Weekend best bets: Cinco de Mayo, Band Together

RALEIGH, N.C. — Cinco de Mayo parties, the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival and much, much more top our list of weekend events in the Triangle.

Band Together NC's Main Event with Ben Folds - The Triangle-based organization holds its main event on Saturday night at Red Hat Amphitheater. Crossover artist Ben Folds, who blends rock, pop and even classical pieces will lead the show, with proceeds from the event benefiting the 2017 Band Together/YMCA of the Triangle partnership.

Komen Triangle Race for the Cure - Thousands of participants will join together on Saturday to help fight breast cancer. This annual race, which will be held at The Frontier at Research Triangle Park, will include a recreational 5K, 1 mile fun run, a survivor celebration, a tailgating zone, food trucks and a beer garden.

Arthouse 2017 - CAM Raleigh will host this event Friday night featuring dancing, an auction of curated experiences and cuisine from Standard Foods.

Meet in the Street - Downtown Wake Forest will be hosting a day of art, food, music and family fun on Saturday during this annual event.

PeakFest - This celebration in downtown Apex on Saturday features music, food and entertainment.

Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo - Downtown Raleigh will be filled with more than 50 food trucks on Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - This Pittsboro festival is a music lovers' paradise. There will be more than 60 bands playing four stages over four days. Things kick off Thursday and run through Sunday at the Chatham County farm.

Out! Raleigh - This seventh annual festival, which promotes diversity awareness and inclusiveness for the LGBT community and its allies, will be held Saturday on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. The family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, local vendors and artists, a KidsZone and a beer garden. Proceeds will go to the LGBT Center of Raleigh and its more than 20 community programs.

Ham and Yam Festival - Downtown Smithfield will host this annual celebration Saturday. It is known for its ham biscuits, barbecue pork and sweet potatoes. There will also be arts, crafts, kid’s activities, live entertainment, a pig cooking contest and piglet racing.

'Don't be Mean to People' Music Festival - Ponysaurus Brewing Co. will host this concert for ACLU of NC on Saturday featuring Hiss Golden Messenger, Megafaun and special guests, Mount Moriah, Shirlette Ammons, Loamlands and DJ Bug Spray (Mac McCaughan). The brewery, along with all participating artists, are donating percent of the proceeds to the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.

Durham Greek Festival - Celebrate Greek culture Saturday and Sunday at St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church. There will be good food, music and more fun. Admission is free. A portion of festival proceeds will benefit the Durham Rescue Mission.

Bee Ball - The Beehive Collective hosts this annual fundraiser on Saturday at The Maywood. Every year, organizers pick a theme - recent themes have been housing and immigrants' rights - and donate a substantial grant to a Raleigh non-profit. The party will include music from Sidecar Social Club. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Sip and Shop - Carolina Brewing Company will have local artists and vendors on site Saturday for a pop-up event. Admission is free.

Locally Made Market - More than 20 talented local artisans will be at The Mayton Inn on Sunday afternoon. The market is free to attend and is family friendly.

Cinco de Mayo Crawl Downtown Raleigh - NC Event Pics hosts this crawl to six spots in the Glenwood South area. There will be prizes, games and drink specials. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Things kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at My Way Tavern.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration at The Pour House - Los Acoustic Guys and Bakalao Stars will be performing Friday night at the downtown Raleigh club.

Gregg Gelb and Latin Jazz Quintet - Latin jazz players in the area will be performing authentic Latin jazz including Cha Cha, Mambo, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Son Montuno Friday night at A Step to Gold International Ballroom.

Cinco de Mayo Concert and Party - This celebration is happening Friday night at Noir in downtown Raleigh. There will be a free Mexican food buffet and live music. General admission tickets are $10 at the door.

Midtown Bluegrass Series Kickoff - This four-hour North Hills show on Sunday features veteran bluegrass band The Boxcars and rising stars ShadowGrass. The afternoon will begin with a facilitated youth jam with local musicians Lynda and Jamie Dawson.

Loretta Lynn - Rising from an impoverished childhood in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, Loretta Lynn personifies the American dream in a way few other artists can. See her at Carolina Theatre of Durham Friday night.

Katt Williams - The comedian brings his Great America Tour to PNC Arena Saturday night.

Mamma Mia! - The ultimate feel-good show plays DPAC Friday through Sunday.

Spoon - This indie pop rock band plays The Ritz Sunday night.

Rhiannon Giddens - Singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens, the co-founder of the Grammy award-winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, will play UNC's Memorial Hall on Sunday.

CAKE Comedy Tour - Carrie Gravenson (Carolines on Broadway), Abbie Crutchfield (TRUTV's You can Do Better) and Kaytlin Bailey (Sirius XM) and Erin Judge (Last Comic Standing) will perform at Kings in downtown Raleigh Friday night.

The Mix Up All-star Revue - See some of Durham's hottest artists on the rise at The Bullpen in Durham on Saturday night.