Weekend best bets: Halloween events, giant bunnies

RALEIGH, N.C. — Our best bets this weekend include more than 15 Halloween events, a new "giant bunny" exhibit at the art museum, food festivals and more.

Drink or Treat - Trophy Brewing hosts this event on Sunday featuring beer samples, sweet treats, barbecue and live music. Tickets are $15. Proceeds will help cancer survivors in the Triangle achieve their dream of a college education.

Fullsteamy Stuff - Head to Fullsteam Brewery in Durham on Saturday for some Halloween fun, including beer and candy flights, a "Stranger Things" marathon, Eggos and more.

Stranger Things 80s Rooftop Flash Chorus - Grab your Eggo waffles and watch out for the Demogorgon because Flash Chorus is coming back to The Durham Hotel Rooftop Saturday for a special edition featuring songs from Netflix's original series "Stranger Things."

Midtown Boos and Brews - The weekly farmers market at North Hills is getting spooky on Saturday with some Halloween-themed fun. There will be pumpkin decorating and pumpkin bowling, in addition to a costume contest and parade. There will also be craft beer tastings.

7 Stories: Food Service Tales of Terror II - Head to Kings in downtown Raleigh Sunday night for this event which will celebrate truly terrifying food service experiences.

Masquerading Angels Ball - This ball is Saturday at the Wake Forest Renaissance Center. Now in its 21st year, this event helps families of babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. This formal Halloween masquerade ball requires tuxedos or floor-length ballgowns and includes a casino, live band, auction, games and more. Special guest Patsy Pease, star of "Days of Our Lives," is the Master of Ceremonies.

Halloween Candy and Wine - Everyone has a favorite Halloween candy, but Chatham Hill Winery wants to help you find a great wine to go with that candy. The winery is going to be doing candy and wine pairings on Saturday and Sunday. It's $10 per person.

Bacon and Blacklights - There will be bacon cupcakes, chocolate covered bacon, bacon strips and, of course, blacklights Friday at Southland Ballroom in Raleigh. There will also be a costume contest and DJs. Advance tickets are $13 and $16 at the door.

Fright Night Movie Party - This sinister soirée features creepy portraits with visiting superstar celebrity photographer Wes Naman, a professional Halloween makeup workshop, freaky food trucks, bloody cocktails, special undead guest stars and fortunetelling Saturday night at the N.C. Museum of Art. There will also be a screening of "What We Do in the Shadows," a vampire comedy and instant cult hit written by, directed by and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi of Flight of the Conchords. Tickets are $13 for non-museum members.

Reel-y Scary Cary Film Series - Head to Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary for these scary movies, costume contests, pumpkin carving contests and a haunted house. Movies are presented Thursday through Saturday. Tickets are $10 for those ages 13 years and older. Tickets include the movie and one visit to the haunted house.

Cary's Great Pumpkin Carve - Carve your perfect pumpkin and enjoy a showing of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on Saturday in downtown Cary. Carving stations will be set up and pumpkins will be judged in a variety of categories.

Halloween Bar Crawl - This party, hosted by NC Event Pics, starts at Clouds Brewing at 5 p.m. Saturday and will travel to various nearby bars. There will be several drink specials and games. The event will also help raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Tickets are $20, but, if you enter code "WRAL70," you get 70 percent off when you purchase your ticket in advance.

Halloween Boogeyman Bar Crawl and Costume Contest - Kicking off at 500 Glenwood Ave. on Saturday at 3 p.m., this crawl features a $500 cash prize costume contest and drink specials. Tickets are $40.

Pints and Puppies - This Halloween Pup Crawl starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday on Glenwood Avenue and will hit outdoor patios at Raleigh Beer Garden, Solas, Dos Taquitos, Hibernian and more. Dogs are welcome to join in the crawl. Proceeds go to helping Hope Animal Rescue.

Raleigh Zombie Walk - This family and pet-friendly event starts at Moore Square Park in downtown Raleigh at 7 p.m. On Saturday, dress like a zombie and join your zombie-friendly walking the streets. The after-party is at London Bridge Pub.

