🌳 Got To Be NC, Shrek at Joyner Park, Family Fun Day, Artsplosure, and Six Sundays

Good morning, W.Y.R. neighbors! This is a family-heavy spring week: Got To Be NC takes over the State Fairgrounds, Shrek hits the big outdoor screen at Joyner Park, Youngsville has Family Fun Day at Luddy Park, Artsplosure fills downtown Raleigh, and Six Sundays keeps Joyner Park moving with Marcel Portilla Band. The weather looks sunny, warm, and mostly cooperative, so this is one of those weeks where the easy answer is to get outside.

In today’s edition of The WYRe:

Let's get to it.

— Dave & Egle

🎡 Got To Be NC Festival 📍 NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh | Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17 | Friday noon to 10 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM | FREE admission and parking

Got To Be NC is the big state-fairgrounds weekend without October-level chaos. Expect food, rides, live music, agriculture exhibits, livestock shows, and North Carolina-made products across the grounds. Admission and parking are free, but rides, food, and some special areas cost extra. This is the strongest family day-trip option of the week if you want a full afternoon instead of a single event.

🎬 Family Movie Night: Shrek 📍 E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Rd, Wake Forest | Saturday, May 16 | pre-show 7:30 PM, movie 8:30 PM | FREE

Wake Forest is putting Shrek on the outdoor screen at Joyner Park. The town recommends bringing blankets or chairs, plus whatever snacks make movie night work for your family. The pre-show starts at 7:30 PM and the movie begins around 8:30 PM, so this is a good low-cost Saturday night plan after the heat settles down.

🎈 Family Fun Day in Luddy Park 📍 Luddy Park, 200 US 1-N Alt, Youngsville | Saturday, May 16 | 2 to 9 PM | price not listed

Youngsville gets a full Saturday afternoon and evening at Luddy Park. The Franklin County listing says to expect live music, a live DJ, carnival games, a dunk tank, vendors, a kids activity, and the Voyager bookmobile. It pairs well with a slower morning, especially if you want something closer to home than Raleigh.

🎶 Six Sundays in Spring: Marcel Portilla Band 📍 E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Rd, Wake Forest | Sunday, May 17 | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | FREE

Wake Forest’s Sunday concert series keeps rolling with Marcel Portilla Band at Joyner Park. Bring the blanket, pack dinner, and remember the park rules: no alcohol, no smoking, and pets need to stay leashed. The town says the series runs rain or shine, but weather calls are posted by noon if safety becomes an issue.

🎨 Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival 📍 Downtown Raleigh | Saturday, May 16, 11 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, May 17, 10 AM to 6 PM | FREE

Artsplosure is back downtown with roughly 175 juried visual artists, music on multiple stages, kids activities, and temporary art installations. Saturday is the bigger full-day window, while Sunday gives you a morning-to-evening option before Six Sundays if you want to make a full arts-and-music day out of it. Expect downtown traffic and plan parking before you go.

🏒 The Canes Are Waiting on the Eastern Conference Final 📍 Lenovo Center, Raleigh | opponent, dates, and times TBD

Carolina swept Philadelphia and has opened Eastern Conference Final ticket sales, but the official Canes ticket page still lists the opponent, dates, and times as TBD. The NHL’s playoff page says Carolina is waiting on the winner of Sabres-Canadiens.

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-7:45 AM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

Toddler Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 9:15 AM

Imagination Playground | Moore Square | 10 AM

Moore Music Makers! | Moore Square | 11 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

Baby Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 11:15 AM

STEM Build (Lego) | Joyner Park CC | 12-4 PM

Homeschool Rec (basketball & volleyball) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2:30 PM

Open Paint Studio (14+) | The Makery WF | 1-3 PM

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3-5 PM

K-5th Adventures: Water Slime | Wake Forest Community Library | 4:30 PM

K-2nd Adventures: Garden Party | Northeast Regional Library | 4:30 PM

May Month of Fitness | Joyner Park Amphitheater | 6-8 PM

Wine & Design: Sip & Paint | Lonerider Hideout | 6 PM

Mother’s Day Paint & Sip  | Zinchouse | 6-9 PM

Wine Club Meeting | Unwined on White | 6:30 PM Join the club

Gnome Knows Trivia | Norse Brewing | 6:30 PM 

Karaoke Thursdays | Gatehouse Tavern | 8-11 PM

Retro Rewind Music Bingo | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 7-9 PM

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL - Day 1 | State Fairgrounds | 12–10 pm

A FREE State Fair without the crowds and long lines? It’s the best kept secret in Raleigh!

