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August 9th - August 15th 2012

by Pam & Michael Davison

Along with some fun concerts and movies, this is a great kid weekend. Whether you have a kindergartner heading off to school for the first time or some kids suffering from cabin fever after staying out of the heat for a few days, there are some super activities for you and your kids this weekend!

Second Saturday is back at the State Historic Sites
 
In Downtown Raleigh, the State Capitol will feature Family Game Day. Learn how to send a message using a signal flag or try on some 1860's style clothing along with a variety of Civil War era games and crafts.
 
Also in Downtown Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of History will focus on Pine Needle Baskets. See craftsman Bill Newman as he creates bowls and other things from pine needles. You can make your own minibroom from pine needles to take home in a Make it, Take it event.
 
The North Carolina Museum of Art joins in on 2nd Saturdays with Family Fun Saturdays. This week's installment will invite families to take a gallery tour and participate in a workshop exploring Ancient Rome.
 
As part of the popular 2nd Saturdays program, the State Library's Government and Heritage Library will host its very first Family History Fair at the Department of Cultural Resources Building.
 
Authors of North Carolina will be featured at Bennett Place Historic Site. A collection of authors from across North Carolina will share their work with audiences on the grounds of the Bennett Farm. Military and civilian Living history activities throughout the weekend include cooking and gardening demonstrations, and soldier displays and presentations that will include musket firing.
 
Bentonville State Historic Site will host Child's Play - Games and Toys of the Civil War. Come learn about toys and games played during the 19th Century. Costumed interpreters will teach visitors how to play period games and demonstrate how to make corn-husk dolls.
 
Enjoy music, dancing, historical crafts, and activities and games at Duke Homestead's Summer Children's Festival.
 
Second Saturday extends outside the Triangle, too. Join volunteers stationed throughout the Battleship North Carolina for Battleship 101 and learn all about sea life including gunnery, radar, sickbay, galley, engineering and daily shipboard life. As a speacial treat, the Carolina Living History Guild members will set up displays that highlight the history of the USS North Carolina and the CSS North Carolina during the American Civil War including steam engineering, ironclad ship construction, navigation, small arms of the US and CS navies, and the "arts of the sailor."
 
Tryon Palace will celebrate its literary and theatrical culture through a special reading of Henry IV part II by the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival.
 
Celebrations & Family Festivals
 

The Museum of Life and Science will be celebrating Engineers Day with a day of a day of hands-on engineering activities.

Fire Departments from around the state will attend North Carolina's Main Street Fire Truck Parade in Downtown Raleigh Saturday morning. Units will include modern and antique apparatus, pipe and drum bands and fire department honor guards. After the parade, all the equipment will be available to check out and for picture opportunities.
 
Come for a day of play at Marbles on Saturday and meet Muddy from the Carolina Mudcats. See Muddy in his mascot gear, get his autograph and participate in fitness fun activities. Also on Saturday, the Kids Are Music Children's Troupe will be performing patriotic music.
 
 
Bring the family out to Bass Lake Park Friday night for a little friendly competition, playing your favorite bingo games for Bass Lake Family Bingo.
 
The Holly Springs Police invite kids of all ages to a Bicycle Rodeo Saturday afternoon to highlight bike safety in a fun way with special events and prizes.
Donate Blood and receive a Buy One Get One Free Terrace Reserved Ticket Voucher to see the Durham Bulls play the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday, August 21st during the Challenge Off the Diamond on Tuesday night at the American Tobacco Campus.

Concerts & Culture in the Triangle

The Oak City Concert Seriesreturns Thursday night at Raleigh's City Plaza with concerts by the bands Archbishops of Blout Street, Jack the Radio and Hobex.

Art After Hours is also back Friday night. The second Friday night of each month, the streets of Downtown Wake Forest come alive with food, merchants and music.
 
2nd Friday Artwalk is back in Downtown Carrboro. Come on out to enjoy live music and other art related entertainment throughout the downtown galleries.
 
Enjoy live music, local artwork, an Artist and Crafter"s Market, and a variety of creative events featuring the Arts in various forms during Fuquay-Varina's Art After Dark.
 
Toes will be tapping in Holly Springs Friday night with the acoustic and multi-genre rock sounds of Blue Line Highway.
 
The Al Strong Quintet will be playing some jazz at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center Friday night as part of the Starlight Concert Series.
 
John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff will be playing a Back Porch Music Concert at the American Tobacco Campus Amphitheatre Friday night.
 
Shana Tucker, a "Chamber Soul" cellist and singer/songwriter from New York will be playing her sultry pastiche of acoustic pop and soulful, jazz-influenced contemporary folk at the Sertoma Amphitheater in Bond Park on Saturday evening.
 
Grass Street will wind down your weekend with a Sunday in the Park Concert at Lake Wheeler Park.
 
Movies at the Parks & Museums

This Thursday night's Locally Grown Movie in Chapel Hill will be Gnomeo & Juliet.

Come on out to the NC Museum of Art's amphitheater on Friday night to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the movie Casablanca. Along with the 1942 movie, the Art Museum will round out the evening with music by Ed Stephenson and an art exploration By the Seashore.
 
The Big Chill starring William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Tom Berenger, Glenn Close and Jeff Goldblum will be playing Friday night at Booth Amphitheater at Regency Park.
 
Come on out to Womble Park Friday night to enjoy a fun night of live entertainment, food and themed activities for the whole family followed by the movie Mr. Popper's Penguins.
 
The Holly Springs Library invites you to come early to their Saturday Family Movie for a Clown Show. Stay after the clown for the movie We're Back.
 
The 1984 classic, Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver will be playing under the stars at the NC Museum of Art Saturday night.

More at the Parks

A Volunteer Docent and Guide will be on hand at the Historic Piper-Cox House at Eno River State Park for tours and a glimpse into pioneer life in the early 1800's. You can also learn about Dragonflies Saturday morning and Build A Boat with recycled materials Saturday afternoon.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will be offering Mill Heritage & Local History Tours. Explore the inner workings of the mill itself and witness the power of water as it turns the milling machinery.
 
Durham's tobacco heritage is explored through the stories and experiences of Durham residents during Saturday morning's Tobacco Heritage Walking Tour starting at Durham Central Park
 
Come join the staff at Lake Lynn Saturday night for aTwilight Trek around the park. Bring the whole family to explore the park enjoying the beautiful sunset and maybe even catch a glimpse of a beaver or deer!
 
Did you know that the NC State Parks have a Junior Ranger Program just like the National Parks? Head on over to Umstead State Park on Saturday to learn how your kids can earn their Junior Ranger Patch.
 
Come look for meteors during the Perseids Meteor Shower Saturday night at Raven Rock State Park. There will be a short presentation on basic astronomy and the meteor shower in the visitor center before you move outside to view the night sky far from city lights. Come back on Sunday and let your kids pour a plaster cast of an Animal Track that can be found in the park.
 
Join a Ranger Sunday moring on Jordan Lake for a guided Canoe Hike. There will be another Canoe Hike offered on Jordan Lake Monday evening.
 
Rangers at Eno River State Park invite you to come on out Sunday afternoon to learn about Squirrels and Chipmunks. After sharing some history and biology, the ranger will take you on a short hike to explore their habitiat.
 
Join a Umstead park ranger Tuesday morning for a short hike along Potts Branch Trail to learn about the critters that live in the park's Streams and Waterways.

 

 

 

 

 

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