This week's party picks

Here's what's going on this weekend.


Friday

Irish Summer Festival

7 p.m. Friday at Connolly’s (115 E. Fifth St.). Saturday festival starts at noon at Third and Tryon streets. Free until 5 p.m. ($10 cover after 5). www.charlotteirishsummerfestival.com.

This year’s festival kicks off with a party at Connolly’s on Friday night before taking over the streets on Saturday with a block party. Activities will include live music from Irish and Celtic bands such as My Three Kilts and the Dublin City Ramblers, Irish dancers, bagpipers, a Highland games exhibition, and a world record attempt for the largest choreographed Irish dance.

Uptown Cooldown

5-7 p.m. 201 N. Tryon St. No cover. www.uptownclt.com.

Uptown magazine continues its budget-friendly bimonthly party this week. The latest stop will be at Nix, where partygoers can chill with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka sno-cones, free appetizers and a few frames of Wii bowling.

Saturday

2009 Summer Collaborative

Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 820 Hamilton St. $20. www.wearnuthing.com.

Emanicipated Logik, Nuthing Clothing and the N.C. Music Factory host a music festival this weekend, featuring 20 bands as well as artists and poets over two days. Featured acts will include the Lights, Fluorescent, Eyes of the Elders and Incognito Mosquito.

Alpha Luau

10 p.m. 911 E. Morehead St. $30. www.betanulambda.org.

The Alphas of Charlotte want you to breeze on down to The Big Chill this weekend for their annual luau. (Think Hawaiian-print dress and linen pants.) DJ Flemingo will provide the music and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Proceeds benefit the educational initiatives of the chapter throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.