Both the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the Nature Research Center will be staying open late for First Friday. In addition to being able to explore all the exhibits, you can attend an opening art reception for Amy Sawyer and her show "Audubon Revisited," tickets will be discounted to Rainforest Adventure, there will be live music in the lobby and there will be a screening of rare 16mm-film versions of science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke.

Throughout Downtown Raleigh, look for the First Friday Flags and enjoy a citywide Gallery Walk as well as special activities at Marbles Kids Museum.

Not too far away, the North Carolina Museum of Art will bring in the weekend with live music by Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band for Art in the Evening, Sound Bites about Artists Perspectives and the 2013 movie, 12 Years a Slave starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o.

Durham Central Park will host a Warehouse Blues Concert Friday night with Justin Johnson.

Friday is also Watermelon Day at the Museum of Life and Science. Bring a watermelon for the animals and enjoy special watermelon themed programing. You can also watch the keepers feed frozen melons and watermelon "pops" to the animals then cool off with some melon experiments in the Lab!

Far from the city lights, Family Fun Night at Bass Lake Park will feature a whole evening of family fun. Start off with arts & crafts, live animals and some fishing. Finish the evening with an interactive concert with Trish Miller or show by Dan the Magic Man.

More Concerts & Movies

Head on over to the Holly Springs Farmers' Market Saturday morning for Park it in the Market. Enjoy a food truck rodeo, live music and lots of fresh market products.

Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey has been Canceled a the new Apex Nature Park.

Fred Fletcher Park will be the location for this weekend's Sunday in the Park Concert highlighting the Rock, blues, 60's surf music and 90's grunge rock sounds of SWAG.

They will be Dancing in the Park both Monday and Tuesday evening at Chavis Community Center. This free fitness celebration is for all ages to reduce cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Join them at the Raleigh City Farmers Market on Wednesday nights for fresh produce, live music, art vending and culinary & DIY Demos.

Raizin' A Ruckus Country Music Series brings the John Brown Band to Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park Wednesday evening.

To round out the week, the Halle Cultural Arts Center presents Grand Budapest Hotel as part of its Academy Award Film Series for a more grown up crowd on Wednesday night.

Science at the Musuems & Fun at the Fairgrounds

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is holding another Scout Discount Day on Saturday for their special exhibit, Rainforest Adventure. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and their guests are all eligible for the discounted admission.

With a 164-acre campus, two buildings, an amphitheater, a park, and several gardens, the NCMA offers much to see and do. The Meet Your Museum Tour on Saturday introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, central Plaza, and related works of art. Offered both Saturday and Sunday, the Weekend Family Tours are aimed at families with kids 5-11.

Join high school students from China for demonstrations of Chinese Culture including Diablo (a type of juggling), Hulusi (gourd flute), paper cutting, calligraphy, and origami Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will be offering Half Hour Tours of the Mill on Saturday and Mill Heritage & Local History Tours on Sunday. Also on Sunday, come contribute to a Project Friendship, a collaborative community art project celebrating "Friendship Day."

The State Fairgrounds will host Por Una Vida Mejor, a health and wellness Fair oriented to the health issues of the Hispanic community. The event features family entertainment with booths offering health, development and professional services.

Hikes & Critters at the Parks

Every month, a Monthly Mileage Hike will be offered at Raven Rock State Park that covers the mileage that is equivalent to the month of the year. With this being August, they will do an 8 mile hike on the bridle trails on the northern section of the park.

Come on out to Eno River State Park Saturday morning to climb Cox Mountain or look for Dragonflies and Damselflies. They will be looking for Park Invaders, escaped ornamentals and invasive species on Sunday's hike.

Head on over to Jordan Lake Saturday after dark to enjoy an Astronomy Viewing Session with Morehead Planetarium educators.

Just like the TV game show, you have 60 Seconds or Less to complete a task and move on to the final round to win prize at Saturday's adult only game night.

This month's Nature Family Program at Crowder District Park Tuesday will be exploring Butterflies.

National Night Out is Tuesday night. Many Triangle Police Departments are partnering with local Target shopping centers to put on community building events.