RALEIGH, N.C. — The hot spot in the Triangle on Saturday will be the ice at the the RBC Center, the site of this year's National Hockey League Draft.

There will be plenty of excitement for hard-core hockey fans and a lot in store for parents who just want a fun, free event for the kids.

While the serious hockey business goes on inside the arena, the fun will be out on the lawn between the RBC Center and Carter-Finley Stadium. The area will be buzzing with activity -- the special-edition

Caniac Carnival.

From 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, there will be interactive hockey-related games, live music, a party atmosphere.

People also can register online to win a trip for two from Southwest Airlines to an NHL game and overnight accommodations from Sheraton.

On the concourse, the Stanley Cup will be on display. Back inside the arena, for the serious fan, all the big names in hockey will be right before your eyes.

"For somebody who just knows Wayne Gretzky, you're going to be able to sit in the seats and see him," RBC Center General Manager Dave Olsen said. "That kind of thing is really exciting for a real hockey fan. That's what I get excited about at the draft -- seeing all my hockey heroes in one room at the same time."