Good food, good music and lots of entertainment: If you like either, you should have no trouble indulging your pleasure sensors this weekend.

Uptown Charlotte and nearby Dilworth will be practically overflowing with festivals.

Time Warner Cable BBQ and Blues
This annual two-day event combines music and some of the best barbeque found anywhere. Visitors also can enjoy cooking contests, celebrity chef appearances, games and children’s activities. And, yes, there will even be pig races. Performing Friday are Michael Wolf & The Voodoo Brothers (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.); Contagious Blues Band (6-7 p.m.); Part Time Blues Band (7:30 -9 p.m.) and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (9:30-11 p.m.) Saturday’s lineup is the Lucky Five Band (12:30-1:45 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.); Bobby Messano & New Blues Orchestra (3:30-5 p.m.); The Blue Dogs (5:30-6:30 p.m.); Honey Island Swamp Band (7:30-9 p.m.); and the BoDeans (9:30-11 p.m.) Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Location: Tryon Street between Trade and First streets.
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GanttFest!
The Harvey B. Gantt Center will hold its 1st annual GanttFest! This full-day celebration of the arts is free and open to the public. Enjoy guided tours of exhibitions Protégé: Sam Gilliam & Kevin Cole and Charlotte Collects African American Art – both opening to the public at GanttFest! African storytelling, face painting, spoken word, dance, music and other live performances also are scheduled throughout the day. Hours: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center
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Yiasou Greek Festival
OK, so we’re not Greek. Still, this annual event, now in its 33rd year, is one of our favorites. This celebration of Greek culture includes music, arts and food – all on the campus of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in the Dilworth community. (Don’t forget to tour the beautiful sanctuary.) Hours: Saturday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Cost: $2 for general admission; free to children 11 and younger. Also, free to anyone who takes a Charlotte Area Transit System bus or the light rail (you'll need to show a ticket).
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Charlotte Literary Festival
If you like books and enjoy live music, then this year’s 5th Annual Charlotte Literary Festival may be the perfect two-day event. Known in the past as a place where book fans could meet well-known authors up close and personal (Dick Gregory and Pam Grier were here recently,) festival organizers this year have added a new layer – the Queen City Neo Soul Festival. On tap this year is Susan L. Taylor, author and former editor-in chief of Essence Magazine; the legendary poet and activist Sonia Sanchez; New York Times best-selling author Mary Monroe; and popular soul singer Dwele. Click here for details.
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Shameless Plug
The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists is hosting a Friday bowling event to raise money for college scholarships. So come out and bowl with your favorite reporter or editor -- including Qcitymetro.com editor/publisher Glenn Burkins. Click here for details.

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