March 31st - April 6th

by Pam & Michael Davison

There are a wide variety of events this weekend to get you out enjoying the beautiful spring weather or staying inside out of the pollen.

For more info on everything going on, go to www.Parkgeek.com click on Event Search and fill in the dates. Select the search button and start planning! See below for more...

Kick the Weekend Off

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences invites you to join them every Thursday night for extended hours and Science Cafe's on a variety of interesting topics. This week they will be exploring the Zika Virus: Responding to the Emergence of a New Threat with the Assistant Director at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.

Marbles Kids Museum kicks off every weekend early with Twilight $2 Thursdays. Enjoy extended evening hours and discounted admission every Thursday! First Friday also brings extended hours. Their special Spring Break Blast activities run through Sunday, April 3rd.

First Friday is here with extended hours and special events throughout Downtown Raleigh. Check out the Gallery Walk of the local Galleries and 1st Friday at the Morning Times Market with local artisans, live music, entertainment, and local craft beer. The City of Raleigh Museum also stays open late for First Friday and features special events.

The North Carolina Museum of History joins the First Friday fun with new case exhibit Los Jets: Playing for the American Dream, a film screening of NUVOtv's documentary Los Jets, and an opportunity to hear Coach Paul Cuadros, players, and their families talk about their experiences.

There are only 2 more First Fridays left at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences before they take a summer sabbatical. This week will feature the film "Troll 2", a Teen Science Cafe on "Talk with the Animals", music by Mystic Shoe, and an Opening Reception for "Another Point of View,"

The North Carolina Museum of Art starts every weekend off in their lobby-turned-lounge. Join them this Friday with live music by the Fusion Collective South. The Sound Bite will explore A Sense a Place and the last film in their Winter Film Series will be Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center will host the Apex High School & Friendship High School Art Exhibition Opening Friday evening. The exhibit will run until May 7th.

Outside the city lights, Family Fun Night at Bass Lake Park invites you to a whole evening of family fun. Start with arts and crafts, meet a live animal, or borrow a fishing pole. End the evening with a concert by Trish Miller or a magic show by Dan the Magic Man.

Starting Monday and running through Sunday, Brain Awareness Week at Duke features a variety of mostly free events. The events at the Museum of Life & Science do require museum admission. Click through for the entire line up.

Pullen Park will present Mystery Movie Friday on Fridays in April. Join them every Friday in April at 8pm for a great family movie, rated G or PG. Follow @RaleighParks on Twitter or Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department on Facebook for clues each week leading up to the feature presentation! Be the first to solve the mystery and guess the movie for a chance to win a cool prize!

Festivals & Fun

In addition to Saturday Tours of the Mill and Sunday Heritage Mill Tours, Saturday will bring the annual Chickin Pickin' Event to Yates Mill Historic Park. Come support repairs and restoration of the waterwheel.

Saturday is Dirt Day in Wake Forest. Join them for playing in an over-sized sandbox or making wheatgrass containers for home windowsills. Grown ups will have the chance to learn gardening and composting techniques, check out the newest in outdoor activity gear, and enjoy a beekeeping demonstration. There will also be an outdoor Zumba class, a shark teeth hunt, mud painting and live music.

Morrisville's Green Day will feature document shredding, electronics recycling and a litter sweep on Saturday.

Bring your dogs to the State Fairgrounds Saturday for the Unleashed Mutt Spring Fling. There will be a huge doggie Easter Egg Hunt, games, contests, vendors, rescue groups and Food trucks. They will also be accepting donated items (food, supplies and cash) for local animal rescue groups.

Also at the Fairgrounds this weekend, the Precious Gem & Mineral Show will celebrate their 40th year with demonstrations, lectures, and plenty of beautiful gems and minerals.

The Triangle Farms will host their Spring Hunter Jumper Horse Show at the Fairgrounds all weekend.

Come out of hibernation Saturday for a "bear-y" good time with the resident bears. Bring your teddy bear to the Teddy Bear Clinic for a check-up with zoo veterinarian staff during the Bear Necessities at the NC Zoo.

Raulston Blooms Saturday at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Join them for the annual event featuring a plant sale, the Birdhouse Competition, gardening talks, and lots of family fun.

Join them at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Tuesday for an Evening with David Allen Sibley. The birder will discuss his book and then follow the lecture with a book signing.

Spring into a Park

Start your Saturday off early by Birding with Vernon. Take an easy walk with Lake Crabtree's bird enthusiast.

Take a Spring Has Sprung Wild Flower Walk Saturday morning at Durant Nature Park.

Historic Yates Mill County Park has a quite a line up of events this week. Join them Friday afternoon to learn about Nature's April Fools, how nature plays tricks. Saturday is a Garden & Trails Workday.

To celebrate Geologists' Day on Sunday you can take a Rock Hounds' Park Tour and drop in to learn about the Geology of Yates Mill Pond all day.

Kids are invited to Go to Market at Yates Mill County Park Tuesday and learn about the range of goods available in markets around the word.

Come on out to Lake Crabtree County Park Saturday to help clean for the Big Sweep.

Durant Nature Park will hold a Frog Call Workshop Tuesday evening.