For sports gamers, the annual release of the new edition of the Madden franchise – “Madden NFL ’11” this year – is almost a holiday, and this year New Orleans is treating it like one. Drew Brees is on the cover, and there are a number of Saints-centric elements in game, so it’s only natural that its release is celebrated today with Madden Gras, a series of events culminating with a short Mardi Gras-style parade to Jackson Square, where Cowboy Mouth and Galactic will perform starting at 9:15 p.m. (Note: a temporary stage occupies one lane of Decatur Street, jamming up French Quarter traffic.)

Starting at 11 a.m., EA Sports will host a Madden NFL ’11-release party on Fulton Street, with kiosks for fans to try out the new game, appearances by celebrities including Terry Bradshaw, Archie Manning and Joe Horn, and live music from the Rebirth Brass Band, Bucktown All-Stars, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and  the Radiators. No current Saints will be present because they are scheduled to meet with President Obama today in Washington, D.C.

The Fulton Street festivities end at 7 p.m. when a four-float-long parade featuring former Saints and NFL stars Rickey Jackson, Marshall Faulk, Kenny Stabler, Chuck Muncie, Deuce McAllister, Joe Horn, Bobby Hebert, Mike McKenzie and Fred McAfee. After the Jackson Square concert, there will be an afterparty at the House of Blues with OutKast’s Big Boi, who recently released Sir Lucious Left Foot … The Return of Chico Dusty.

Here’s the musical schedule:

At Fulton Street:

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Rebirth Brass Band
12:30-2 p.m. – Bucktown All-Stars
2:30-4 p.m. – Rockin’ Dopsie Jr
4:45-6 p.m. – The Radiators

At Jackson Square:
9:15-10 p.m. – Galactic
11 p.m. -Midnight – Cowboy Mouth

All events are free and open to the public. The game goes on sale at midnight. For a complete schedule of events, visit Harrah’s New Orleans’ Web site.