Zombiepalooza - Celebrate Halloween with a Zombie-themed block party in downtown Cary featuring locally-produced zombie short films. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Friday with "Night of the Living Dead." In addition to movies, there will also be a best zombie costume prize and food from BREW and Crosstown Pub and Grill. Admission is free.

Day of the Dead 5K - Centro, a locally-owned Mexican restaurant in downtown Raleigh, will host the sixth annual 5k race celebrating Hispanic culture and the Day of the Dead on Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. The race will benefit the Brentwood Boys and Girls Club in Wake County. In addition to the race, there will be face painting and a mariachi band.

Dia de Los Muertos Party - Celebrate the Day of the Dead festival on Saturday at this event at Neuse River Brewing Company. The party will include face painting and art projects for kids and special beer releases for adults.

Giant Bunnies at NCMA - The new exhibit "Intrude" by Amanda Parer starts Friday at N.C. Museum of Art park. This 10-day exhibit features five large illuminated bunnies. The exhibit is free to check out, and there are nightly music-related events. Here's a full list of the bunny-related events.

ArtFreak Dance Party - If you aren't partying with the giant bunnies, head inside NCMA for the ArtFreak Dance Party featuring the viral photography of Wes Naman and music by DJ Forge and members of Kooley High. There will also be food trucks, cocktails and free admission to the Rolling Sculpture exhibit. Tickets for the party are $25 for museum members and $32 for non-members.

Durham Bulls Fall Fan Fest - Head to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday to take batting practice, play catch on the field and meet Wool E. Bull. Come in costume for a chance to win prizes.

Fayetteville Dogwood Fall Festival - This three-day event kicks off Thursday and runs through Saturday. Events include Historic Hauntings, hayrides, a haunted house and Bands and Brews. Friday's entertainment lineup includes local and regional performers. Saturday's entertainment lineup features country headliners Brett Young and Chase Bryant. Concerts are free, but preferred front row seating is available for $25 each. On Saturday only, you can also enjoy Fayetteville's Food Truck Festival.

Beyond Bollywood - The City of Raleigh Museum will open a new traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian on Friday. “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” details the history of Indian Americans and their contributions to the United States from the 1700s to the present.

Music of Star Wars - The orchestra performs selections from the “Star Wars” films at Meymandi Concert Hall Friday and Saturday. Dress as a favorite hero, villain or Star Wars character, and enjoy face painting and an instrument zoo.

Fun Home - This biting family-focused drama plays Durham Performing Arts Center through Sunday. A multiple Tony Award-winner, you won't want to miss this show. Bring tissues.

NC Opera Hercules vs. Vampires - What happens when a cutting edge Hollywood composer meets a classic sword and sandals flick from the 60s? Hercules vs. Vampires combines a performance of singers, orchestra and Patrick Morganelli’s new operatic score performed live in sync with a screening of Mario Bava’s 1961 film "Hercules and the Haunted World." See the show Sunday at Meymandi Concert Hall.

Food Service Tales of Terror - Head to Kings Sunday night for seven scary stories involving the food service industry.

NC BBQ Revival Festival - PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, and its farm partner, Green Button Farm (GBF), will host their inaugural NC Barbecue Revival at the farm Friday through Sunday. The three-day weekend includes seated dinners, classes and farm tours. Prices vary for events.

Pork and Vine Festival - The Wine Feed is partnering with Stop Hunger Now and Green Button Farm to bring you this event on Sunday. Enjoy small plates and wine samples starting at noon. General admission tickets are $40.

Durham Food Truck Rodeo - The final Durham Central Park Rodeo of the year happens on Sunday starting at noon.

Hops and Vines Festival - Sip, celebrate and support worthy causes at City Club Raleigh's first beer and wine festival. Nosh on delicious light bites one minute, then try some local produce, cheeses, and meats the next, washing it down with tasty craft beer (Neuse River Brewing, Fortnight Brewing and more) and fabulous wine. Proceeds go to Loaves and Fishes Ministry (Raleigh), which empowers low-income K-12 youth and their families to overcome individual challenges in order to achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives through long-term support.