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JANUARY

WED 1

Celebration in the Oaks
City Park, 5 Victory Ave. City Park’s famous oaks are swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays are scattered throughout 25 acres of the park, including the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.Visitors can also ride the antique carousel and holiday train. $10/person. 6–10 pm.

College Football Sugar Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Cheer on your favorite college football teams as they face each other in the annual Sugar Bowl game. Ticket prices vary. Kickoff at 7:45 pm.

Reveillon on the Ridge (continues daily until Jan. 6)
Bayou Metairie Park. Keep the holiday spirit alive a little longer with Jefferson Parish’s annual creole cultural celebration, Reveillon on the Ridge. The celebration features nightly light shows on Metairie Rd. at Labarre, special dining options from many local restaurants, and discounts at many local shops.

SAT 4

New Orleans East Birding Field Trip
Audubon Park. Birding trips are co-hosted by Orleans Audubon and the Crescent Bird Club. All are welcome. Bring binoculars and drinking water, wear hiking shoes or boots. A hat, sunscreen, other protection from the elements, and insect repellent are advisable. For more information, visit jjaudubon.net. 8 am–noon.

Freret Market
Freret Street and Napoleon Ave. The market is split up along three category lines: food, art, and flea. Besides all the great shopping, the market also hosts local restaurants serving up their unique cuisine, live music, and a kids area. 11 am–4 pm.

Tulane vs. Cincinnati
Fogelman, 6811 Freret St. Start the year off strong by supporting the Green Wave as they take on Cincinnati in their first conference home game. It’s their wellness day, so start your New Year resolutions off the right way. Tickets available at tulanegreenwave.com. 3 pm.

MON 6

4th Annual King’s Day King Cake Kick-Off
Bywater Bakery, 3624 Dauphine St. Enjoy king cakes whole, by the slice, with curbside pick-up. Eight amazing flavors of king cakes, with two new debuts for the 2020 season. Music all day long, lineup to be announced. Noon–6 pm.

Brewery Bingo
Port Orleans Brewing Company, 4124 Tchoupitoulas St. Join Port Orleans Brewing Companyand NOLA Frayin the Tasting Room every Monday night for free Brewery Bingo! Free to enter. Multiple chances to win. 7–9 pm.

Krewe of Joan of Arc
French Quarter. Kick off Mardi Gras season with the first parade and celebration of Twelfth Night, Joan of Arc. This walking parade honors the unofficial patron saint of New Orleans, Joan of Arc. 7 pm.

TUES 7

Curated Conversations with Rontherin Ratliff
Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Join the museum in their final installation of the Curated Conversations series with artist Rontherin Ratliff. Free. 6–7 pm.

WED 8

Battle of New Orleans Anniversary
Chalmette Battlefield. Return to the War of 1812 with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Chalmette Monument. The sights and sounds of the Battle of New Orleans will continue Friday and Saturday with living history reenactors, period music, and special programming.

Open House Winter 2020
Alliance Française of New Orleans, 1519 Jackson Ave. The Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans will be hosting a “Portes Ouvertes,” or open house, to present their winter 2020 course offerings and celebrate the new year. The event will also be a great opportunity to meet the AFNO teachers, staff, and board. For more information, visit af-neworleans.org. 5:30–8:30 pm.

SAT 11

Famille en Français
Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans, 1519 Jackson Ave. Spend a morning en Français! For the first 30 minutes, families will enjoy a breakfast of crêpes, hot chocolate, and coffee. Next, children will enjoy an hour and a half of French activities while the parents take part in an intro to French class. For more information, call 504.568.0770. $25/adult, $12/child. 9:30–11:30 am.

MON 13

National College Football Championship Game
Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Cheer for the LSU Tigers as they play for the championship in the final game of the season against the Clemson Tigers. Ticket prices vary.

TUES 14

“Selma:” A Movie Event
Nora Navra Library, 1902 St. Bernard Ave. The 2014 film “Selma” shows the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Stay after to discuss the film and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. This film is Rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours, 8 minutes. 4–7 pm.

Tulane vs. UCF
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Come support the Green Wave as they host UCF. Tickets available at tulanegreenwave.com. 7–10 pm.

WED 15

Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival (continues until Dec. 19)
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.

