French Quarter Fest is rapidly approaching; this year's festival will be happening from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday April 12. WWOZ will be there broadcasting live for those of you who can't make it in person.

With less than three weeks to go, check out these lesser-known facts about one of New Orleans' biggest and fastest growing festivals:

Over 1700 musicians will perform on 23 stages this year.

There was record-breaking attendance at last year's festival: nearly 733,000 people.

The first French Quarter Fest was held in 1984 and included flashdancing and breakdancing competitions along with great live music and food. Attendance was in the "hundreds."

This year's headliners, Allen Toussaint and Ellis Marsalis, last played FQF in 1998 and 2006, respectively.

More than a dozen of this year's performers are new to French Quarter Fest.

A shuttle runs from the Central Business District to help with parking, but you're likely to be better off on a bike-- Bike Easy hosts valet bike parking at the Canal Street entrance to Woldenberg Park. Bike parking is also available at the Old US Mint, the 600 block of Decatur, Ursulines between Decatur and North Peters, and at the Bienville and Conti Street festival entrances.

There is a Second Line kickoff on Thursday, April 9 at 10am rolling from the 100 block of Decatur to Jackson Square.

Free dance lessons are available on Friday and Saturday at The French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Chevron Cajun-Zydeco Showcase.

There is an official French Quarter Fest iPhone app.

There are bag checks at the festival's main entry points.

Raring to go? Check out some photo highlights of recent French Quarter Festivals in the slideshow below: