans’ growth in various areas of life.

Roming said that the committee members were announced at the beginning of December, and all of the planning is in its early stages.

He said that they will meet with the various committees over the next few months to have a better sense of the direction and scope of each committee’s efforts.

Executive Committee

director

Mark Romig, president and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation

Members

Troy “Tombone Shorty” Andrews, native musician

Tom and Gayle Benson, owners of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans

Donna Brazile, author, political analyst and vice chair of DNC

Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints

James Carville, political advisor and commentator

Harry Connick Jr., native musician and actor

Steve Gleason, former safety for the New Orleans Saints

Wynton Marsalis, native musician and teacher