THURS 16

Pardi Gras (continues through the weekend)
Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Join the annual tropical party featuring original music from local, regional, and national artists. The event is open to anyone. Explore other fun activities unique to the French Quarter. $95/person. Times vary by day.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Main Library, 219 Loyola Ave. Celebrate Dr. King with a program featuring Ausettua AmorAmenkum, Bamboula 2000, Voices of Pride, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Commission. Light refreshments will be served. 10:30 am–noon.

The Radiators
Tipitina’s. Recent cover story and friend Dave Malone is back on tour with the Radiators this year. Check them out at their anniversary show. Ticket prices vary. Show starts at 10 pm.

FRI 17

HauntCon (continues all weekend)
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Learn the newest and most innovative makeup and scary details to enhance your costumes and decorations. The convention features over 70 hours of educational material, over 100 vendors, haunted tours, and a haunted ball. $29/person general admission. Times vary by day.

SAT 18

New Orleans East Birding Field Trip
Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, 11000 Lake Forest Blvd. Birding trips are co-hosted by Orleans Audubon and the Crescent Bird Club. All are welcome. Bring binoculars and drinking water, wear hiking shoes or boots. A hat, sunscreen, other protection from the elements, and insect repellent are advisable. For more information, visit jjaudubon.net. 8 am–noon.

What to Know Before Purchasing a Camellia
New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park. John Grimm, president of the New Orleans Camellia Society, will talk about planning your purchase of a camellia rather than impulse buying. $10/person. 10:30–11:30 am.

SUN 19

Tulane vs. Tulsa
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Come support Tulane men’s basketball and Samaritan’s Feet. They will be accepting donations for Samaritan’s Feet in the form of a new pair of sneakers or $25. Tickets available at tulanegreenwave.com. 7–10 pm.

MON 20 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Free Admission to National Parks
All national parks across the country will waive entrance fees today in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visit nps.gov to learn more.

SAT 25

Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park. Learn how to create beautiful, lush, ecologically-functional plantings for green infrastructure, public plantings, and residential gardens based on native plant communities. This lecture will focus on rebuilding biodiversity in New Orleans urban landscapes and gardens. $25/person. 9–11:30 am.

Jim Jefferies
Joy Theater. Spend the evening laughing at the wise-cracking comedian from American-Austrailian Jim Jeffries. Ticket prices vary. Shows starts at 7 pm.

SUN 26

Kicking for Kids Footgolf Tournament
Timberlane Country Club, 1 Timberlane Dr., Gretna. The New Orleans JCC hosts the second annual event, featuring an 18-hole adult tournament and a 9-hole family tournament. Proceeds will go towards scholarships for the New Orleans JCC’s maccabi team. For more information, visit nojcc.org. $200/team (adults 21+), $100/team (family). 9am–4 pm.

MON 27

Fine Wines for Canines
Pat Gallagher’s 527, 527 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. This charity dinner and wine pairing will  benefit the Northshore Humane Society. The night will feature a five-course tasting paired with exquisite wines, silent auctions and much more. $100/person. 6–9 pm.

TUES 28

Spring Vegetable Gardening
Cita Dennis Hubbell Library, 725 Pelican Ave. Master gardener Dov Block will conduct a healthy cooking demo and provide gardening tips about veggies you can plant now for a happy harvest in spring. Register online or by phone at 504.596.2596. 6:30–8 pm.

WED 29

Tulane vs. USF
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Support the Green Wave as they take on the USF Bulls. Tickets available at tulanegreenwave.com. 7–10 pm.

FRI 31

10th Annual Debutante Ball
Mardi Gras World, 1380 Port of New Orleans Place. The 610 Stompers are back at it! The 10th annual Debutante Ball will be better than ever. Tickets and theme will be on sale. RSVP on their Facebook page for the first access to the ticket release. 8 pm–midnight.

Marigny Opera Ballet’s “Aureole” (continues until Feb. 2)
Marigny Opera Ballet, 725 St. Ferdinand St. The Company will present Paul Taylor’s 1962 masterpiece, “Aureole,” accompanied by the New Resonance Orchestra. The program will also include a new work by company dancer Gretchen Erickson. For more information, visit marignyoperaballet.org.

FEBRUARY

SAT 1

Corks and Cooking for Adults – Authentic Pork Tamales
Culinary Kids Mandeville, 915 Marigny Ave., Mandeville. Enjoy dinner and walk through a detailed course of culinary skills and techniques that are sure to empower you in the kitchen. You bring the wine, they bring the ingredients. Reservations required. $60/person/class. 6–9 pm.

