Weekend best bets: Comicon, Triangle Chili Challenge

RALEIGH, N.C. — Our top picks this weekend include N.C. Comicon in Durham, several food competitions, holiday markets, astonishing art and more.

N.C. Comicon - Rock your best cosplay gear and head to downtown Durham this weekend for this annual celebration. There will be costume contests, panels, workshops, signings, parties and a film festival. Events run Friday through Sunday.

Corks for the Kids - This event features more than 60 top wines from around the world, silent and live auctions and great local food to benefit UNC Children's Hospital. Tickets are $150 for this Saturday night event at The Cookery.

Sunday Supper: Fighting the Floods with a Fork - This community supper on Sunday in downtown Raleigh will help raise money to support businesses and families impacted by the catastrophic flooding in Eastern North Carolina. Tickets are $20 per person.

Give Gala - This "no money" fundraiser will help raise money for the patients, families and staff at Duke and UNC Hospitals. To register for the Give Gala (held Friday at Marbles Kids Museum), attendees offer a service, gift or talent to the kids and families being treated at Duke and UNC Hospitals. Their offer is their ticket into the gala.

Savor - This event in Fuquay-Varina showcases the creativity of local chefs as they compete for prizes. Attendees can enjoy food tastings, beer and wine, a reverse raffle event and silent auction. Tickets are $50 and include one free drink.

Competition Dining - The Battle of Champion dinners kick off this weekend and continue next weekend at Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center. Teams are competing for the title of Best in the Carolinas.

Triangle Chili Challenge - This annual competition will be held Sunday in downtown Cary during the Food and Flea event. Local restaurants and food trucks will be competing for the title of Best Chili in the Triangle. Food and Flea, which is held in Ashworth Village from noon to 4 p.m., also includes local craft beer, music and local artists.

World of Beer Anniversary - Help this North Hills business celebrate five years in business on Saturday. There will be a Bell's Brewing Tap Takeover and swag giveaways, a New Holland Brewery special release, live music and food and drink specials.

BBQ 101 - Our friends at 99.9 The Fan will be holding this fun event on Saturday at Clouds Brewing in Raleigh. The pros from Grillbillies Barbecue will be teaching skills that have taken them years to perfect. Smoking, charcoal, gas grilling, buying meats, what wood to use and more. Don’t know the difference between brining and injecting? How about how to layer seasonings? BBQ 101 will cover it all.

The Pretenders - See them play classics and songs from their new album Sunday at DPAC.

Steep Canyon Rangers - This bluegrass band rocks UNC Memorial Hall Friday night.

CAM exhibit/concert - CAM hosts …to me from the earth…a new musical composition for soprano and ensemble by D. J. Sparr inspired by the exhibition White Gold by Thomas Sayre and Mi Historia, a poem by David Dominguez. See it Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $25 for non-museum members.

Knightdale's Holiday Fair - Local vendors will be on hand to help you get your holiday shopping done in one day. The shopping beings at 9 a.m. Saturday at Knightdale Recreation Center. Admission is free.

Carolina Artisan Market - This three day market at the Raleigh Convention Center will include more than 110 contemporary fine craft artists, demonstrations and live music. The market runs Friday through Sunday.

Art in the Carolinas - The largest art supply expo in the U.S. with three days of workshops, hands-on art product trials and wholesale-priced supplies kicks off Friday at the Hilton in north Raleigh.

Moonlight in the Garden - J.C. Arboretum will be lit up Friday and Saturday nights for this special event. In addition to an artistic light display, enjoy live music and cuisine from local food trucks. Admission is $15 for nonmembers and $5 for children aged 12 years and younger.