These New Orleans weekend plans are best bets.

There are more than three rings of things to do in the Crescent City this weekend (but that’s a big hint as to one of them). From the east bank to the “best bank,” it’s a bang-up time.

Step right up and enjoy the thrills of the CARDEN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS when the show comes to town with the “Spectacular Extremes Circus.”  The new show from the three-ring purveyors of excitement is headed to the Pontchartrain Convention and Civic Center in Kenner this weekend, 7 p.m. Friday; noon, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. From high-wire acts to the dancing elephants, the family-friendly fun has trapeze acts, the Motorcycle Globe of Death, clowns and more from around the world, plus preshow chances to meet the performers, animal rides and more at Williams Boulevard and Lake Pontchartrain. Tickets start at $10. Head over to the big-top excitement here.

Head over to Westwego and the John Alario Center, 2000 Segnette Blvd., for the WESTBANK HERITAGE FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL, two days of entertainment, music including gospel, food and activities for kids. The annual festival will feature music from Tamar Braxton, Boosie, Cherchez La Femme, Con Funk Shun and the Roots of Music. Plus, there will be a “Gospel Explosion,” an interactive kids zone experience and lots of tasty food options. The free event is from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check out all the good times at the “best bank” festival here.

Charlamagne Tha God, Rickey Smiley and Nick Cannon are among the headliners at Friday’s NOLALOVE RALLY starting at 10 a.m. at Xavier University’s Convocation Center, 7900 Stroelitz St. The InspireNOLA event, expected to draw more than 4,000 youth, is billed as a “youth-inspired initative working to end the youth crisis in New Orleans” with a rally that includes political officials, journalist, ministers and other notables, interspersed with performances by local artists and DJs. Check out more here.

The fun on the West Bank starts Friday evening with a special benefit concert at 6:30 p.m. at the Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market. “SUPPORT THE SQUARE” will feature the sounds of Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition and will help raise funds for memorial plaques honoring the town’s veterans in Honor Square. The Westwego Historical Museum event will have a $5 cover charge. The market is located at 484 Sala Ave., Westwego.

Citing inspiration from Taylor Swift, the drag legend sets her sights on New Orleans for her special blend of cabaret with “VARLA JEAN: THE ERRORS TOUR” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Café Instanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave. The performance personae of Jeffery Roberson, Varla Jean “takes you through the Taylor Swift catalogue and creates some hilarious hits and egregious errors” in a show proclaimed to be a “tour-de-farce certain to be an unforgivable, er, unforgettable evening of ‘Varla’s Version’ of entertainment.” Tickets start at $30. Get a “Swift” kick from Ms. Merman here.

The Vieux Carré gets in touch with its Hispanic roots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the French Market for the HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION, of music, food and activities. Performances are expected by Patrice Fisher & Arpa, Siempre Flamenco, Javier Gutierrez and Vivaz, and Orkestra Fumaça. Learn dances like the salsa, bachata and merengue while enjoying food from some of the area’s most popular Latin culinarians. There will also be crafts and more for kids, plus community organizations with information. ¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

Armstrong Park will be bursting with fun and talent Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for L.O.C.A.L.S. FEST, a celebration of home-spun musicians, artisans, chefs and entrepreneurs. The free Loving Our Community As Louisiana event is a showcase that includes music, food and more, marking its fifth year and return to the park at 701 N. Rampart St. on the edge of the French Quarter and Tremé. Some of the acts expected include Raw Revolution, The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., One Shot Brass Band, T-Ray the Violinist and more. Check out the fest here.

PLAY SOIRÉE, the gala fundraiser for the Louisiana Children’s Museum, gets bannered with “Goodnight Moon on the Lagoon,” a takeoff of the popular story time book and the museum’s location in City Park. The “Great Friend to Kids Award” ceremony kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday (honoring Tracy and Calvin Mackie and Anne and King Milling), with a patron’s party at 7 p.m. and general admission at 8 p.m. for music (Raw Deal), dancing, dining and a raffle of dazzling items, including suite tickets to see Taylor Swift plus a stay at the Four Seasons. Tickets for the gala start at $125. Get ready to play here.

With a tip of the 10-gallon hat to the music makers, “SONGBLAZERS: A JOURNEY INTO COUNTRY MUSIC” the new show from Cirque du Soleil marks the performance group’s first foray into the sounds of country. The acrobatic maneuvers, high-flying phenomenon and other Cirque artistry is paired with contemporary and classic strains from the country songbook, with 35 tunes spanning more than 150 years. Tickets for the production start at $44. Performances will be 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St. Kick up your heels here.

The culture of Latin America gets special treatment Sunday at the Audubon Zoo for CELEBRACIÓN LATINA with music and food joining the animals for a fiesta. The strains of Latin music will be provided by groups like Fermin Ceballos, Rumba Buena and Nina Le Ray and NOLA Sound Machine, with culinary offerings from Los Jefes, Pollo Campero, and Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco. Mariachi en Nueva Orleans Los Viajeros will perform throughout the day. The event is included in zoo admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 6500 Magazine St.  Celebrate here.