Weekend best bets: Festivals, food truck competition

RALEIGH, N.C. — A lot of festivals happening this weekend, and a great chance to cheer on a local food truck.

International Folk Fest - Downtown Fayetteville will be the site of this 37th annual festival this weekend. A parade of nations, live performances, authentic cuisine, arts and craft vendors and more help make this a great family pick for this week.

Abundance Pepper Festival - Head to Briar Chapel Sunday for this annual celebration of Carolina peppers. There will be pepper-themed dishes and drinks made by local chefs, brewers and distillers. The event also serves as a chance to support local farmers. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 the day of.

Lemurpalooza - Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic at Duke Lemur Center's Lemurpalooza Saturday. The event includes the Adopt-a-Lemur Program, which helps the center in caring for these exotic animals. Lemurpalooza will include food trucks and live music. It is $50 per car.

Benson Mule Days - Head to Benson for this annual event featuring rodeos, carnivals, arts and crafts and a parade. Events are Thursday through Sunday. Prices vary according to event.

Ritz Raleigh block party - Head to The Ritz Sunday starting at 3 p.m. for this festival featuring local bands, local beer and food trucks. Admission is $5 per person.

Railhawks Homebrew Soktoberfest - The Carolina Railhawks host this festival Saturday prior to that night's game against the Ottawa Fury. There will be German-themed food samples, live music and local craft and home-brewed beer. Admission is free to the festival but donations are encouraged for the Spread Your Wings Foundation.

BBQ Blues and Brews - Held in Fuquay-Varina's historic retail district Saturday afternoon, this event will highlight live music and craft beer.There will also be a barbecue competition. Tasting tickets will be sold on site.

Capital City Bike Fest - Ray Price Capital City holds its annual Bike Fest in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza and Raleigh Convention Center this weekend. There will be live music, bike parades, stunt shows and vendors. City Plaza events are Friday and Saturday and the Raleigh Convention Center will host a Motorsports Expo Saturday and Sunday.

Octoberfest - Bull City Burger and Brewery will host this family-friendly event Saturday starting at 4 p.m. in front of the restaurant on East Parish Street in Durham. There will be live music, children's activities, dancing and more. Admission is free. A portion of proceeds from the event will go to Durham's Habitat for Humanity.

Live and Local Bluegrass - Enjoy food trucks and live music at the Raleigh Rose Garden during this free event Saturday. The Shady Grove Band and Damascus Ridge are headlining. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the show starts at 5 p.m.

Latino Festival - Head to Rock Quarry Park on Saturday for the Latino Festival, which will include live music, food and hands-on crafts. NOTE: This event has been moved indoors to the Holton Career and Resource Center, 401 N. Driver St.

Fiesta de EL pueblo - This Latino arts and culture festival is Sunday on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. It will include music, art, dance, food and more. Festivities are noon to 7 p.m.

Great Food Truck Race NC - Pho Nomenal Dumplings is teaming up with The Chef's Academy in Morrisville for this event on Sunday at Blackjack Brewing. Three local food trucks will compete and only one will be named the winner. The fun is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $2 and proceeds go to Stop Hunger Now. Following the competition, stick around to watch the finale of The Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race," which Pho Nomenal is competing. The evening will also be Blackjack's farewell party, as they are moving to the coast.

Raleigh Beer Week - It wraps up this Sunday. See our complete list of events

Seven Shades of Betty - Lonerider Beer hosts this event Saturday featuring seven variations of its famous Shotgun Betty beer. Food trucks and live music also make this a great pick to celebrate Raleigh Beer Week.

Meals from the Market - Durham Central Park will host this event Sunday featuring food trucks offering tasting portions of their menu items. Tickets for the event are $50.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical - The touring show for this Broadway musical is playing DPAC through Oct. 4.

Carolina Ballet - The ballet will perform "The Planets," which features Gustav Holst's epic orchestral suite. Shows run through Sunday at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Tickets start at $30.

Life in Color - Enjoy DJs, aerial acts and stilt-walkers, all while getting paint shot out of a giant cannon at you. Life in Color is Saturday night at Red Hat Amphitheater. Tickets start at $30.

Luke Bryan - The country star plays Walnut Creek Amphitheatre Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets start at $40.