12 Best Bets this weekend: Cheer on the Hurricanes and kick off the summer concert season

There’s a lot going on this week. Here’s your cheat sheet of can’t-miss events around town.

Zac Brown Band

Nothing screams (sings!) summer like a little “cold beer on a Friday night” and a taste of country. Zac Brown Band delivers some corn-fed “ chicken fried” fun as they kick off the Down the Rabbit Hole Live tour at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, featuring Moon Taxi as the opening act. 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh. April 13, 7 p.m. From $36.50. livenation.com

Carolina Hurricanes Watch Party

The warning was clearly taken as the Canes return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 10 years — and Raleigh is ready to celebrate. Now: Calling all Caniacs… join fans at downtown’s Carolina Ale House and adjacent Tucker Street for a street party and viewing party complete with large outside screen, 50-plus TVs upstairs, giveaways, live entertainment from DJ Mista Illz and more. Space is limited, so arrive early. Go Canes! 500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. April 11, 7:30 p.m.; April 13, 1 p.m. carolinaalehouse.com/canes

Durham turns 150

The Bull City is having a birthday. Celebrate the big 150 on April 13 with a host of happenings around town. Past and present meet at the American Tobacco Campus as 150 years’ worth of history are celebrated by Durham’s dynamic community at the Durham 150 Opening Celebration. The event winds down with a “Running of the Bulls” race in the ATC river. Adopt a floatable rubber bull before 1 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., 2,000 rubber bulls will race down the water with the top three winning bull owners winning prizes. Bonus: the bulls taken be taken home. (10 a.m.-2 p.m., 318 Blackwell St.).

Keep the party going at SummerStage Block Party at Golden Belt (3-9 p.m., 807 E. Main St.) — one of 100 planned free events scheduled for the inaugural event series from April to October, curated by Art of Cool Project co-founder Cicely Mitchell. Record labels Jamla, Cardigan, Raund Haus, Merge, NCCU and Small Town Records join in the birthday celebration (think music, food trucks, art, brews and a hiring fair), which also falls on National Record Store Day. Durham. April 13, times vary. Free. facebook.com/events/2095930767161589/; facebook.com/events/331245410853362/

“Anastasia”

“Journey to the Past” at Durham Performing Arts Center as this musical adaptation transports you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the romantic streets of 1920s Paris as a courageous young woman sets out to discover her past. 123 Vivian St., Durham. April 16-21, times vary. Tickets from $31. dpacnc.com/events/detail/anastasia

2019 Raleigh Half Marathon

This is either a calling to channel your inner cheerleader — or a traffic PSA. Your call. RIP Rock ’n’ Roll Raleigh Half. The inaugural Raleigh Half is filling its void, where up to 800 runners (up from 500) will pound the course, strategically selected as the fastest, flatest in town. The race also serves as the 2019 USATF and RRCA North Carolina State Championship, featuring an Olympic Marathon Trials Standard Chase (um, beast!). So, whether you post up on the path to cheer or avoid the route like the plague, either way, Raleigh runners, we salute you… Raleigh. April 14, 8 a.m.-noon. 2019 registration is closed. raleighhalfmarathon.com

Beers, BBQ and Baseball: The MLB Raleigh Kickoff Party

Want to take it to the big leagues? Post up at Trophy on Maywood to support MLB Raleigh’s efforts to bring pro baseball to town. Bring the kids for family fun plus a baseball-themed brew, delicious barbecue, information on the movement and merch for sale. Trophy on Maywood. 656 Maywood Ave., Raleigh. April 13, 1- 4 p.m. Free. facebook.com/events/774996462883701/

Live & Local Spring Fest

Take it to the streets for Spring Fest. Artsplosure and Live It Up! Hillsborough Street join forces to bring you this community celebration of all things NC art, music, food and brews. Grab the squad for an afternoon of performances on the Main Stage or bring the fam and enjoy a Kid’s Zone, plus kid-friendly performances and craft activities. Hillsborough Street between Chamberlain and Enterprise streets, Raleigh. April 13, noon-7 p.m. Free. liveandlocalhillsboroughst.com

Lonerider 10th anniversary party

Cheers to 10 years of #outlawlife when the “band of outlaws” brew company culminates its month of anniversary celebrations with a blowout bash at the Hideout, featuring special beers, including the anniversary brew Lonerider X, brand fave The Preacher, and Peanut Butter Sweet Josie, plus live music and more. 8816 Gulf Court, Raleigh. April 14, 1-8 p.m. Free, VIP passes $50. loneriderbeer.com/10th-anniversary/

Adult Egg Hunts

’Tis the season to romp around and have a field day in search of hidden eggs. Totally normal tradition. Kid-free fun can be had in at Eggs & Kegs at Rookie’s Sports Bar (1-5 p.m., 4911 Central Park Drive, Durham, tickets from $12.50, facebook.com/events/298822350789955/) with eggs and kegs (obv), plus cool prizes, vendors, game and more.

Family-friendly fun can be found at Old Mill Farm (3-6 p.m., 8193 N.C. 751, Durham, $10, facebook.com/events/783426248696280/) with a kids hunt (4 p.m.), adult hunt (5 p.m.), food and bevs, pony rides (for the children) and serious prizes. Durham. Both April 13.

Meanwhile, the Spring Fling Adult Egg Hunt is at Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, April 13, from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be 10,000 eggs to find, as well as lawn games and inflatables to lounge with. Admission is free, but registration is requested. dixpark.org

Lebanese Festival

Get a taste of Lebanon when this 21st annual Lebanese Fest descends on downtown Raleigh, chock-full of Lebanese food and desserts, cooking demos, musical and dancing performances (think belly dancing and traditional Dabke performances), beer and wine, children’s activities and more. Raleigh City Plaza, 400 block Fayetteville Street, April 13, 11 a.m-7 p.m. Free. tlacnc.org

Mid-Town Square Spring Festival

Spring has sprung in Cary, and nowhere is that more clear than at the fourth annual fest celebrating the season with local artists, live bands, 40 vendors, myriad food trucks and plenty of pints, plus a Kids’ Zone, complete with a bounce house, rock climbing wall and face painting. DJ starts at noon. See you there! Downtown Cary. April 13, noon-10 p.m. Free, but drinks are through ticket exchange only. bondbrothersbeer.com/general-info

2019 Tour de Brew

Pedal for philanthropy — and your palate — as this charity cycling tour through the City of Oaks stops in six breweries, with 100 percent proceeds providing clean water in Central Africa via Water for Good. Crank Arm, 319 W. Davie St., Raleigh. April 13, 10:30 and 11 a.m. departures. Registration from $35. tourdebrew.org

Pints for Paws Craft Beverage Festival

Sample pints for a purpose, plus live music, games, food trucks and doggie wading pool, as the second annual craft beverage event joins craft brewers with vendors, animal lovers and lots of panting pups to benefit Animal Protection Society of Durham. Fur-lovers of all ages and crowd-friendly dogs welcome (on leash). Adoptable dogs from APS of Durham will also be on-site. Durham Central Park. 501 Foster St., Durham. April 14, noon-4 p.m. Free. apsofdurham.org/event/pints-for-paws-craft-beverage-festival/

Oak City Architecture Tour

If you fancy flying buttresses and cornices and all things architecture, amble your way through a walking tour covering several downtown buildings, ranging from classic 19th-century storefronts to futuristic banks — and get a glimpse of the “blueprint” that came to define the Raleigh look. City of Raleigh Museum. 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh. April 13, 10-11 a.m. Tickets $4-$10, children 6 and under are free. cityofraleighmuseum.org/raleigh-history-month-2019/