Weekend best bets: Hopscotch, Outlaw Music Fest and LL Cool J

It's all about live music this weekend with three major concerts events happening.

Live music

Sept. 7-9: Hopscotch Music Festival 2023 - Hopscotch Music Festival returns to downtown Raleigh Thursday through Saturday. There will more than 120 acts performing during the festival, including Pavement, Denzel Curry, Japanese Breakfast, King Krule, Margo Price and Dinosaur Jr.

Sept. 8: Outlaw Music Festival - Willie Nelson will headline this day of live music at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on Friday, Sept. 8.

Sep. 8 - Music in the Park - Enjoy a free concerts at the Morrisville Healthy Food Hub from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket for a fun and relaxing evening. On Sept. 8, the band will be Jives. Ty's All Natural will sell food and refreshments.

Sept. 9: Sam Hunt: Summer On The Outskirts Tour - Sam Hunt will bring his concert tour to Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Sept. 10: LL COOL J: The F.O.R.C.E. Live - Rock The Bells & Live Nation Urban Presents The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Live, headlined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Kennedy Center Honoree, two-time GRAMMY Award winner, and hip-hop icon LL Cool J. It's his first headline arena tour in 30 years. He will be joined by The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Z-Trip, Rakim, Juvenile and De La Soul.

Sept. 10: Concert in the Park - ARTS Wake Forest and the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will present free concerts at E. Carroll Joyner Park. The performance starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park Amphitheater.

Sept. 10 - Summer Concert Series - Head to Fred Fletcher Park for a free concert in Raleigh. Enjoy the sounds of Thelonious.

Comedy, art and theatre

Sept 8-9: Noir Bizarre's IHaveADreamPop! Electric Underground Railroad - This features a SEEK Raleigh public art project by Daniel Chavis of The Veldt. This two-day event will feature live music, vendors, and DJ sets inside VAE's main gallery. It is free and open to the public.

Sept. 9: Eddie Izzard - The Remix - Eddie Izzard’s The Remix Live is a chance for Eddie to remix and re-imagine some of her own favorite, comedy bits from her last 35 years of sold-out shows. See Eddie on stage at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Through Sept. 17: Wicked - This Broadway sensation looks at what happened in the Land of Oz, but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin – smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships, until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” See the show through Sep. 17 at DPAC.

Festivals and family fun

Sept. 8: Festival Latino - Celebrate Latino culture at this free event at Garner Recreation Center from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be live music and dance performances, artisan vendors and food trucks. Admission is free.

Sept. 8: Party in the Park - Celebrate the end of summer with the neighborhood as we party in Kiwanis Park in Raleigh. It's fun for the whole family with crafts, games, sweet treats, and so much more! There will be a food truck on site with some delicious delights available for purchase.

Sept. 9: Foodie Friday - Foodie Friday is a chance to meet with family & friends or wind down with work colleagues at Dix Park. Sample Raleigh’s street food and enjoy local musicians in beautiful Dix Park!

Sept. 9: Art Tour - Enjoy a family-friendly focused tour of the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh. Register online.

Sep. 9 - Carpenter Park Community Garden Open House - Explore the garden in Cary and learn how you can garden at home. This event will include kid-friendly games and a play area.

Sept. 9 - Carolina Circus Festival - Fantasy and Folkore are the themes of this year's event at Wake Med Soccer Park. The event features an evening of circus-related workshops and shows! All open to the public and free of charge!

Sept. 9 - Four Oaks Acorn Festival - Join Four Oaks in celebrating the 34th annual Acorn Festival. Enjoy food, live music, market vendors, inflatables, face painting, rides and more. You can also find the Classic Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet!!!

Sept. 9-10: Taste Of Lebanon - Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church will be the site of this annual food and cultural festival. There will be live performances, traditional dances and authentic cuisine.

Sept. 9: Meet the Artist: Head to the library in Cary to meet artist Sneha. She is self-taught artist who does sketching, acrylic painting, glass painting, sand art, textured and mixed media and more! She will be there from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Sept. 10: Rock Your World - Fenton in Cary will host this day of family fun, including live music, food, drink and more. This free live music event will help benefit the U.S. Veterans Corp and Hope for Haiti Foundation.

Now -Sept. 10 - Cumberland County Fair - The Cumberland County Fair seeks to provide an opportunity to showcase and preserve the history and legacy of the agricultural communities in Cumberland County; to celebrate the diversity of local arts and crafts; to promote a safe setting for fun, healthy family entertainment featuring music, and animals; and to encourage an environment of friendly competition for all ages.

Now-Sept. 24: Paperhand Puppet presents: Where our spirits reside - The show takes place August 4th through September 17th at the Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill and September 22-24 at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Tickets range $10-20.