NC Symphony, Idol contest highlight our weekend Best Bets

Downtown Raleigh will celebrate First Friday this week! Restaurants and businesses will be offering special deals, and several art galleries will have exhibitions on display. If you are in the mood for live music, City Market will have a free family-friendly celebration from 7 to 10 p.m. with music by Chris Overstreet. Children get free glowing necklaces as well. If jazz is more your speed, Solas will have music from the Gregg Gelb Jazz Trio from 6 to 9 p.m.

 

Festival for the Eno

The Festival for the Eno continues this weekend. This event celebrates the nature, culture and history of the Eno River Basin. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expect live music and dance, a craft show, local food vendors, environmental education for kids, canoeing, a sustainable living expo and more. Tickets are $18 for adults at the gate. Teens can get in for $10 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

The North Carolina Symphony will whisk you away to Paris Saturday night during their Summerfest finale at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. They will be playing Offenbach's legendary "Can-Can," as well as popular Parisian melodies and Gershwin's rapturous ode to a night on the town, An American in Paris. Tickets start at $28 and children 12 and under get in free. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Organizers pushed the start time back an hour due to the threat of excessive heat. 

Kerr Lake celebrates Independence Day

If you still want to see some fireworks, a free Independence Day celebration is being held on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park. Music will be provided by the Ryan Daniel & Band. There will be food vendors on site. A fireworks show will take place over the water once it gets dark.

Calling all aspiring singers, our sister station FOX 50 is giving you a chance to win a guaranteed audition with "American Idol" producers. Just head over to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh on Saturday and compete in FOX 50's Triangle Idol competition. One local singer will win airfare and hotel accommodations for two to New Orleans to audition for Idol producers. Registration starts at 10 a.m. in the lower level of the mall. Head over to Fox50.com for more information and to print out some forms you need to fill out before you audition.