The N.C. RV Dealers Association will bring in hundreds of RVs for its fall show and sale this weekend.

We’re getting ready for the 2012 N.C. State Fair, which starts in a little under five weeks. In the meantime, stop by the fairgrounds this weekend and enjoy some amazing events. We’ve got horses, coins, gourds, tropical fish, RVs, and of course, the Raleigh Flea Market. Read on for more information about this weekend’s events.

Raleigh Flea Market
The largest flea market in Raleigh will close temporarily to make way for the N.C. State Fair in just a few weeks. Stop by while you still can to browse through the offerings of hundreds of vendors. The flea market is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NC State Charity Classic Horse Show
Over the next two weekends, the Lions Club will sponsor two charity horse events at the Hunt Horse Complex. This week’s event is the N.C. State Charity Classic Horse Show. The show features a variety of contests starting at 6 p.m. Friday night. Competitions will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday. For more information, go to www.ncschs.com.

The Original Coin & Currency Show
The Scott Building will host the Original Coin and Currency Show Friday and Saturday. The show offers a variety of rare coins, precious metals, paper money, tokens, coin collecting books and supplies for purchase. You also can bring your coins and currency to be appraised or sold at the event. The coin show is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

North Carolina RV Dealers Assocation Fall RV Sale
Hundreds of RVs will be on display throughout the Graham and Expo Building during the N.C. RV Dealers Association’s Fall RV Sale. The sale is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and free for children under 13. Additional discounts and ticket information are available online at www.northcarolinarvda.com.

N.C. Gourd Arts & Craft Festival
The country’s oldest gourd society will host its 71th annual North Carolina Gourd Arts & Crafts Festival at the Holshouser Building. The event features competitions, workshops and vendors. There also will be a live auction at noon on Saturday. The festival is open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and free for children under 16, N.C. Gourd Society members and workshop students.

Carolina Aquarium Tropical Fish Auction
The Martin Building will be the site of the Carolina Aquarium Tropical Fish Auction Sunday. The Raleigh Aquarium Society will host the auction and offer a variety of fish, plants and hardware items for your collection. Preview and registration starts at 9 a.m. and the auction will start at 11. Sunday morning. Auction starts at 11 am. Admission is free, but non-club members will need to pay $5 to register for the auction.

And, don’t forget to mark your calendars for these other great events:

Sept. 14-16: Greek Festival, Old North State Antique Gun & Military Collector Show, Mexican Independence Day Celebration
Sept. 21-23: Southern Ideal Home Show, Chinese Moon Festival Celebration
Sept. 24: Fairgrounds Closes for N.C. State Fair
Oct. 11-21: 2012 N.C. State Fair
Nov. 1: Fairgrounds Reopens

Though the fair is still a few weeks away, this weekend the fairgrounds will be abuzz with activity. The weekend kicks off with the Southern Ideal Home Show in the Graham Building and Exposition Center Friday through Sunday. The Triangle’s biggest and best home and garden event and will be packed full with hundreds of experts providing advice on home projects and selling home and garden-related products. Three other events will feature shopping opportunities:

• The North State Toy & Hobby Show Saturday and Sunday collectible toys, sports cards & sports memorabilia in the Scott Building.
• Sunday a wide variety of fish, plants and hardware items will be available in the Martin Building as part of the 2011 Carolina Aquarium Auction.
• Across the fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday the Raleigh Flea Market will feature a variety of local vendors selling their wares.

The Southern Ideal Home Show will feature a variety of landscape displays. Photo credit: Flickr.

The NCHQA Futurity will feature horse competitions that will award nearly $100,000 in prizes and a vendor. The event will be held in the Hunt Horse Complex Friday through Sunday.

The American Kennel Club will feature its Responsible Dog Ownership Day Saturday in the Holshouser Building. The focus of the day’s events will be a “Meet the Breeds” show. Dog-related vendors, demonstrations, games, contests and giveaways will also be featured.