FRI 7

Tet Fest: Vietnamese New Year (continues until Feb. 9)
Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, 14011 Dwyer Blvd. Celebrate the New Year with this beautiful festival featuring delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, traditional dances, live music, and fun for the whole family. Times vary by day.

Celine Dion: Courage World Tour
Smoothie King Center. Celine brings her “Courage” world tour to New Orleans. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com and start at $85/person. Showtime begins at 7:30 pm.

SAT 8

Freret Market
Freret Street and Napoleon Ave. The market is split up along three category lines: food, art, and flea. Besides all the great shopping, the market also hosts local restaurants serving up their unique cuisine, live music, and a kids area. 11 am–4 pm.

Tulane vs. East Carolina
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Join Tulane Men’s Basketball as they celebrate Black History Month versus East Carolina. The first 300 fans will get a free T-shirt. 5–8 pm.

Henry’s Hearts Gala
The Alexander Room, 3200 Ridgelake Dr.This annual gala benefits pediatric heart patients and their families. For more information, visit henryaucoinfoundation.org. 21+ event. 6–10 pm.

MON 10

Spring Vegetable Gardening
Mid-City Library, 4140 Canal St. Master gardener Dov Block will conduct a healthy cooking demo and provide gardening tips about veggies you can plant now for a happy harvest in the spring. Register online or by phone at 504.596.2596. 6–7:30 pm.

WED 12

Horses, Hops and Cops
N.O.P.D. Mounted Division Stables. Guests will enjoy touring the stables, viewing the Budweiser Clydesdales up close, and learning more about how the N.O.P.D. Mounted Division has launched a new horse breeding program. Enjoy local entertainment, shopping with local arts and crafts vendors, and fun kids activities. Food and beverages will be available for sale. 5–8 pm.

Tulane vs. Temple
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Support Tulane Men’s Basketball as they take on Temple. 7–10 pm.

FRI 14
Happy Valentine’s Day

Family Gras (continues until Feb. 16.)
Clearview Center, 4436 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie. Bring the whole family and enjoy the spectacle of Mardi Gras parades, authentic cuisine, local art, a kids’ court, and outdoor concerts by both national artists and Louisiana favorites!

SAT 15

Mardi Gras 5K
Clearview Mall. The Mardi Gras 5K and Kids’ Half Mile is a family-friendly run/walk with the race finish coinciding with Jefferson Parish’s annual free Family Grasfestival. Runners and walkers of all speeds from throughout the region are encouraged to participate. Complete event details and registration info is available at runnotc.org/mardigras.

Rose Propagation
New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park. Don Hanson, volunteer and rose enthusiast, will teach how to choose the right rose and make the proper cuttings needed for propagation. You will leave with a wealth of information about rose propagation, care and maintenance, as well as a propagated rose. This is a hands on program and all materials are included. $15/person. 10:30 am–noon.

Get Yah Praise On
Audubon Zoo. The 11th annual Get Ya Praise On at Audubon Zoo is a hand-clapping, foot-stomping good time for the entire family and features a gospel music showcase with a soul-stirring lineup of local and regional gospel performers. Included with Zoo admission and complimentary for members. 11 am–4 pm.

Krewe of Tchefuncte Mardi Gras Boat Parade
Madisonville. Boats decorated to a theme will float south along the Tchefuncte River and will throw beads and trinkets to spectators. Spectators can view the parade from both the north and south sides of the bridge. 1–3 pm.

Alan Jackson
Smoothie King Center. Grammy-winning artist, Alan Jackson, brings his world tour to New Orleans. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com and start at $40/person. Showtime begins at 7:30 pm.

MON 17

President’s Day

WED 19

Tulane vs. SMU
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Support Tulane Men’s Basketball as they take on SMU. 7–10 pm.

FRI 21

French Market’s Annual Mardi Gras Mask Market (continues until Feb. 24)
French Market in Dutch Alley. Mask vendors from around the country converge at the French Market to sell their artisan masks during Mardi Gras. Enjoy live music. Food and drink will be available for purchase. 10 am–4 pm.

TUES 25

MARDI GRAS DAY

SAT 29

Tulane vs. Memphis
Fogelman Arena, 6811 Freret St. Celebrate the Leap Year with Tulane Men’s Basketball as they take on Memphis. 7–10 pm.