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Weekend best bets: Mardi Gras parties, Pig Pickin'

Here's your guide to weekend fun in the Triangle.

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Mardi Gras
RALEIGH, N.C. — Here's your guide to weekend fun in the Triangle.

Mardi Gras

Raleigh's Mardi Gras Downtown - NC Event Pics hosts this bar crawl through Glenwood South Friday night. The party starts with dinner at My Way Tavern.
Samedi Gras - Durham will celebrate "Fat Saturday" - the Saturday before Mardi Gras - with a party at The Pinhook Saturday night. Test drive your costumes and listen to music from The Chit Nasty Band and The Rissi Palmer Band. Tickets are $10 and go to help fund Tuesday's big, free Mardi Gras party.
Wake Forest Mardi Gras Street Festival - This family-friendly celebration starts at 11 a.m. Saturday and runs through 4 p.m. in Wake Forest. Admission is free. There will be a parade, children's activities and more fun.
Mardi Gras Madness - Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex hosts this event on Saturday afternoon. Learn about the holiday through games, crafts and a story.

On stage

Last Band Standing - Band Together NC hosts this battle of the bands Saturday night at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. Cris Jacobs, Travers Brothership and the Jon Stickley Trio will take the stage in hopes of earning a spot on the bill for May's Band Together Main event featuring Ben Folds. Tickets start at $10.
Altos plays Lincoln Theatre during Hopscotch Music Fest on Sept. 6, 2012.
The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time - The Tony award-winning play will play DPAC through Sunday. The show tells the story of Christopher, a teen who has an extraordinary brain but isn't able to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.
Shen Yun - For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in China. Humanity's treasure was nearly lost, but, through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture. See this visually stunning show at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Saturday and Sunday.
Shen Yun Performing Arts
WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit - This annual two-night concert kicks off Friday at Kings in downtown Raleigh. Performers will include DJ Paypal and Sand Pact. The benefit continues Saturday with Astro Cowboy, Sarah Shook and The Disarmers and more. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 the night of. There is a $20 admission ticket that covers both nights.
Don Flemons - Dom Flemons, Kaia Kater and Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton share the stage Friday night. The show will spotlight the African roots of the banjo and the impact that the instrument continues to have in old-time, blues, bluegrass and other music traditions. See them at Fletcher Opera Theater at 8 p.m.
Photo from Facebook by Andrew Snowball
Unforgettable: An Alzheimer's Benefit Show - This night of electronic dance music will help raise money for the Alzheimer's Association of Eastern North Carolina. The party starts at 8:30 at Deep South the Bar Saturday night. There is no cover charge, but donations are accepted.
Juicy J - One of the founding members of Three 6 Mafia, Juicy J, will play The Ritz in Raleigh Sunday night.
Cherub - This electro-indie duo from Nashville will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Saturday night.
Photo from Facebook
Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen - For years, Pat sang in New Orleans six nights a week, performing at a wide array of venues including the House of Blue. Then, Katrina destroyed her home. She relocated to North Carolina and has recently started touring with the Music Maker Blues Revue. See her Friday night at The Bullpen in Durham.

For the foodies

Great Raleigh Chili Cook-off - Tir na Nog in downtown Raleigh will host this cook-off on Saturday afternoon. Cooks can enter for $18. Tasting tickets are also being sold so you can help pick the winner. Stick around after for live music from Born Again Heathens and Tan and Sober.
Slow Cooker Bean Chili
Welcome to Raleigh, Y'all - Raleigh nonprofit Come Out & Show Them will host a kickoff party and benefit for its "Welcome to Raleigh, Y’all" campaign Friday night at Babylon. Tickets are $75 and include a a buffet of pizzas. Big Boss will be serving up free beer, and Escazu chocolate will be operating the dessert station. There will also be live music. Come Out & Show Them raises awareness about local immigration and deportation issues by fostering a conversation about the future of Raleigh as a sanctuary city.
Embroidery and Mimosas - Edge of Urge and Craft Habit Raleigh have teamed up for this event on Sunday. Drop by Edge of Urge in Person Street Plaza anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. and sip mimosas and learn how to embroider. The $20 price gets you the pattern of your choice, supplies, instruction and mimosas.
Photo from Facebook
Beer Study Grand Opening - This Chapel Hill bottle shop will celebrate its grand opening this weekend with a brunch on Sunday morning.
Picnic Pig Pickin - The Durham whole hog restaurant wraps up its month-long celebration of its first year in business with a pig pickin' at Ponysaurus Brewing on Sunday afternoon.
A look at the barbecue available at PICNIC. (Courtesy of Picnic)
Mystery Brewing Public House Grand Reopening - Help Mystery celebrate its fifth birthday and check out its new restaurant, which opens on Saturday.

More events

Playthrough Gaming Convention - This weekend long extravaganza showcases the latest games and provides an opportunity for gamers to meet others who share their passion. The event is happening at the Raleigh Convention Center all weekend.
Photo from Facebook
Marbles Oscar Party - Dress in your red carpet best and hit up Marbles' IMAX theater Sunday night to watch the Academy Awards. There will be light snacks and dessert and a cash bar.

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