Out and About

Weekend best bets: Balloon Festival, Animazement, Sugar Rush

Your guide to festivals, shopping, food and fun this weekend.

Posted Updated
Freedom Balloon Festival
By
Jessica Patrick
, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Your guide to festivals, shopping, food and fun this weekend.

Festivals, food and fun

First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival (First Fruits Farm, 832 Mort Harris Road, Louisburg) - The weekend-long event will include live music, fireworks, a beer garden, a food court, a vendor market, a hot air balloon glow and tethered balloon rides along with ceremonies to remember veterans and their families.
Animazement (The Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St., Raleigh) - Celebrate all things anime during this event at the Raleigh Convention Center Friday through Sunday. There will be cultural demos, fan and guest panels, J-pop/rock concerts, martial arts demos, craft classes, artists, vendors and more.
NC Sugar Rush (Raleigh City Plaza, 400 Fayetteville St., Raleigh) - Raleigh's all-dessert food rodeo will be Sunday at City Plaza.
Dig the City: Food and Flower Festival (Borden Building at Fletcher Park, 820 Clay St., Raleigh) - Explore dessert, artisan and savory food vendors, including Charcuterie board demos, on Saturday. There will be local flowers and plants, music and magic shows, free food and flower crafts for kids with character meet and greets, photo ops and more in a garden tea party setting.
Carolina Fear Fest (Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - Celebrate all things horror during this weekend-long event at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. There will be celebs, vendors, cosplay, entertainment, panels and more.
Repitcon (NC State Fairgrounds: Exposition Center, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - All the reptiles you could ever want to see Saturday and Sunday at the Exposition Center at the State Fairgrounds. Tickets start at $10 for adults. Children 4 and younger get in free.
Taste of Soul NC (The Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St., Durham) - Enjoy the ultimate cookout experience at Durham Central Park on Saturday. There will be barbecue, seafood, hibachi, smoothies and Italian ice. Shop local vendors while your children enjoy bounce houses and games.
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.
The Raleigh Market (The Raleigh Market, 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh) - The Raleigh Market is known for its vintage and antique booths but also features hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors selling art, handcrafted items, unique gifts, furniture, home goods, boutique clothing, unique gifts and more.
2022 Walk for the Animals (Duke East Campus, Main Street and Campus Drive, Durham) - Grab a leash and join Animal Protection Society of Durham on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Every year, APS of Durham cares for nearly 4,000 animals who are homeless, abandoned, neglected, or abused. Join us by fundraising - on your own or with your team - then by walking with your pets and fellow animal lovers. The event will have contests, raffles, entertainment and more.

On stage

Special Event: Deon Cole (Goodnight Comedy Club, 861 W Morgan St., Raleigh) - Deon Cole is a comedian, writer, and actor who can currently be seen as Charlie on ABC's "Black-ish" and Freeform's "Grown-ish." See him Friday and Saturday.
Hamilton (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - The hit Broadway show is back on stage at DPAC May 17-June 5.
An American Celebration: Film Music from the Magical World of Disney (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - The Triangle Wind Ensemble will present this Memorial Day weekend concert with music from everything from "Fantasia" and "Encanto" to "Star Wars" and the "Avengers" Sunday at 7 p.m.

 Credits 

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