Cityscape checks out the best of the fests this season – we’ve got the deets on the city’s top dates, those worth hitting the road for and those to take to the air for. Tap our top picks – a mix of eats, beats and culture to keep your summer (and autumn) pumping.

Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival

You thought the 2019 edition of the World Buskers Festival was insane? Think again, because the 2020 edition is tapped to up the ante by unleashing a wealth of local and international talent when it takes over the city for a massive 24 days. The extravaganza will play host to a smorgasbord of heavy-hitters on the entertainment scene.

Where: Various central-city venues.
When: January 23 – February 16.
Why: Epic performances from some of the world’s top buskers.
Info: breadandcircus.co.nz

North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival

Make a beeline for the North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival, dubbed the “coolest little wine festival in the country”. The annual event showcases the region’s top drops and seasonal eats courtesy of a wealth of eclectic food vendors and wineries. This year’s powerhouse collective includes The Boneline, Greystone, Black Estate and Pegasus Bay Winery, all of whom have racked up a ton of accolades. Wander amongst the idyllic oaks, soak up the rays and indulge in North Canterbury’s finest produce from local favourites like Inati and Twenty Seven Steps. Explore the Makers Market and get crafty with the best local artisans and craftspeople... all to the slick tunes and entertainment that’ll keep the good vibes going all day long. Keep an ear out for the smooth sounds of Anika Moa, a lineup of North Canterbury DJs and festival faves The Eastern.

Where: Glenmark Domain, Waipara Valley.
When: Sunday March 8.
Why: Your chance to indulge in some of the best wine and produce in the country.
Kids: Your little festival-goers party for free.
Info: ncwineandfood.co.nz

The Great Kiwi Beer Festival

Beer lovers rejoice, the hoptastic Great Kiwi Beer Festival will once again take over Hagley Park. With a well-earned reputation for being the country’s largest outdoor beer festival (and some – in fact, we – would say the best), it’s easy to see how this fabulous festival will wow with its debut in Hamilton this year, too. Come prepared for an epic afternoon and evening dedicated to the nation’s favourite amber liquid – you’re sure to finish a cheeky bevvy or two. Navigate your way through more than 40 craft brewers serving up beers and ciders – add in some of the region’s and city’s top eats and shoulder-tap some of the country’s best musos including The Raddlers, Dragon, Summer Thieves, The Mutton Birds and Your Indigo, and you’ve got one heck of a beerstravaganza.

Where: Hagley Park.
When: January 25.
Why: Uh, the best beer and cider you can wrap your sweet li’l taste-buds around!
Info: greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz

Cassels & Sons Nostalgia Festival

Kick back to the sounds of summer at this day-long festival, a celebration of music and food set within the 1900s replica township of Ferrymead Heritage Park. Uniting the community through the magic of music, this hip festival showcases a curated selection of feel-good New Zealand and international artists with music courtesy of Ladyhawke, Lord Echo, Troy Kingi, Tiny Ruins, Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders and many more set to unleash their tunes on the Nostalgia stage. Wander through the vintage streets, treat yourself to a wealth of primo eats and drinks, soak up the entertainment of the roving theatre and peruse artisan goodies. Let the good times roll!

Where: Ferrymead Heritage Park.
When: February 15.
Why: Experience a laid-back festival in a unique environment.
Info: nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Electric Avenue Music Festival

Get your groove on and make for Electric Avenue Music Festival at Hagley Park, where you’ll get to soak up 12 hours of back-to-back tunes. Bringing sizzle and heat by way of an array of local and international musical talent, the 2020 edition sees heavyweights Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals nabbing the headline spot. When it’s time to recharge, wrap your taste-buds around the food and drink goodies on offer.

Where: Hagley Park.
When: February 22.
Why: 12 hours of high-octane bangers.
Info: electricavenuefestival.co.nz

Fat Freddy’s Drop

If you’re like us and always frothing top-notch music from local and international artists, then Fat Freddy’s Drop’s annual summer performance is the one. This year they’re taking it nek lev by bringing some of the coolest cats in the Australasian music scene including hip hop queen JessB, the signature melting pot of sounds from L.A.B. and legendary Aussie street performer Dub FX among some other crazy-good artists. It all goes off on Waitangi Day, so you know there’ll be some chill vibes and great times to be had. Don’t worry if you’ve cut one too many a shape on the d-floor, the wealth of eats and bevvy stalls that’ll be out in full force will keep your energy levels high, so you don’t miss a thing.

