Weekend best bets: World Beer Fest, SPCA Walk

RALEIGH, N.C. — A lot of events happening this weekend, including the kick-off of North Carolina Beer Month. Here are our picks for this weekend:

World Beer Fest Raleigh - Sample from more than 250 craft and speciality beers from around the world Saturday at the World Beer Festival at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.There will be beer and cider gardens this year. General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door. VIP tickets are $85.

Lonerider Showdown - Enjoy rare craft beer casks, live music and more at this annual event in downtown Raleigh. Advance tickets are $5. The event is noon to 4 p.m. at City Limits Saloon.

Cask on Fools - Head to Crank Arm Brewing in downtown Raleigh on Friday for this annual event. There will be unique casks from more than 20 breweries. The event also serves as a kick-off party in Wake County for North Carolina Beer Month.

Brewer's Olympics - Watch brewers from around the Triangle compete in the most intense "brewery games" on Saturday at Raleigh Brewing Company. There will be food trucks on-hand. Admission is free.

Tour de Brew - Cycling and beer on Saturday at Crank Arm Brewing. A long route of 22 miles and short route of 9.7 miles are available. Local participating breweries include Crank Arm Brewing Company, Nickelpoint Brewing Co., Raleigh Brewing Company, Trophy Brewing Company on Maywood, Big Boss Brewing Company and Neuse River Brewing Company.

SPCA Walk and Woofstock - The annual walk has a new location - Koka Booth Amphitheatre. The 1.8 mile walk starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. It will be followed by a festival featuring vendors, sponsors, food, music, demonstrations and contests. All money raised go to help the SPCA of Wake County.

Lebanese Festival - Enjoy food, dancing, Lebanese beer and wine, and lots of fun at this 18th annual festival on Saturday in City Plaza in downtown Raleigh. Admission is free.

Gouge Wrestling - Help Gouge Wrestling celebrate 10 years of fun on Saturday at Draft Line Brewing. The 10 Years of Bodyslams and Beer event will feature live music, food trucks and, of course, wrestling. Admission is free.

BrickUniverse - This annual convention is all about LEGOs. There will be a vendor market, building and challenge zones and a special's children's section with Duplo blocks. The event is Saturday and Sunday at the Raleigh Convention Center. Admission is $18.

A Place at the Table Pop Up - A Place at the Table, a pay-what-you-can nonprofit cafe coming to Hillsborough St. at the end of the year, is hosting its first pop-up cafe Saturday at Solas. Pay-what-you-can for brunch starting at 11 a.m.

Pie Pusher's 5th Anniversary - There will be live music, food trucks and a Monuts birthday mountain at The Pinhook Friday night. Admission is free.

Five for Fighting with the NC Symphony - Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, best known by his stage name Five for Fighting, joins the North Carolina Symphony onstage for the first time ever on Saturday night at Meymandi Concert Hall. This performance will include fan favorites like "Superman (It's Not Easy)," "The Riddle," "Easy Tonight" and "100 Years," performed with stunning live orchestral arrangements.

Ron White - Check out the "Blue Collar Comedy" veteran at DPAC Saturday night.

Infamous Stringdusters - The acoustic bluegrass band plays Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh Sunday night.

Get the Led Out - The Led Zeppelin tribute band plays DPAC Friday night.

All That Jazz - The Durham Symphony Orchestra will present this show Saturday night at Carolina Theatre of Durham. It will include jazz and Piedmont bluegrass pieces from North Carolina composers and local artists featuring the works of Copland, Mizesko, and a special tribute to Duke Ellington's long-time collaborator, Billy Strayhorn.

Valient Thorr - The Chapel Hill metal band plays The Ritz Sunday night.

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - This hysterical show highlighting the differences between men and women plays Fletcher Opera Theater Friday and Saturday.