NEW ORLEANS --Mardis Gras came early in the Big Easy.

On the night before the Broncos' matchup with the New Orleans Saints, hundreds of Broncos fans gathered outside The Swamp in the heart of Bourbon Street to cheer on their beloved team.

From a balcony above the action, Miles the Mascot and two members of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders tossed beads down to the roaring crowd and started cheers as the party raged on.

"It's nuts," said Eric Walker of Denver. "I never thought we'd see something like this here — just that this many Broncos fans traveled out here to support the team."

The event was just one of several meetups that the Broncos have hosted on the road this season. Fans had the opportunity to visit with Miles and Broncos Cheer in San Diego and the Bay Area, and there will be another event in Nashville when the Broncos travel to Tennessee.

Kim Parker, who was born in Denver but has since moved to Jacksonville, said she travels whenever possible to see her Broncos. Parker and her family also attended the Broncos' win in Tampa earlier this season, but in New Orleans on Saturday night, she said this road trip has the feel of a home game.

"This is awesome," Parker said. "This city's really built it up for us. It's nice. It's a warm welcome."

Even local law enforcement got in on the fun. As Miles and the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders strolled down Bourbon Street, a police officer got on his car's PA system to taunt the group with "Who Dat?" It was just one of several fun moments of good-hearted competition deep in Saints territory.

That competitive atmosphere will crank up on Sunday when the Broncos run out onto the Mercedes-Benz Superdome turf. Saturday, however, offered a chance to have a little fun.