Take Five: Three Kings Parade and a Winter Riverwalk
Triangle events to add to your daybook:
Lantern Festival extended
6:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday until Jan. 17; Koka Booth Amphitheater, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary; $15/adults, $10/ages 3-17, free/ages 2 & under; 919-462-2025, boothamphitheatre.com
Due to popular demand, the Chinese Lantern Festival with more than 20 light displays – including dragons, pagodas, pandas and more – has been extended. Check out performances by Chinese artisans from Tianyu Culture, the Sichuan-based company presenting the festival.
Three Kings Parade
1-4 p.m. Saturday; North Academy Street in downtown Cary; free; diamanteinc.org
A tradition in Spanish-speaking countries, the parade features walkers in traditional dress with musical accompaniment and finishes with the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings), who bring joy to children.
Drag Me to the Ball
5-10 p.m. Saturday; Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh; $40-$900; pardonmoifrench.com
This masquerade ball benefits The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina. There’s a dinner and entertainment from six “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars and eight local divas, plus music by DJ Jermainia.
Mardi Gras Kickoff
8 p.m. Saturday; Blue Note Grill, 709 Washington St., Durham; $8; durhammardigras.com
The Red Hot Mardi Gras Season Kickoff – which helps keep Durham Mardi Gras free – will feature music groups that mix the best of Louisiana and North Carolina: Boom Unit Brass Band, The Bulltown Strutters and MSA Cajun Band.
Riverwalk in Winter
2 p.m. Sunday; Riverwalk entrance near parking garage on South Churton Street, Hillsborough; free; enoriver.org
This fast-paced 3-mile fitness hike – straight through with no breaks – is part of the Eno River Association’s Winter Hike series. These take place at different locations every Sunday through Feb. 28.
This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Take Five: Three Kings Parade and a Winter Riverwalk."