Arts & Culture

Take Five: The annual Got To Be NC Fest is like a mini State Fair

Catch an antique tractor parade at the opening ceremonies of the Got To Be NC Festival.
Catch an antique tractor parade at the opening ceremonies of the Got To Be NC Festival. 2011 News & Observer file photo

Triangle events to add to your daybook:

Got To Be NC Fest

Noon-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; N.C. State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh; free; gottobencfestival.com

This mini State Fair has carnival games and rides, live music, food, agriculture and animal displays and much more. (Admission and most attractions are free, but there is a charge for food and some events.)

Walk for the Animals

10 a.m. Saturday; Duke East Campus, 712 Broad St., Durham; $40 ($15 for 18 & under); apswalkdurham.org

Bring your dog for a 1.5-mile walk around Duke campus that benefits Durham’s Animal Protection Society. There are contests for pets, a photo booth, vendors and a Family Fun Zone.

Fest in the West

Noon-6 p.m. Saturday; Parkside Commons, 7119 O’Kelly Chapel Road, Cary; free; festinthewest.com

This new festival geared toward west Cary will feature artisans, live roots music, beer tents, a Kids Zone (with an obstacle course bounce house) and a pie-eating contest.

Blues & Brews Fest

5-10 p.m. Saturday; Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St., Durham; $40 ($20 for nondrinkers); durhambluesandbrewsfestival.com

You’ve got 20 N.C. breweries, food trucks and three blues bands – Cool John Ferguson headlines – and it raises money for local charities.

Rock Your World

6-11 p.m. Saturday; RallyPoint Sport Grill, 837 Bass Pro Lane, Cary; $20; rockyourworldraleigh.com

The sixth annual benefit concert – five hours of music from Nantucket, Band of Brothers, Kyle Scobie and others – aids the Hope for Haiti Foundation and the Franconi Anemia Research Fund.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Take Five: The annual Got To Be NC Fest is like a mini State Fair."

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