34th annual Village Fest is Saturday

The 34th annual Village Fest, sponsored by the Cabarrus Events Association, offers food and craft vendors, a kid’s zone, car show and more throughout the weekend.

Bands perform all day Saturday downtown, with Southern Pride Band performing at 8:30 to 11 a.m. in Dale Earnhardt Plaza.

The concert line-up at the Village Center Stage on West Avenue includes Southern Experience at 1 p.m.; Nantucket at 3:30 p.m. and Too Much Sylvia from 7 to 10 p.m.

The Kannapolis YMCA, 101 YMCA Drive, hosts a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.

Summer entertainment series kicks off

The Kannapolis Summer Entertainment Series kicks off Friday with North Carolina country music artist Parmalee on stage downtown at 8:30 p.m.

Local artist Olivia Albertson will be the opening act at 7 p.m.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a Festival of the Arts sponsored by Cooperative Christian Ministries.

Food vendors and a beer garden will be open throughout the show.

The evening will wrap up with fireworks.

Jiggy with the Piggy Barbecue Challenge

More than 60 teams from across the country will travel to Kannapolis on Friday and Saturday to compete in the inaugural Jiggy with the Piggy Barbecue Challenge.

“We are thrilled to have more than double the average number of competition teams for a first-time event sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society,” Deputy City Manager and event organizer Eddie Smith. “Teams consist of professional pitmasters and backyard grillers representing five states.

“Over 80 professional KCBS judges from eight states are coming to Kannapolis judge for us.”

Teams check in all day Friday, firing up the grills for a People’s Choice Wing Tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. and People’s Choice Pork Tasting on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Both tastings will be held at the Old Cabarrus Bank Building, 201 West Ave. while supplies last.

Spectators can watch teams prepare their entries throughout the day Saturday.

The competition wraps up with the awards ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Kannapolis Train Station, 201 South Main St.

Jiggy with the Piggy makes its debut as part of a weekend of family fun in Kannapolis.

National Train Day

Amtrack will host National Train Days from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kannapolis Train Station, 201 South Main St.

The NC Transportation Museum, Kannapolis Parks & Recreation Dept. and Carolina Association of Railway Passengers will be on hand.

Kids can enjoy face painting, cake, Wacky-Doo the Clown and storytelling by the staff of the Kannapolis Library.

Rhythm & Run 5K set for Saturday

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum will host the second annual Rhythm & Run 5K fundraiser a 9 a.m. Saturday.

The 5K run will start and finish on Main Street in Kannapolis, which is adjacent to the Hall of Fame Museum.

Medals will be awarded and there will be live music by Southern Pride,.

State music legends, who are inductees to the hall of fame, will also perform.

Everyone who signs up will qualify for a first prize drawing of $500 cash and a second prize drawing of two VIP tickets to the hall of fame inductions to be held Oct. 17.

Register at Sportoften.com or at the museum, 109 West A St., Kannapolis, 704-934-2320, www.NorthCarolinaMusicHallofFame.org