Happy Labor Day Weekend! It looks as if Hurricane Earl is going to pass on by early Friday and leave us with a spectacular holiday weekend!

The Raleigh City Museum is excited to host the opening of designSPARK. The juried exhibition will feature some of the best design talent in the Triangle including Architecture, Graphic Design, Furniture Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Industrial Design.

Marbles Kids Museum will be staying open late for First Friday. Make a whole evening of play and adventure with a visit to the museum and IMAX Theatre.

Enjoy a free, self-guided tour of local art galleries, art studios, museums, retailers, restaurants and alternative art venues on the first Friday of every month in downtown Raleigh. The First Friday Gallery Walk features live music at many of the galleries and specials offered by all participating restaurants.

First Friday is back this week in Downtown Raleigh. The First Friday Movie Night at the he North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature a suspenseful spider flick chock full of arachnids.

MikeMickXer will be getting the weekend rolling over at City Market with his refreshing mix of blues, R&B, reggae, old-time rock and roll.

Away from the city lights, Bass Lake Park will be celebrating Family Fun Night. The evening starts off with arts& crafts, live animals or maybe some fishing. End the night with a lively, interactive concert by Trish Miller.

City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh will be hosting an African American Cultural Festival both Saturday and Sunday. The Festival will feature an African American arts and crafts market, non-stop live entertainment, specialty items and food vendors There will even be a family-friendly Village featuring performances and educational, interactive programming for school-aged children.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will be playing the movie, The Wiz.

Come be a nature scavenger at Eno River State Park. The Naturalist will have a list of items for your kids to find along the trail for a Kid's Scavenger Hunt.

Come to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area for a short, leisurely Sunset Hike then watch the sun set in the sky from the overlook.

See how well you can identify birds by listening to their calls. Birding by Ear at Harris Lake County Park will give you an opportunity to brush up on some common bird songs heard by our year round resident birds as well as those that are only found during the breeding season.

Later in the day at Harris Lake County Park you can have Fun with Pill Bugs. Come investigate and study these isopods as you collect pill bugs to do some really cool activities and experiments.

Come out to Yates Mill Pond for a morning canoe float. Explore the park's many fascinating features seen only from the water as you Paddle the Pond. Once you are back on dry land, check out a Mill Heritage Tour.

Join the Lake Crabtree County Park bird enthusiast, Vernon, for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats.

Just to let you know, in order to treat the Hemlocks against an invasive pest, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve will be closed through Friday, September 3rd. They will reopen for their normal hours on Saturday.

There is quite an eclectic mix again this weekend at the State Fairgrounds. Some of the events do have a small admission charge so make sure to click through for all the details.

Do you need a new pet? Are you looking for something a little exotic? Then the The Carolina Reptile & Exotic Animal Show may interest you. There will be breeders and supplies for everything you need for reptiles, birds and exotic mammals.

The Hunt Horse Complex will be hosting the Labor of Love Horse Show on Saturday and Sunday. There will be all levels of dressage competition. On Monday, you are invited to watch a Sport Horse Breeding Show. If you are already into the equestrian sports or are looking for a more affordable way to get into the sport, you may want to check out the Equestrian Exchange Consignment Sale.

AKC registered dogs will compete each day for points leading to championships, as well as dog obedience trials for degrees and obedience championship points at the Kennel Club Dog Show.

Treasures of the Earth Gem, Mineral & Jewelry will bring together collections gold and sterling silver jewelry, loose gems, pearls, beads and findings, minerals, crystals, fossils all under one roof.