Where: Hagley Park.
When: February 6.
Why: Fat Freddy’s Drop, duh?
Info: fatfreddysdrop.com

Jazz & Cabaret Festival

The Jazz & Cabaret Festival promises six days packed with awesome entertainment delivered by 80 different artists. Previously known as the Jazz & Blues Festival, this event has had a makeover for 2020 and with it you can expect some amazing covers and tribute shows – we’re talking Joni Mitchell, with Julia Deans bringing some honey-sweet falsetto; The Doors, with popular cover band Lizard King; a Sting/Police cover show and a stack more to be announced. You’ll be buzzing over the artists and events.

Where: Various locations.
When: May 19 – 24.
Why: Something to please everyone and sophisticated smooth sounds.
Info: jazzcabaretfestival.co.nz

Gindulgence Festival

Get your gin on at this year’s two-day instalment of Gindulgence. There’ll be a load of top-notch Kiwi gin producers bringing the goods, plus stellar international brands. And some of the best food trucks in town are showing up for this one.

Where: Ilam Homestead.
When: March 28 – 29.
Why: The best gin around!
Info: gindulgence.co.nz

GROW Ō TAUTAHI

Come March, GROW Ō TAUTAHI will celebrate our region’s love of all things gardens and outdoor living.

Where: Botanic Gardens and Christchurch Art Gallery.
When: March 14 – 22.
Why: Plants are cool, yo!
Info: growotautahi.org.nz

Banks Peninsula Festival

If you’re into good food, fresh produce, top-notch beer and wine and a little bit of learning, then this is the one. Cruise to the oh-so-pretty Banks Peninsula and get amongst all the fabulousness that will be on offer. There’ll be 70-plus stalls – expect cooking demonstrations, a mystery box cook-off judged by celebrity chef Simon Gault, craft, tasty treats and delicious drops. You can get your groove on at the Cassels Lil’ Smoke Stage, where six musical acts will be playing some primo tunes. The best part – if you do want to indulge in a few cheeky bevvys, there’s a free shuttle service throughout the day from the Diamond Harbour Ferry.

Where: Orton Bradley Park.
When: February 22.
Why: A relaxing day in a spectacular setting.
Info: bankspeninsulafestival.co.nz

The Rest of the Fests

Get your noodle on at the Night Noodle Markets (Feb 6 – 15), where you’ll find an array of Asian flavours as well as entertainment and a bar. Kick back at Selwyn Sounds (Mar 7), which winds back the clock with epic retro offerings from Icehouse, 10cc, Midge Ure and more. Celebrate film and check out some damn good flicks at the NZ International Film Festival (Aug 6 – 23), at Lumière and the Isaac Theatre Royal. For all those lovers of literature, diary the WORD Festival  (Aug 25 – 30), which will again feature some of the world’s top novelists, thinkers, journalists, poets and storytellers.

Out-of-town festivals worth travelling for include Soundsplash (Jan 17 – 19, Timaru), One Love (Jan 25/26, Tauranga), Okains Bay Music Fest (Jan 25), St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Jan 27, Auckland), Wellington Wine & Food Festival (Feb 1), Shipwrecked Music & Arts Festival (Feb 7 – 9, Auckland), Marlborough Wine & Food Festival (Feb 8, Blenheim), Art Deco Festival (Feb 19 – 23, Napier), New Zealand Festival (Feb 21 – Mar 15, Wellington), Splore Festival (Feb 21 – 23, Auckland), Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (Mar 7), Auckland Arts Festival (Mar 11 – 29), WOMAD (Mar 13 – 15, New Plymouth), Dunedin Fringe Festival (Mar 19 – 29), Jim Beam Homegrown (Mar 21, Wellington), Bluff Oyster and Food Festival (May 23).