November 5th - 11th 2015 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

The leaves are all coming down quickly now and I am optimistic that the rain will end in time for a fabulous fall weekend! If you question how the weather might affect an event, make sure to call the venue to confirm before you go.

This weekend we observe Veterans Day. Downtown Raleigh will commemorate the holiday with a Veterans Day Parade followed by a wreath laying and ceremony on Saturday. Music and static displays make up this perfect family day.

Come to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Site at Edison Johnson Recreation Center on Saturday to share your memories and enjoy some music! Remembrance Day will give you an opportunity to remember the men and women who fought for our country.

All exhibits are open Wednesday, including A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans on the third floor of the North Carolina Museum of History.

Holly Springs invites you to an observance at Veterans Park on Wednesday. Join local Boy Scouts and law enforcement for a flag ceremony.

Learn about the importance of Veterans Day and make pretty firework cards to send to some of our veterans Tuesday at Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park.

With the holidays just around the corner, we at ParkGeek are excited to be your source for local parades, tree lightings and holiday events.Tuesday kicks off the holiday festivities with the public ticket sales for the Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science. Last year's event sold out in only four days so plan ahead and get your tickets now. Click through for the prices and event times.

In preparation for the needs of the upcoming season, Wake County Parks are holding food drives for the month of November. Both Crowder Park and Historic Yates Mill offer collection sites.

First Friday

The weekend kicks off Thursday night at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This week's Science Thursday includes a round of Science Trivia and presentation by National Geographic Explorer, Dr. Luke Dollar on Exploring Madagascar.

First Friday Movie Night at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will bring the 1967 film "King Kong Escapes" to the big screen along with a Teen Science Cafe on Sacred Groves: India's Pockets of Culture and Conservation, discount tickets to "Extreme Mammals," live music from Poinsettia and an opening reception for artist, Ellen Gamble.

Across Bicentennial Plaza, the North Carolina Museum of History will celebrate First Friday with a screening of the film "Brewconomy," some samples from a few of the local brewers featured in the film and the opening of their new special exhibit, North Carlina's Favorite Son: Billy Graham and His Remarkable Journey.

First Friday also brings extended hours and special events to Marbles Kids Museum, the City of Raleigh Museum and many local restaurants and galleries through the monthly Gallery Walk. The Morning Times Market invites you to join them for local artisans, live music, entertainment, and local craft beer.

The David Dryer Trio will be playing at the North Carolina Museum of Art Friday evening for Art in the Evening and you are welcome to join them for a Sound Bite on Weights & Balances.

Live & Local Music & Art on the Plaza Series closes out the season this Friday in Downtown Chapel Hill with the Blues of Bullfrog Willard McGhee.

Bring the whole family to a Campfire, Story, and Marshmallow Roast Friday after dark at Durant Nature Park.

Family Fun Night returns to Bass lake with arts & crafts, live animals and either a concert by Trish Miller or a Magic Show or a magic show with Dan the Magic Man. In case of inclement weather, the festivities will be moved inside.

Festivals & Outdoor Fun For the Whole Family

The Annual Chili Cook-off comes Downtown Fuquay-Varina Saturday with more than 20 groups competing. Saturday brings voting for the Downtown Scarecrow Contest to close. Local businesses have been challenged to craft a scarecrow and you are invited to vote by placing a quarter ($0.25) in the Scarecrow's donation jar.

Durant Nature Park will host a Nature Scavenger Hunt Saturday afternoon. Have fun seeing if you can uncover the nature-themed treasures they have hidden in the park for you to find.

November is Pecan Pickin' Month at Historic Oak View County Park. Come on out to the park anytime this month to harvest your own pecans that have fallen from the trees in their Pecan Grove.

Harris Lake County Park invites you to their Disc Golf Family Event Saturday morning. Disc golf professionals from the Cary Area Disc League (CADL) will be there to provide instruction or you can register for an "Introduction to Disc Golf" lesson time.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park, is the perfect venue for that fall family picture. While you are there, take an Old Mill Tour on Saturday or a Mill Heritage & Local History Tour on Sunday to get a peek inside the fully restored mill. Saturday, you are also invited to take a Fall Foliage Hike.

Eno River State Park will explore How Animals Prepare for Winter Saturday afternoon. Come back Sunday for the Piper Cox Open House and learn about its history and the colonial period. You can take a guided Leisurely Jog along the Laurel Bluffs Trail Monday afternoon.

Help prepare craft and educational materials to be used at their upcoming special events and educational programs during Saturday's Volunteer Workday at Blue Jay County Park.

Join a park ranger Saturday and Sunday mornings for talks on eagles, song birds, waterfowl and the lake at Jordan Lake. You will even be scoping the skies for Bald Eagles.

Join NC Big Sweep in Fuquay-Varina Saturday as they cleanup several sites in Fuquay-Varina.

Raven Rock State Park invites you to join a Ranger for a Fall Leaf Hike Wednesday. Appreciate the spectacular colors on this afternoon 2.5 mile hike.

Art, Culture & Music at the Museums

As a kick-off to Engineers Day on Saturday, the Museum of Life and Science invites kids to join them in the for Engineer That! in the Lab through Sunday. Friday is one of two Durham Community Day's in November which offers free admission to the Museum for Durham County residents. (The next one will be Sunday, November 15th). Saturday culminates the festivities with Engineers Day celebrating with a day of interactive experiments and hands-on workshops with professional engineers and students from across the Triangle.

History of the Harvest: Kraut and Leather Breeches brings a Make It, Take It activity and author Brian Avery to the North Carolina Museum of History Saturday afternoon.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will feature Cars as their Free Family Movie on Saturday morning. Come back Monday for The Cat in the Hat.

Science Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will discuss What Does a Park Ranger Do? with Park Superintendent, Joseph Shimel.

The Apex Community Center invites you to PJs & Popcorn Movie Night Saturday for the fun family favorite "Frozen."

What to do at the Fairgrounds

Even though the State Fair is packed up for another year, there is plenty going on at the Fairgrounds. This weekend brings the return of the Capital Area Handbell Festival. Come enjoy the final concert Saturday afternoon.

One Tribe Fest is a Local Community Expo and Festival featuring local artisans and businesses, crafters, natural products, jewelry, holistic healers, intuitive readers, as well as healing crystals, angelic art, sacred music and a Drum Circle.

The whole family will enjoy the Annual Train & Railroadiana Show & Sale this weekend.

The Jump for the Children Horse Show, benefiting Duke Children's Hospital started Tuesday and continues through Sunday. There are free shows each night except Saturday night. Families are always welcome to walk around the barns and see the horses and riders up close.

Also at the Hunt Horse Complex starting next Wednesday and running through Sunday, you can enjoy watching the RMI Raleigh Benefit Hunter/Jumper Show.