Come out to the Got to Be NC Festival this Friday May 15 through Sunday May 17 at the State Fairgrounds (4285 Trinity Road).

This annual 3-day festival celebrates the best of North Carolina agriculture with food, entertainment, exhibits, carnival rides, and so much more for the whole family.

Plus you never know which celebrity will show up!

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park Cc | 8 AM-4 PM

Blood Drive | Rolesville Town Hall | 9 AM-3 PM 

Thriving Child: Social Superpowers | Wake Forest Community Library | 10 AM

Story Time at the Museum | Museum of Natural Sciences | 10:30 AM

Game On! at Moore Square | Moore Square | 10 AM-5 PM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2 PM

Salsa and Sauvignon Dance Class | Unwined on White | 6:30 PM $35/couple

Complimentary Beer Tasting | Unwined on White | 6-8 PM (Johnson Brothers) 

Movie Night: Poupelle of Chimney Town | Moore Square | 6 PM

9 Ball Tournament | Bud’s Tavern | 8 PM 

For more info, visit https://gottobencfestival.com. See less

Wake Forest Farmers Market | 235 S Taylor St, Wake Forest | 8 AM-Noon

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL - Day 2 | State Fairgrounds | 10 AM–10 PM

Imagination Playground | Moore Square | 10 AM

Mama & Me Social Event | Lonerider Hideout | 10 AM-12 PM

Family Painting Class: Horse | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 10 AM

Family Fun Day | Luddy Park | 2-9 PM

Vendor Fair & Rib Cook Off | Bud’s Tavern | 10 AM-4 PM

The Wake County Smart Start Block Party | Roberts Park | 10 AM-2 PM

ABC Craft & Learn: Kindergarten Readiness Program | Youngsville Library | 10:30 AM

Family Storytime | Northeast Regional Library | 10:15 AM

Family Storytime + 1000 Books Before Kindergarten | Wake Forest Community Library | 11:00 AM

Motorcycle Charity Ride | Bud’s Tavern | 9:30 AM

Open Play Basketball (17 and younger) | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

STEAM Free Play | Youngsville Library | 2-3 PM

ABC Craft & Learn | Wake Forest Community Library | 2:30 PM

Bangin’ Fores & Skippin’ Chores Golf Tourney | Burnt Barrel | 3 PM 

Family Movie Night: Shrek | Joyner Park Amphitheater | 5-11 PM

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL - Day 3 | State Fairgrounds | 10 AM–8 PM

Game On! | Moore Square | 10 AM

Scream for Ice Cream | Phillips Farms | 11 AM-4 PM

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 1-4:45 PM

A Taste of Jewish Culture | Northeast Regional Library | 2 PM

Horseshoes for Hope | Lonerider Hideout | 2-5 PM 

Six Sundays in Spring | Joyner Park | 1-9 PM

Drinking Gourd Gallery | Wake Forest Community Library | 2:30 PM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park CC | 8 AM-4 PM

Game On! | Moore Square | 10 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2 PM

Bingo Night | Artisan Beer & Cheese | 6-7 PM 

May Month of Fitness | Joyner Park Amphitheater | 6-8 PM

Crokinole Hang Out  | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 6:30-9 PM 

Bunco Night  | Fortnight Brewing | 6:30-8:30 PM

Hammered Trivia | Blackbird Brewery | 7-9 PM 

Stitch & B*tch: The Knotty Sheep crowd  | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 7-9 PM

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-7:45 AM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

