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Keep the good times rolling all year with these lesser-known festivals.

A new year means new Jazz and Quarter Fests, but if the New Orleans area is anything, it’s home to much more than music and food — there’s also music and food, and art, tacos, books, wine, heritage, and more fests. Here’s a year’s worth of off the beaten path, offbeat fests.

JANUARY

Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival
Downtown New Orleans. Pay homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and lyricist Danny Barker. His life and legacy are remembered and celebrated during this fest featuring live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, organized events and outings, second lines, and more. Tickets start at $5/person. Times vary by day. Jan. 15–19, 2020

FEBRUARY

Tet Fest: Vietnamese New Year
Mary Queen of Vietnam Church. Learn about Vietnamese culture at the Vietnamese New Year festival. New Orleans is home to a large Vietnamese population that celebrates the New Year with this beautiful festival featuring delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, traditional dances, live music, and fun for the whole family. Free. Feb. 7–9, 2020

MARCH

Ahava Fest
Woldenberg Park. Embrace love at this music and art festival. The festival music will feature a mix of national, regional, and local artists. Local businesses and groups will attend the festival to provide resources and outreach. Free. VIP tickets and black tie event tickets available. Visit ahavafest.com for more information. March 7–8, 2020

Top Taco Fest
Woldenberg Park. Taste the best tacos and margaritas from over 50 New Orleans venues. Awards are given for top creative taco, top traditional taco, top creative tequila cocktail, and top traditional margarita. Leading up to the festival, Agave Week takes place at restaurants throughout the city. Tickets start at $75/person. 7–10 pm. March 19, 2020

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Various locations in New Orleans. Join thousands of wine and food lovers at this festival that includes more than 250 wineries and over 800 vintages poured at a series of indoor and outdoor events and dinners. Tickets are sold separately to all events with a range of VIP packages that bundle events together. March 18–22, 2020

New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University
Tulane University Uptown Campus. 2020 is the first year of this new literary festival for New Orleans. The university will host more than 40 best-selling national, regional, and local authors, panel discussions, lectures, book fairs, workshops, and more. Free. Some events are ticketed. March 19–21, 2020

Fête Français
Uptown New Orleans. Celebrate French heritage at this festival for music lovers and gastronomes. Two stages will feature local and international talent, food and beverage vendors will be available, and there will be fun French-themed games and crafts. March 28, 2020

APRIL

NOLA Crawfish Festival
Central City BBQ. Celebrate crawfish season with its own three-day festival! Enjoy over 6,000 pounds of fresh crawfish, live music, and competitions at the 5th annual NOLA Crawfish Festival. Ticket prices vary. Times vary by day. Apr. 27–29, 2020

MAY

Little Red Church Food and Fun Festival
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Destrehan. Visit Destrehan for this annual festival that includes amusement park rides, delicious food and beverages, games, raffles, and live music from local bands and artists. May 1–3, 2020

NOLA Bookstars Signing and Darkest Hearts Ball
Vampire Ball at the Starlight, 817 St. Louis St., New Orleans. Meet over 60 authors. After a signing, put on your masks, get out your best dresses and suits, and join the After Party. Dance to a live band or upstairs DJ, and learn your future from a tarot reading. $5/person general admission to signing, $25/person VIP admission to signing, or $145/person for the ball and signing. 9 am–8:30 pm. May 30, 2020

Bluesberry Festival
Bogue Falaya Park, Covington. The Northshore’s newest celebration of the arts is back for its second year. The festival will feature both national and regional musical talent, an interactive arts tent, over 30 vendors showcasing original artwork, Abita Beer Garden, a food truck roundup, a children’s village, and more. $25/person general admission, and free for children 10 and under. May 30, 2020

New Orleans Oyster Festival
Woldenberg Park.Celebrate your love for oysters with other oyster enthusiasts at the New Orleans Oyster Fest. There will be local restaurants, oyster farmers, contests, music, and so much more. Free. May 30-31, 2020

JUNE

NOLA Caribbean Experience
Central City BBQ. Spend two weekends celebrating the northernmost point of Caribbean culture, New Orleans! The festival features live music performances, international DJs, local chefs, art vendors, kids activities, and dancing. Tickets start at $10/person. June 19–21 and 24–28, 2020.

JULY

Chicken Jam
UNO Lakefront Arena. Support the Al Copeland Foundation’s cancer research and eat fried chicken! Fried chicken from several vendors available along with several live music performances. Ticket prices vary. For tickets and more information, visit alcopelandfoundation.org. 2020 date TBD

Kolaj Fest
Downtown New Orleans. Learn and share about collage art with collage artists for a weekend. Activities include keynote speaker presentations, demonstrations, and exhibitions. Registration costs start at $75. Event times vary by day. July 8–12, 2020

Bastille Day Fête
City Park and Faubourg St. John. Celebrate French culture and history with French cuisine and cooking demonstrations, kid-friendly activities, film screenings, and dogs in costumes. Explore the area as there are so many additional events happening throughout the city. Free with some events charging for participation. 2020 date TBD

AUGUST

Hot August Night
Downtown Development District, Hammond. An afternoon and evening of live music and wine towards the end of the summer. For $20, you can get a wine sampling wristband and try wines from local vendors around downtown. 2020 date TBD

SEPTEMBER

Irish Fest New Orleans
Kingsley House, New Orleans. Immerse yourself in the active Irish cultural community through music, games, food, and dancing. 2020 tickets, times, and 2020 date TBD.

Alligator Festival
Westbank Bridge Park, Luling. Come see all things alligator from alligator-themed games, alligator dishes, and live gators. Proceeds provide local students with scholarships. Visit alligatorfestival.org for more information. Sept. 24–27.

OCTOBER

Carnaval Latino
Various locations around the city. Celebrate the Latin culture of all the Americas, carnaval style. A parade will take place throughout the city and several venues will host Latin artists. For more information, visit carnavalatinola.com. 2020 date TBD

Wooden Boat Festival
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, Madisonville. Try your skills at building a boat and race down the course to a prize. Children can build boats, too! Free admission for children under 12. $10/adult. Time varies by day. Oct. 10–11

NOLA Reggae Festival
Congo Square. Experience irie music and culture at this two-day weekend festival. Ticket prices vary. Oct. 16–18.

NOVEMBER

Water Fall Fest: A Climate Change Solutions Festival
Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center. Festival-goers will enjoy interactive learning stations, free bus and walking tours of projects that help reduce flooding and energy costs, discussion with community, nonprofit, and city leaders, live music, and free beignets. Free. 10:30 am–3:30 pm. 2020 date TBD

DECEMBER

Luna Fete
Lafayette Square. Celebrate the holidays all weekend long in the park with illuminated installations, digital sculptures, video-mapping projections, and art animated by technology. Free. 6–10 pm. 2020 date TBD

Christmas Past Festival
Old Mandeville; Mandeville Trailhead. Explore a classic Christmas festival featuring a Children’s Village with arts and crafts, food court, live musical performances, train rides, horse and carriage rides, carolers, roaming holiday characters, and Santa Claus. 10 am–4 pm. 2020 date TBD.