The NC Weekend Warrior:Songs & Stories

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around North Carolina, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

Sweet Songs & Tall Tales

NC Native Tift Merritt is among the artists performing this weekend at Merlefest, the popular music festival held annually at Wilkesboro Community College. Other notables among the nearly 100 artists performing include Doc Watson, Sam Bush, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Donna the Buffalo, Emmylou Harris, Travis Tritt, and Linda Ronstadt featuring Los Camperos de Nati Cano.

As in previous years, the list of performers fits the "traditional plus" definition offered by Doc Watson when describing the musical diversity that is a trademark of the event. Sounds of bluegrass, Americana, gospel, blues, folk, Celtic, Cajun and mariachi music will fill the air. The gates open today at 2:30 p.m. and at 9 a.m. on Friday through Sunday.

If the Southern storytelling is more your cup of sweet tea, you should head over to Laurinburg for the Storytelling Festival of Carolina. The festival features some of the country's best tale tellers and yarn spinners to make you laugh and sing and clap your hands. The festival begins tomorrow in Scotland County (south of Fayetteville) and continues through Sunday.

Pickles and Ponies and Planes... Oh, my!

It's another big weekend of events and fun throughout the state. Out on the coast, Washington County is bringing its history to life, including a re-enactment of the Civil War's Battle of Plymouth featuring a replica of the ironclad CSS Albemarle.

A little further west, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro will be hosting the Wings Over Wayne Air Show, featuring the Navy's ever-popular Blue Angels. In nearby Mount Olive, all things pickle will be celebrated at the family-friendly NC Pickle Festival. Over in Mineral Springs (just south of Charlotte) the annual Queen's Cup Steeplechase has become a springtime tradition, bringing Old Southern Style together with thoroughbred horse racing.

The Cure For Football Fever

Every good football fan knows that the NFL Draft is this weekend, but if watching teams try to find talent for next season isn't enough to satisfy your need for gridiron action, the American Indoor Football Association's Fayetteville Guard has a home game this Saturday against the Columbus Lions.

Meanwhile, there's baseball action all over the state this weekend. The Carolina Mudcats, Greensboro Grasshoppers, and Kannapolis Intimidators are home Friday night, the Asheville Tourists are home Saturday and Sunday, and the Hickory Crawdads, Kinston Indians, and Winston-Salem Dash home all weekend!

And, the Carolina Hurricanes continue their quest for the Stanley Cup in Game 6 of their playoff series Sunday against the New Jersey Devils at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Picture Perfect Weather

The forecast this weekend is for the kind of weather NC is famous for: sunny skies all weekend long, highs in the upper 70's in the mountains and on the coast, and low-to-mid 80's through most of the Piedmont.

Enjoy your weekend! Get out and play!