Weekend best bets: Bluegrass and Oktoberfest

IBMA Bluegrass Live! - This year's festival will include IBMA and GRAMMY award winning artists performing in-person in downtown Raleigh. Shows will take place at various stages throughout downtown Raleigh and at Red Hat Amphitheater on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are required for entry at Red Hat Amphitheater. The street festival is free. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will be required at all ticketed events concerts at the Red Hat Amphitheater for IBMA Bluegrass Live! and other IBMA Bluegrass events at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and various venues downtown. Masks are required at all indoor venues. Capitol Broadcasting Company, which owns WRAL-TV and WRAL.com, is the exclusive media partner for the ticketed Main Stage performances at Red Hat Amphitheater, as well as the free performances at StreetFest Stages downtown.

Triangle Oktoberfest (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - Apex Sunrise and Cary MacGregor Rotary Clubs present this 7th annual event at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday and Sunday. There will be live music, traditional Bavarian food and fare and plenty of local and authentic German beers from Munich. There will also be a Wiener Dog Race and Parade, children's face painting and more fun. Tickets are on sale now. Advance tickets are $15 for Friday and $20 for all-day Saturday and $15 for after 4 p.m. on Saturday. Those 16 years and younger are admitted for free. Senior citizens and active or retired military with ID receive a $5 discount. Masks are not currently required in outdoor settings in Cary but are strongly encouraged in situations where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Masks will be required when visiting the restroom facilities on site, in accordance with local mandates for masking in indoor or enclosed spaces, so please bring your masks.

Drive-Thru 39th Annual Raleigh Greek Festival (Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 5000 Leadmine Rd, Raleigh) - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church will be hosting its annual Greek Festival this weekend as a Drive-Thru event with a limited menu. Get delicious dinners and pastries to go from Friday through Sunday. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Oktoberfest 2021 (Bottle Theory, 3675 Green Level West Road Suite 101, Apex) - The Triangle's newest bottle shop is celebrating Oktoberfest on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. with music, beer and games.

Celebrate Fuquay-Varina (Downtown Fuquay Varina, 100 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina) - Celebrate Fuquay-Varina at this annual festival on Saturday featuring live entertainment, craft beer, festival food, art vendors and BMX bike show. The festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Fuquay-Varina.

Wendell Chamber 93rd Harvest Festival (Town Square, Wendell, NC 27591, J. Ashley Wall, Town Square corner of Cypress and 3rd St., Wendell) - The Town of Wendell will hold its annual festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. There will be a parade, children's village with games and fun and live performances.

Dine Out at First Friday (Glenwood South, , Raleigh, NC, Raleigh) - First Friday and Dine Out Downtown are combining for a night of food, music and art in downtown Raleigh. There will be live painting demos, music performances, photo-ops, extended outdoor dining for Glenwood South restaurants from 7 to 10 p.m.

Downtown Oktoberfest Brewery Crawl (The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Downtown Durham, 545 Foster St Suite 10, Durham) - The Glass Jug in downtown Durham will host this crawl on Saturday from 2 p.m. until midnight.

Taste of Soul NC Variety Edition (The Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, Durham) - Head to Durham Central Park on Sunday afternoon for this event featuring seafood, barbecue and dessert food trucks.

First Friday Mini Pop Up Market (State of Beer, 401 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh) - On Friday, Pop-Up Raleigh will hold a mini market on the State of Beer patio from 5 to 9 p.m. The event is free and dog and family friendly.

The Best of North Hills: Fall Concert Series (Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park @ North Hills, 4011 Cardinal at North Hills St., Raleigh) - Enjoy some of the best area tribute bands during this outdoor concert at North Hills' Midtown Park Friday night form 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is $10 and children ages 13 years and younger are admitted for free.

Brooks & Dunn REBOOT 2021 Tour (Coastal Credit Union Music Park (formerly Walnut Creek Amphitheatre), 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - See this country duo at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh on Friday night.

Patton Oswalt (Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham) - A comedian, actor, and writer, Patton Oswalt continues to find success in all areas of entertainment. See him on stage Friday night at Carolina Theatre of Durham. All guests will be required to provide printed proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours prior to when doors open or proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for each performance.

Charlie Wilson (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - See this Grammy award nominee and 2020 Top Adult R&B Male Billboard Artist on stage at DPAC Sunday night. Face covers will be required for this event.

Big Freedia (Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh) - Big Freedia will perform live at Lincoln Theatre on Friday night. Tickets are $25.

Michael Winslow (Goodnight's Comedy Club/The Grille at Goodnight's, 861 W. Morgan St., Raleigh) - Best known for his role in the "Police Academy" films, Michael Winslow is a master of vocal gymnastics and can imitate over 1,000 sound effects using his voice alone. See him on stage at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh Friday through Sunday.

Outdoor concert at American Tobacco Campus (American Tobacco Campus (ATC), 318 Blackwell St, Durham) - This summer and fall, American Tobacco Campus is partnering with Duke Performances for a series of concerts on the beloved ATC lawn. Shows start at 6:30 p.m.

NF - Clouds Tour (Coastal Credit Union Music Park (formerly Walnut Creek Amphitheatre), 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - NF and Michl will perform at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh on Oct. 3.

T.J. Miller Headlines the Improv (Raleigh Improv, 1224 Parkside Main Street, Cary) - See this actor and comedian on stage at Raleigh Improv Thursday through Saturday.

Screams & Bad Dreams: A Variety Show (Legends Nightclub, 330 W Hargett St, Raleigh) - Legends will host this variety show Sunday night featuring burlesque, acro yoga, hooping, contortion, drag, clowning, sideshow and circus acts.

The Pub's 10th Annual St Baldrick's Fundraiser (West 94th St. Pub, 4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham) - Head to West 94th St. Pub on Sunday for this outdoor event to help raise money for childhood cancer research.

Pumpkin Patch Express (North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham) - Pick the perfect pumpkin to take home and decorate during this event at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science.

Carving Pumpkins with Goats (Spring Haven Farm, 5306 Homer Ruffin Rd, Chapel Hill) - Enjoy pumpkin carving with goats at Spring Haven Farm this fall. There are dates available through Halloween.

Mural by Bike Tours: Downtown Durham ("Major" the Bull Sculpture, 211 W. Parrish St., Durham) - On Saturday, Preservation Durham and Museum of Durham History bikers, guide riders thru downtown Durham showcasing mural art on Durham's historic buildings. The rides take place the first Saturday of each month.

KinderVillage Teddy Bear Picnic (Dorothea Dix Park - Harvey Hill, 693 Palmer Drive, Raleigh) - KinderVillage Music School presents this picnic for Teddy Bears. Bring a teddy bear or a stuffed friend and enjoy singing, dancing, playing instruments and more fun at Dix Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Guests should bring shakers, bells, a drum and a scarf. Admission is free but you must pre-register for this program. Please register each child, adults do not need to register.

5th Annual Raleigh Children's Business Fair (Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park @ North Hills, 4011 Cardinal at North Hills St., Raleigh) - Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace at Midtown Park on Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.