18 Triangle events to check out this week

RALEIGH, N.C. — These fun events will help you get through the work week.

Just in case you forgot, the NC State Fair continues all day, every day in Raleigh all week long, ending on Sunday. We put a few don't-miss fair events in this guide.

The Embers, Craig Woolard and Jim Quick & Coastline will perform at the Dorton Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Fest. Audiences will enjoy dancing to the eclectic blend of soul, blues and rock music inspired by many Southern landscapes.

At 6:30 p.m. at Alley Twenty Six in Durham, enjoy a discussion on the history of gin and gin cocktails with the founders of Durham Distillery at Cocktails 101: The Gin Lovers Class. The class price of $35 will cover three gin cocktails plus light snacks.

Open Mic Night starts at Deep South in downtown Raleigh at 7:30 p.m. If you love it, this event repeats every Tuesday.

The NC State Fair Folk Festival starts at 4 p.m. at the Dorton Arena. Get ready for a fun night of toe tapping and sing-a-long fun featuring the state's best folk artists.

Love Jones: The Musical is a stage adaptation of one of the greatest urban films of all time. See it at DPAC at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday night is Trivia Night at The Pinhook in Durham. The fun starts at 8:30 p.m., and prizes include a $50 beer tab and tickets to local shows.

Raleigh Roadhouse will host their annual Fall Kilt Night starting at 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy authentic Celtic music from Scotland's Albannach band plus plenty of food and drink.

La Sera, a husband-wife duo, will perform at 9 p.m. at The Pinhook in Durham.

Beats Antique describes their sound as "a journey beyond the sonic realm that's part odyssey, part genre-warping rock opera." They'll perform at 9 p.m. at Cat's Cradle. Tickets start at $26.

Come out to Fullsteam Brewery in Durham at 5:30 p.m. for Craft + Beer, a free event that brings together local craft artists, creative professionals and craft beer.

Don't miss this if you love oysters! The 12th Annual Garner Rotary Club OysterFest menu includes “all you can eat” oysters, seafood bisque and clam chowder, catfish fingers, chicken fingers, popcorn shrimp, pulled BBQ, coleslaw, potato salad, french fries, dessert and drinks. A cash bar is also available. Tickets are $35 at the door. Proceeds from the event are used to fund college scholarships for area high school seniors.

Aloft Hotel in Durham hosts a social game night every Thursday evening from 8 to 11 p.m. There are 60 + games each night, including some old school favorites.

Help Local 22 in Durham celebrate their two year birthday with a Blues & Brews Birthday Bash. There will be food, beer and a DJ spinning until 1 a.m.

It's comedy night at Kings in downtown Raleigh, with eight great comedians including the great Eric Trundy, Chad Cosby, Leo Hodson, Kenyon Adamcik, Shari Diaz, Jared Boynton and more. Tickets are only $5. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Start your weekend off in a spooky way and jump on board the Haunted Trolley for a special late night tour of downtown Raleigh's most haunted places. The trolley departs from Mordecai Historic Park at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 p.m. Advanced registration is recommended.

Tickets are only $25 for the Paint it Pink Gala at The Stockroom at 230 in downtown Raleigh. Each ticket includes appetizers, dessert, lots of dancing and fun during a silent auction and two drink tickets for beer or wine. 100 percent of the proceeds go to a local breast cancer non-profit that gives support to NC women battling the disease.

The Anything Goes show at Goodnights Comedy Club starts late - and for a good reason! This show, which starts at 10:30 p.m. on select Friday nights, is full of raunchy laughs only for people 18 and over. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance of the show.