On Friday night, two gigantic footballs each one made of more than 400,000 sparkly gold tiles hung in the humid air and rotated like disco balls over a stage in New Orleans.
Uber was hosting a Super Bowl party before Sunday’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, and drinks flowed from three bars as servers passed around shrimp Creole skewers and crawfish balls.
Solange Knowles was in a D.J. booth playing crowd favorites from so high up it was hard to see her face.
Emily Ratajkowski, the model and actress, was among the first to arrive, around 8:30 p.m., and was wearing a slinky black dress. Next came Amy Schumer, the comedian and actress, who headed to the bar where she laughed loudly with a few friends.
“I’ve had a long day,” Ms. Schumer said, waving off interviews.
The actor Jon Hamm, the designer Brooklyn Beckham, the musician Leon Bridges, the singer Tyla, and the D.J. Diplo followed, and headed into an exclusive area overlooking the space.
It was intimate but also hot. Temperatures in New Orleans were in the 80s, and the crowd was sweating.
Around 9 p.m., a marching band and drum line from Tulane University entered the room, and the crowd parted while the band played a Mardi Gras medley. Ms. Schumer ran to get a closer look and dance along.
Four minutes later, a cover on a stage dropped, and the rapper Travis Scott appeared.
“Let’s make some noise,” he yelled, adding an expletive for emphasis, before launching into his hits.
Mr. Hamm let out a whoop and started dancing.
This was the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, a rare event that can draw President Trump, Taylor Swift, Mr. Scott and football fans to the same place. And with the festivities, set against a heated political climate and in the wake of a terrorist attack in New Orleans earlier this year, the city was filled with glamour, angst, anticipation, heavy security and lots of music.
Throughout the weekend, major rappers and musicians headlined bashes around the city.
On Friday, Post Malone was at the Fillmore New Orleans; Snoop Dogg performed at the Orpheum Theater; and Nelly was at Brennan’s, a restaurant known for its Creole cuisine. Ludacris was the star of Shaq’s Fun House, a Super Bowl party staple that has carnival games and food.
Saturday evening, Timbaland got behind a D.J. booth and performed songs for a delighted crowd at an event hosted by Maxim and unKommon Events.
But some locals said they spent the weekend just trying to find Ms. Swift, even stopping by restaurants she might frequent and houses she could be renting. And they monitored local news outlets that documented her movements.
On Friday, fans gathered outside of Lilette, a French restaurant on Magazine Street, after Ms. Swift was spotted there with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, as well as Patrick and Brittany Mahomes. The next night, Ms. Swift dined with Mr. Kelce and the rapper Ice Spice at Gianna, an Italian restaurant.
Even those who didn’t see Ms. Swift could feel her presence across the city, and one store downtown was selling red T-shirts that said: “In My Nola Era” in gold, sparkly font.
Other recognizable faces spotted around New Orleans included Kourtney Kardashian, Cardi B, Martha Stewart, Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll and Donald Trump Jr.
N.F.L. players who weren’t participating in the Super Bowl also joined the weekend’s festivities. Athletes First, a sports representation agency, hosted a party on Saturday night in downtown New Orleans.
Braelon Allen, a rookie player from the Jets, said while he was enjoying the celebrations, he would rather be playing.
“It’s fun, but it stinks at the same time,” he said. “Every player’s dream is to win a Super Bowl.”
Reggie Wayne, a retired wide receiver who played for the Indianapolis Colts and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2007, said while laughing and puffing a cigar: “This is absolutely more fun than playing a Super Bowl.”
Heavily armed law enforcement could be seen outside of many gatherings, especially in the French Quarter. Cars were subject to random security checks, and helicopters whizzed above block parties.
Natalie Pappas, 35, an Eagles fan from Philadelphia, said the extra security made her feel she could let loose on Bourbon street, which was packed on Saturday afternoon with a familiar scene of people handing out beads, drinking on balconies and dancing in the street.
Ms. Pappas said there were so many football fans in one place it felt like a big tailgating party.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “It feels like we could be at a home game.”
