March 23rd -29th Triangle 2017

by Pam & Michael Davison

Spring is finally here! It looks like we are going to have a nice sunny weekend. There is quite a variety of events so pick your favorite and have a great weekend!

Friday (and fun Thursday, too)

This Thursday the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences invites you to join them for Throwback Thursday, a special adults only night. Dance to the music of DJ Al-Ski Love of SPIN, play classic arcade games and gaming systems, reunite with your childhood toys, jam like Jordan on a Slam Dunk inflatable basketball court or race to see who can collect the most "Heart of the Ocean" gems before falling victim to the icy waters.

Marbles Kids Museum celebrates Twilight $2 Thursdays every week with extended hours and discounted admission.

James T. Hamilton, Hearst Professor of Communication and Director, Journalism Program, Stanford University and Pat Stith, former investigative reporter and winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service will be at the North Carolina Museum of History Thursday evening for a presentation and Book Signing.

Join NCSU Natural Resource students Friday evening at Harris Lake for an evening with Wildlife on the Trail.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center will present an Opening Reception for the Apex & Friendship High School Visual Art Exhibition Friday night. The exhibit will run through April 28th.

Crowder By Night will be looking for Signs of Spring Friday evening. Join them to spot the early signs of spring then decorate a flower pot and take home a flowering bulb.

Art in the Evening at the North Carolina Museum of Art Friday night will boast the Gypsy Swing sounds of Oak City Hot Mess along with a Sound Bite focusing on the Particularity of Place. The Other One (La otra) is Friday night's Winter Film.

Festivals and Shows

The NC State Fairgrounds will host the Kennel Club Dog Show Wednesday through Sunday. Each day will be hosted by a different Triangle area Club.

Also starting Wednesday at the Hunt Horse Complex, the Raleigh Spring Premier Benefit will feature classes for American Saddlebred horses, Roadster horses and ponies, Hackney ponies, Southeast riders and a full Morgan Division.

The Raleigh Antiques Extravaganza comes to the Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday with over 125 exhibitors. There is an admission fee.

To round out the fun at the Fairgrounds, the Carolina FiberFest is a family-friendly event featuring classes, free demonstrations, and shopping for yarn, ready to spin fiber, patterns, tools, accessories, and specialty items both Friday and Saturday.

Sunday is NanoDays at Marbles Kids Museum. Join them for this nationwide festival about nanoscale science, engineering and technology.

Bring an appetite to the Rodeo on Rosemary Sunday afternoon in Downtown Chapel Hill. There will be at least 13 Triangle area food trucks participating as well as activities, games and music.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will screen the movie The Aristocats Monday morning.

NC State University hosts their annual Farm Animal Days next Wednesday through Friday. The event gives children a chance to see and touch farm animals and learn about agriculture.

Spring at the Parks

Uncover the truth about snakes, vultures, skunks and other animals that are hard to love Saturday at Blue Jay Park Saturday as they explore the often misunderstood Unhuggables.

Come join an Umstead State Park Ranger Saturday afternoon to learn how to make the most of your time in the woods with Wood Games designed to help you to see better, hide better and just have fun while outdoors. You are also invited to join them Saturday for an afternoon of Trail Work. Come back Sunday to take a leisurely, guided Canoe Trip around Big Lake.

Come and learn about Occoneechee Mountain's geologic wonders while you explore the pyrophyllite quarry with a real geologist during Saturday's Geology Hike.

Experience the fun of Geocaching along the American Tobacco Trail Saturday afternoon. Discover the GeoArt project as you learn the basics of this high-tech treasure hunt!

Join a Falls Lake Ranger Saturday on a guided hike through an area that recently had a Prescribed Fire or bring your kids to learn the Basics of Fishing. Sunday at Falls Lake, you can learn how to Fly Fish.

Join experienced nature photographers on a 2 mile Photography Hike Saturday at Raven Rock State Park.

Be a Salamander Sleuth as you peak under rocks, logs and leaf litter and inside vernal pools to "sniff" out the places salamanders and their eggs can be found Saturday at Durant Nature Park.

They will be taking an easy 1.5 mile hike out to the Pump Station Monday morning at Eno River State Park.

History Comes Alive

Its Vietnam Veterans Day Weekend at the North Carolina Museum of History. Meet Vietnam veterans, and see equipment-including vehicles and helicopters-and personal memorabilia-such as uniforms, weapons, and gear. Each day there will also be screening of the film "Etchings in Stone: Memories of North Carolina's Vietnam Veterans."

Celebrate Pullen Park's 130th Anniversary Saturday with artist, Autumn Cobeland who will be leading a unique opportunity for participants to help create a beautiful mosaic.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will be running half hour Old Mill Tours of the fully renovated mill on Saturday as well as hour long Mill Heritage and Local History Tours on Sunday.

Saturday also kicks off Swift Creek Week with a afternoon drop in event at Yates Mill. Come spot Signs of Spring at Yates by Night after dark Saturday.

Duke Homestead is usually known as the birthplace of the future American Tobacco Company, but it was also the birthplace of three Duke children. Special guided tours on Saturday will explore life for the women at Duke Homestead with costumed interpreters and period medical artifacts.

"Why Do They Call It That? The History Behind Cary"s Street Names" will be the topic of Tuesday evening's Preservation Speaker Series at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Join them as they reveal the name origins of some of Cary's popular thoroughfares.