Out and About

Weekend best bets: Artsplosure, Hamilton, Got to Be NC Festival

It's a big weekend for festivals, shows and fun in the Triangle.

Posted Updated
Artsplosure 2016
By
Jessica Patrick
, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

It's a big weekend for festivals, shows and fun in the Triangle.

Festivals and food

Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival (219 Fayetteville St., Raleigh) - This arts festival returns to downtown Raleigh Saturday and Sunday with its award-winning art market, live performances and one-of-a-kind art installations throughout Fayetteville Street. The Kidsplosure celebration will include free arts and crafts for families.
Got to Be NC Festival (North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - This festival will feature three days of fun at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. There will be rides, exhibits and food. Admission is free.
The 2013 Got To Be NC Festival was May 17-19 at the State Fairgrounds. The festival celebrates NC agriculture with food events, rides, animal exhibits, live music and other attractions.
Bimbé Celebration (Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Drive, Durham) - This family-oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts and traditions. There will be live music, arts and crafts and more fun from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Rock Quarry Park.
Durham Blues and Brews Festival (Durham Central Park, 502 Foster St., Durham) - The Durham Blues and Brews Festival is Saturday at Durham Central Park. Expect an evening of fun with unlimited 12 oz. pours from some of NC's finest breweries (wine and ciders also offered). There will be music from three great blues bands. All proceeds go to local charities and non-profit programs.
Craft Beer
Brier Creek Spring Food Truck Festival (Brier Creek Office Center, 8010 Arco Corporate Parkway, Raleigh) - Treat yourself to some of the area's most popular food trucks on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring the kids along for face painting, balloon twisting, 360 photos and a jump castle - plus live music all night.
French Market and Seafood Festival (Lafayette Village, 8450 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh) - This outdoor market will be held Saturday at Lafayette Village. It will feature local vendors and live music.
Whole Hog Holler (Sam Jones BBQ, 502 W Lenoir St., Raleigh) - Head to Same Jones BBQ every third Sunday of month for a live music series from 4 to 7 p.m.

On stage

Hamilton (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - The hit Broadway show is back on stage at DPAC through June 5.
Tim McGraw (Coastal Credit Union Music Park, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh) - See Tim McGraw with special guest Russell Dickerson on stage at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on Saturday.
Girl's Night Out (Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - This concert will feature sets by KT Tunstall, Judith Hill, Jeanne Jolly, Haley Johnsen and Rodes. A portion of the proceeds from the Saturday concert will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Music Maker's Freight Train Blues (Carrboro Town Commons, 301 West Main St., Carrboro) - This free Friday evening concert series runs May 13-June 10 at Carrboro Town Commons, featuring incredible roots musicians steeped in the diverse traditions of the Carolina Piedmont.
John Mulaney: From Scratch (PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh) - See this Emmy award-winning writer, actor and comedian on stage at PNC Arena on Sunday.
Special Event: JP Sears (Goodnight's Comedy Club, 861 W. Morgan St., Raleigh) - JP Sears is a comedian who tours the country extensively doing stand-up comedy and publishing weekly online videos. See him Friday through Sunday.

Markets and shopping

Moore Square Vintage Market (Moore Square, 226 East Martin St., Raleigh) - The Triangle's biggest outdoor vintage clothing market returns Saturday with over 40 vendors. There will also be food trucks and plenty of fun outdoor games set up in downtown Raleigh.
Moore Square Market (Moore Square Park, 200 South Blount St., Raleigh) - Pick up your local produce and treats, meet up with friends, and enjoy live music at Moore Square Market on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cary Night Market (Old Library Site, 310 S. Academy St., Cary) - Find locally-made goods and enjoy a Friday night filled with music and entertainment with Triangle area artisans, food and drinks at the old site of the Cary Library.
3rd Saturdays Local Maker + Vintage Market (Durty Bull Brewing Company, 206 Broadway St., Durham) - Durty Bull will be hosting monthly markets in the parking lot every third Saturday of the month. The markets will feature local makers and vendors. This month's market features barbecue from Soulful Peartree Country Cooking and Catering. The market runs noon to 4 p.m and will be followed by live music from 4 to 6 p.m.

Outdoor movies

Museum Movie Night: Soylent Green (N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones St., Raleigh) - On Friday, grab a bite during Museum Movie Night and discover the secret behind the fictional food of future, Soylent Green! Enjoy pre-show science tables, soy-like green-themed treats, and learn about the chemistry, engineering, and latest research on taste, nutrition, and edibility! After the movie, test your film knowledge with trivia hosted by A/V Geeks.
Drive-in movie: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Triangle Drive-in, 5959 Triangle Town Blvd., Raleigh) - "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" plays Friday and Saturday at Triangle Drive-in. Gates open at 7:15 p.m. Concessions stand is on site.

Fun with the family

Life Before Dinosaurs: The Permian Monsters (N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones St., Raleigh) - Step back in time 290 million years to the age before the dinosaurs. Explore vivid artwork, mounted skeletons, and life-sized models of a giant saber-toothed predator, saw-toothed shark, and many other bizarre creatures that dominated life on land and sea before the most devastating mass extinction the world has ever known.