Legends game, SPCA Walk lead our weekend best bets

RALEIGH, N.C. — A great holiday weekend in the Triangle is ahead! 

Legends from UNC, Duke and NC State will lead their teams in a unique basketball skills contest for bragging rights and money for their charities. It all happens Saturday at The Big 3 Legends Game at The Cage at the American Tobacco Campus. Join Vinny Del Negro, Christian Laettner and Kenny Smith with some of their fellow college basketball and Tobacco Road stars for a night of hoops and hospitality where the proceeds benefit Duke Children's Hospital, UNC Lineberger Cancer Center and the V Foundation. Tickets are $50 for the game and $125 for the game and after-party. 

Help raise money for animals in Wake and surrounding counties through the 15th annual SPCA K9-3K Dog Walk in downtown Raleigh on Saturday. Register for the race for $35 and raise money to help the SPCA of Wake County, a no-kill, stand-alone, animal charity dedicated to helping homeless, abandoned and neglected pets. 

NC Beer Month is rolling along and this Saturday check out local breweries vie for the gold at the Brewery Olympics. Starting at noon at Raleigh Brewing Company, six of area's craft breweries - Raleigh Brewing, Fullsteam, Gizmo, Double Barley, Steel String and White Street - will compete in categories like keg stacking, grain bag carrying and speed bottle capping. The event is free to spectators and $5 if you want to vote in the cask tasting. 

Enjoy food and cider samples this Saturday at Cider Fest at Mattie B’s. Local producers, including Black Mountain Ciderworks, Foggy Ridge Cider, Mattie B’s, Six Plates and Pizzeria Toro, will be serving. The VIP session is from 12-3 p.m., and tickets are $50. All food and drink is included with a VIP ticket. General admission is from 3 p.m. to midnight.

Hootie and the Blowfish frontman and country star Darius Rucker performs at the Crown Center of Cumberland County Friday evening. Tickets start at $20. 

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, a family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and entertainment, is being held in rural Chatham County this weekend. Festival passes and day tickets are available, and you can camp at the festival.

Fairview Greenhouses in Raleigh continues its Flora and Food Trucks series on Saturday at from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Deep South the Bar is hosting "A Very merry Unbirthday! Alice in Wonderland Costume Show" Saturday night. Dress up like your favorite character and take in live music from Chris Hendricks, Four Founders, Black Market Special and Brandon Scott McLean. Tickets are $5 for ladies and $8 for gentlemen ($5 if they are in costume).