Imagination Playground & Storytime | Moore Square | 11 AM

STEM Build (Lego) | Joyner Park CC | 12-4 PM

Homeschool Rec (basketball & volleyball) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2:30 PM

Youth open play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3-5 PM

May Month of Fitness | Joyner Park Amphitheater | 6-8 PM

“Spring Sailing” Paint & Sip | Burnt Barrel | 6-9 PM

Jet Set with James Wine Tasting | Broadsides and Brews | 6-10 PM 

Wed. Cookbook Club: The Salad Lab |  Northeast Regional Library | 6:30 PM 

Music Bingo | Blackbird Brewery | 7-9 PM

Tuesday Trivia | Wakefield Tavern | 7-8:30 PM

Trivia  | Fortnight Brewing | 7-8:30 PM

Trivia Night | Gatehouse Tavern | 7:30 PM

Trivia Tuesday: Stephen King Books | Unwined on White | 7:30-9 PM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park CC | 8 AM-4 PM

Game On! | Moore Square | 10 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2 PM

May Month of Fitness | Joyner Park Amphitheater | 6-8 PM

Drinking Gourd Gallery | Wake Forest Community Library | 6:30 PM

Music Bingo | Gatehouse Tavern | 7 PM

The Art of Wine: A Tasting Experience | Zinchouse | 7 PM Register

Live Trivia  | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 8-9 PM

Music Bingo | Fortnight Brewing | 7-9 PM

_{This section’s not sponsored. We just think it’s stuff worth knowing. We’ll always tell you when something’s sponsored.}

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Forecast captured on the Wednesday before this newsletter edition. The weather around here changes fast, so double‑check closer to the day before finalizing plans.

The Canes are the only local sports story that matters this week. Carolina swept Philadelphia, is 8-0 through two playoff rounds, and Eastern Conference Final tickets are already on sale at Lenovo Center. As of Wednesday afternoon, the official Canes ticket page still lists the opponent, dates, and times as TBD, while the NHL says Carolina is waiting on the Sabres-Canadiens winner.

Just Us | Blackbird Brewery | 6-9 PM
Live Music | Zinchouse | 6:30-9:30 PM
John Webber | Broadsides and Brews | 7-9 PM
Ron Ross | The Cardinal | 9 PM - 12 AM

Live Music | Zinchouse | 4-10 PM 
Live Music | Carolina Ale House | 6-9 PM
Mark Ficks | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 7-9:30 PM 
Noah Guthrie | Wake Forest Listening Room | 7:30 PM
Live Music | Gatehouse Tavern | 7-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Raleigh Assassins | Tonic, Bar, and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Jose Live on Bass | Broadsides and Brews | 8-11 PM
Snapbag | The Real McCoy’s | 9 PM - 12 AM
Country Mile Wide | The Cardinal | 9 PM - 12 AM

Live Music | Zinchouse | 4-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Bella G | Unwined on White | 7-9 PM
Pam Ross  | White Street Brewing Co. Taproom | 7-9:30 PM 
Kevin Lee | Tonic, Bar, and Social Club | 7:30-10:30 PM
Center Stage Saturday | Broadsides and Brews | 7-11 PM
Just Us  | Fortnight Brewing | 6-9 PM
Take 10 Band | The Real McCoy’s | 9 PM - 12 AM 
Rose Galaxy | The Cardinal | 9 PM - 12 AM

Live Music | Zinchouse | 12-8 PM
Open Mic | Blackbird Brewery | 3-6 PM
Busker Night | Tonic, Bar, and Social Club | 6-9 PM
Josh Rhyne | Lonerider Hideout | 2-5 PM 

Sting 3.0 Tour | Red Hat Amphitheater | 8 PM
Karaoke with DJ Sobel | The Real McCoy’s | 8-11 PM

Live Music | Zinchouse | 6:30-9:30 PM
Live Music | Tonic, Bar and Social Club | 7:30-9:30 PM
Rickey Johnson | Real McCoy’s | 8-10 PM

Thanks for reading today’s edition of The WYRe. That's a wrap for this week. Share it with someone who’s always asking what's going on this weekend.

See you around town!
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