First Friday, World Beer Fest lead best bets for this weekend

RALEIGH, N.C. — First Friday is this Friday in downtown Raleigh! Check out our guide to the fun this month.

General admission tickets are still on sale for Saturday’s World Beer Festival in Durham. For $45, you get a tasting glass and unlimited 2 ounce tastings from a selection of more than 300 craft beers and access to the Art of Beer Village for food and beer pairings and seminars. There are two sessions to choose from – noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.

The Raleigh Convention Center is the site of a three-day celebration of global cultures this weekend. The International Festival of Raleigh will have shopping, face-painting, music and authentic entertainment from more than 30 cultures. Tickets prices start at $6 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children aged 7 to 12.

Life in Color, dubbed the World’s Largest Paint Party, will hit the Red Hat Amphitheater on Saturday night. There will be fire shows, DJs, aerial acts and more. Tickets start at $38.

The Ava Gardner Festival kicks off Friday night at the Smithfield museum honoring the famous actress. Highlights of this year’s festival include a “Mad About Ava” party on Friday night with specialty drinks and a costume contest. The festival will also be hosting heritage tours to Ava’s birthplace and showings of “The Night of the Iguana.” Ticket prices vary.

Dinner in the Village – Cameron Village is hosting an outdoor dinner party Saturday night to benefit WakeMed Children’s Hospital. The annual Dinner in the Village event starts at 6 p.m. Tables are $200 and contain eight seats. Groups are encouraged to decorate tables and have a great time. There will be music, dancing and a silent auction. You need to bring your own food and drink or you can buy stuff from the nearby restaurants. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated tables.

Fox 50 Family Fest – Our sister station Fox 50 is celebrating its family fest with events at Pullen Park in Raleigh and American Tobacco Campus in Durham. The events feature live music, face painting, balloon art, live animals, Ronald McDonald, Wool E. Bull and baby crawling contests. They will be at Pullen on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in Durham on Sunday from noon-3 p.m. The events are free. 

- Get even more family picks for the weekend from our friend Go Ask Mom!

Over the Edge - WRAL’s Kelcey Carlson will go “Over the Edge” of the Wells Fargo Capitol Center in downtown Raleigh on Friday to help support Special Olympics North Carolina. She will be rappelling down the 32-story building at noon. Other participants who have raised $1,000 for the nonprofit will be rappelling on Saturday. 

Center Stage at ATC - The Center Stage music series at American Tobacco in Durham continues on Friday night with an evening of bluegrass from 3rd Time Out and Mipso. The event is free and also features a beer tent, food trucks and a children’s bounce house.