Happy Friday, Fuquay. Fall warriors, your time is coming. We’re 33 days from the first NFL game, 85 from Halloween, 111 from Thanksgiving, and also 111 from your uncle bringing up something at dinner that permanently changes the family group chat. Until then, it’s still very much August, so let’s make the most of it.
This weekend we have ice cream with goats, a free pint glass, one of the more fun First Fridays downtown we’ve seen this year, and enough live music to keep your ears ringing.
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— First Sip Fuquay Team
THE SHORT LIST
Start Here: Your Weekend Lineup
If you only read one thing this week, make it this. The biggest stuff happening across town this week:
First Friday Downtown — 5:00–9:00 PM: Late shopping across both downtown districts, wildlife encounters, museum tours, scavenger hunts and four live sets at Ashworth Park. Charlee the trolley runs between Fuquay and Varina; the Prowler adds Aviator to the route for $15 unlimited rides.
Scoops & Hooves at Smith Farm Goat Sanctuary — 6:00–7:30 PM: Spend the evening with rescued goats while eating some Fat Cat Homemade Ice Cream from their truck. Admission is $10. Ice cream and concessions are sold separately.
PumpkinBeast & King of Pumpkins Release at Aviator — 6:00 PM: Both pumpkin beers arrive at every Aviator location. Mention the promotion between 6:00 and 8:00 PM for a free Aviator pint glass.
Pick an Aviator stage — 7:00–10:00 PM: Jack Spades Duo at the Hangar Bar, Maskell Freeman at the TapHouse or Lydia St. George Band at the Pizza Pub.
FRIDAY
🎃 Aviator skips directly to pumpkin season — and you get a free pint glass!
Image Credit: Aviator Brewing Company
PumpkinBeast & King of Pumpkins Release | All Aviator locations | Friday, August 7 | 6:00 PM
August is barely a week old, but Aviator is releasing two pumpkin beers anyway. PumpkinBeast is the familiar fall-spiced option made with real pumpkin; King of Pumpkins is the new mystery brewed with spices and brown sugar.
The useful part is the timing: the release begins at 6:00 PM at every Aviator location, and anyone who mentions the promotion between 6:00 and 8:00 PM gets a free Aviator pint glass. At 7:00, three separate live sets begin across the Hangar Bar, TapHouse and Pizza Pub.
FRIDAY
🐐 Ice cream tastes better with goats
Image Credit: Smith Farm Goat Sanctuary
Scoops & Hooves | Smith Farm Goat Sanctuary | Friday, August 7 | 6:00–7:30 PM | $10
Smith Farm Goat Sanctuary is opening the farm for a low-key summer evening with its rescued herd and the Fat Cat Homemade Ice Cream truck. Guests can mingle with the goats, take photos and play lawn games including cornhole and giant checkers.
The $10 admission gets you into the sanctuary; ice cream, hot dogs, popcorn, chips and drinks are available for purchase. The sanctuary normally opens only for scheduled events and private tours, so this is the easier way to see the farm without booking a separate visit.
FRIDAY
🏙️ First Friday has everything from animals to trolleys
Image Credit: Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association
First Friday Downtown | Friday, August 7 | 5:00–9:00 PM
First Friday is more than late shopping this week. Ashworth Park will host animal encounters with Close to Nature Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, museum tours and scavenger hunts from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, plus a celebration of local nonprofit milestones beginning at 6:00 PM.
The music starts at 6:30 PM with Jeff Blake, followed by Bett Padgett at 7:00, Chuck Champion at 7:30 and Peter Laiosa and friends from 8:00 to 8:45. Bring a lawn chair if you plan to stay for the full run.
Transportation is unusually useful this month. Charlee the Century 21 trolley loops between the museums on South Fuquay Avenue and the lot behind Quaint Plaza. The Brewquay Prowler costs $15 for unlimited rides and adds stops near Fidelity Bank, Quaint Plaza and Aviator’s brewery campus.
LIVE TUNES
🎶 Your Weekend Music Calendar
Image Credit: Raleigh Assassins
Here’s this weekend’s lineup:
Friday, August 7
First Friday at Ashworth Park — 6:30–8:45 PM: Jeff Blake, Bett Padgett, Chuck Champion, then Peter Laiosa and friends.
Jack Spades Duo at Aviator Hangar Bar — 7:00–10:00 PM: Acoustic pop.
Maskell Freeman at Aviator TapHouse — 7:00–10:00 PM: Acoustic band set.
Lydia St. George Band at Aviator Pizza Pub — 7:00–10:00 PM: Rock and pop.
Saturday, August 8
Raleigh Assassins at Aviator TapHouse — 7:00–10:00 PM: Rock.
Sunday, August 9
Open Mic at Oaklyn Springs Brewery — 2:00 PM: The brewery’s recurring Sunday stage for local musicians.
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THE REST
Honorable mentions for the week
Arts LAB — Saturday, 1:00–4:00 PM: Free art project at the Arts Center; registration required.
Fuquay-Varina Growers Market — Saturday, 8:00 AM–noon: The regular summer market at 121 N. Main Street.
Mini Scrapbook Making with Martha — Sunday, 4:00–6:00 PM: Supplies included; $24 plus service fee.
Oaklyn Springs Open Mic — Sunday, 2:00 PM: A recurring, walk-in afternoon stage at the brewery.
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