Weekend best bets: Moogfest, Artsplosure

Moogfest - This synthesis of music, art and technology will be in the Bull City starting Thursday. There will be workshops during the day and electronic music at night. Headliners include Grimes and Miike Snow. Weekend passes and daily passes are available. There is also a slate of free events happening mainly at American Tobacco Campus on Saturday. Capitol Broadcasting Company is a presenting sponsor of this event.

Artsplosure - WRAL is a proud sponsor of this family-friendly arts festival. It starts Friday and runs through Sunday in downtown Raleigh. Highlights this year include live music on two stages, an art market featuring more than 170 visual arts and crafts exhibitors from across the state and Kidsplosure activities.

Got to Be NC - Enjoy food, rides and more fun at the N.C. State Fairgrounds this weekend at the Got to Be NC festival. See baby animals, watch lumberjacks compete and enjoy auto and truck shows. The event runs Friday through Sunday. Admission is free, but you will have to pay to ride the carnival rides.

Wendell Falls Barn Raising - This new community will celebrate its one year anniversary with this family-friendly event on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. There will be live music, food and a celebrity "Hoedown Showdown" square-dancing competition. Six local celebs will be competing and only one will win $1,000 for a charity of their choice. I'll be competing and hopefully raising money for the Tammy Lynn Center so please drop by!

Durham Brews and Blues - Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials, Handsome Al and The Lookers will be among the performers at this festival on Saturday at Durham Central Park. There will also be beer from more than 20 North Carolina craft breweries and food from 10 food trucks. and 10 food trucks. Tickets are $40. Designated driver tickets are $20.

History, Mystery and BBQ - The Orange County Historical Museum will present this family friendly event on Saturday at Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough. It will feature open-mic history storytelling, food and drink. Admission is free.

Five Points Film Festival - Held at the Rialto Theater in Raleigh, this festival will feature seven short films and one feature film about people and the machines that inspire them. It is organized by a group of people with a passion for motorcycles and film. Films start at noon Saturday. Admission is $15 and includes three raffle tickets. Proceeds go to Eurobike Raleigh and their charity Biker Down.

Pork Out BBQ Contest and Festival - Enjoy barbecue from up to 20 teams at Lafayette Village in north Raleigh on Saturday. There will be live music and activities throughout the day. Tasting tickets are available for purchase. Update: Canceled due to severe weather threat.

140 West Plaza Carnival - The plaza in Chapel Hill will come to life with color as face painters turn people into lions, tigers and bears on Friday. Minuet Entertainment will make big strides on stilts and balloon twisters will transform balloons into fantastic creatures right before your eyes. Even the Spin Man will be making an appearance, balancing basketballs in a way you have never seen before.

Raleigh Food and Wine Festival - This four-day festival features events at various restaurants in the area. It all culminates with a grand tasting event Sunday at Babylon.

Rock Your World Benefit - Enjoy five hours of music and help raise money for the Hope for Haiti Foundation and Franconi Anemia Research Fund. It all happens Saturday at Rally Point Sports Grill in Cary. Activities will also include huge silent auction, raffle, food and drink specials, and a book drive for Haitian students. Tickets are $20.

Chris Stapleton - This rising country star will play a sold out show at Koka Booth Amphitheatre Friday night.

Kenny Chesney - The country singer plays Walnut Creek Saturday night.

Rupaul's Drag Race "Battle of the Seasons" tour - This show features an all-star cast of past winners, runners up and favorites from each season of the popular LOGO network show. See them Sunday at DPAC.

Willie Nelson at Koka Booth Amphitheatre - He will be joined by Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers featuring Ben and Noel Haggard honoring Merle Haggard. The show is Sunday night.

NC Symphony presents the Rat Pack: 100 Years of Frank - Celebrate Sinatra, Davis and Martin with classic songs like "My Way," "Mr. Bojangles," "That's Amore," "The Lady Is a Tramp" and of course, "New York, New York." Shows are Friday and Saturday at Meymandi Concert Hall.

Making a Murderer at DPAC - Dean Strang and Jerry Buting, defense attorneys for Steven Avery in the Netflix documentary series Making A Murderer, will hold a conversation about the Avery case and its broader implications, as well as a discuss the larger topic of the American criminal justice system. See them Friday at DPAC.

The Dangling Loafer- Head to Kings Barcade Friday night for this local comedy showcase. Tickets are $5.

Wool E. Bull birthday - Minor League Baseball's most famous mascot is another year older and you can be part of the celebration on Sunday during the Durham Bulls game against the Rochester Red Wings.

A Lil Crazy Run - Head to the Dorothea Dix Campus in Raleigh Saturday for this run to benefit MADD. It will feature a less than one-mile dirty, wet obstacle course fun run for children ages 10 years and younger.

Pop-up Raleigh - This monthly vintage market is Saturday at Trophy Brewing on Maywood Avenue.