Weekend best bets: Tamales, tacos and food trucks

Raleigh Tamale Festival (Dorothea Dix Park - Flowers Field, 2105 Umstead Dr., Raleigh) - There will be performances, games and inflatables for the kids, Latin dance lessons, local art and of course tamales at this festival on Saturday afternoon at Dix Park.

Tacos N Taps Festival (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - This all-you-care-to-taste beer and tequila festival is Saturday at Booth Amphitheatre. It also includes tacos and Mexican food and music.

Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo (Downtown Raleigh , Fayetteville Street, Raleigh) - Enjoy beer and selections from more than 50 food trucks over 11 city blocks in downtown Raleigh during this rodeo on Sunday afternoon.

2nd Annual Festa Italiana Raleigh (Lucky B's, 609 Tucker St., Raleigh) - This Italian street festival will include food, music and more fun on Saturday in Glenwood South.

Insain Hot Sauce Festival (Locked & loaded Bar and Grill, 305 McCormick Street, Garner) - This Saturday festival features Insain hot sauce tastings, craft vendors, local retailers, food and drink and music by Downpour, a 3-piece rock band from Angier.

Chili Cook-Off Celebrate Fuquay-Varina (Main and Broad Streets, Fuquay-Varina) - Enjoy this annual chili cook-off in downtown Fuquay-Varina on Saturday.

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival (Shakori Hills Farm, 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road, Pittsboro) - Shakori Hills features over 50 performers, dancing, sustainability workshops, camping, crafts and fun in a 72-acre site in Pittsboro.

Taste of China Food and Culture Festival (Bicentennial Plaza, 1 East Edenton Street, Raleigh) - Enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine, performances and arts and crafts at this festival in downtown Raleigh on Saturday.

TABLE's 7th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser (Weaver Street Market Carrboro, 101 East Weaver St, Carrboro) - Headed to Weaver Street Market in Carrboro for this fundraiser to help support TABLE's hunger relief and nutrition education programs. Saturday's event includes delicious soups, hearty sandwiches and live music.

Root Cellar's 8th Annual Porkapalooza (The Root Cellar, 750 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Chapel Hill) - This annual pork-focused farm dinner includes eight courses with beer pairings from Mason Jar Lager. It is Saturday at The Root Cellar.

A Foodie Fundraiser for TROSA (TROSA, 1820 James St, Durham) - The Triangle's best chefs come together for an afternoon of buffet-style food, live music, free crafts with the Scrap Exchange, and more on Sunday. Proceeds will benefit TROSA, a licensed treatment facility helping individuals with substance use disorders become healthy, productive members of their communities and families.

Aladdin (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - Discover a whole new world at this hit Broadway musical at DPAC. The show runs through Oct. 26.

Criminal Podcast (Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham) - See this award-winning podcast about crime live at Carolina Theatre on Saturday night.

Wake Forest Dance Festival (E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Rd., Wake Forest) - The Triangle's only free outdoor dance festival that features international and national performers, returns to E. Carroll Joyner Park on Saturday. There will be performances by Paul Taylor Dance Company alumni and dancers of Ailey II, the second company of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

Andy Grammer (Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham) - The singer brings his "Don't Give Up on Me" tour to Carolina Theatre on Friday night.

ZZ Top - 50th Anniversary Tour (Coastal Credit Union Music Park, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - The band plays Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh on Saturday.

Zedd (Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh) - The Grammy award winning DJ and producer will bring his Orbit Tour to Red Hat Amphitheater on Saturday.

10th Annual Rock Your World (THE MAYTON INN, 301 South Academy Street, Cary) - This classic rock event on Friday night will benefit Hope for Haiti Foundation and Ship Community Outreach.

Rick Ross - Port Of Miami 2 Tour (The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Drive, Raleigh) - The rapper brings his "Port of Miami 2" tour to The Ritz on Sunday.

Dracula (Theatre in the Park, 107 Pullen Rd., Raleigh) - Ira David Wood III adapts Bram Stoker's Gothic tale of the world's most famous vampire. The show runs Friday and Saturday at Theatre in the Park.

First Friday (CAM Raleigh - The Contemporary Art Museum, 409 W Martin St, Raleigh) - It is opening weekend for CAM's Fall exhibitions including "¡Viva Viclas! The Art of the Lowrider Motorcycle."