July 20th - 26th 2017 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

Looks like its going to be warm again this weekend. Luckily, we have some wonderful museums if you want to get out of the house, but stay out of the heat. Plenty of evening hikes, movies and concerts let you get out and enjoy the fresh air once the sun goes down.

I know we are in the heat of Summer, but it seems the Holidays continue to creep further and further out. Tickets for Raleigh's Holiday Express at Pullen Park in December go on sale July 25th. This year's festivities include a visit with Santa, a ride on the holiday train to view the lights, unlimited carousel rides, nightly dance parties, crafts and games. Tickets do sell out so plan ahead.

Get out to a Park for some fun in the sun!

Family Nature Night returns to Sertoma Arts Center Thursday evening with a search for lightning bugs and the amazing lights of summer.

Join an Occoneechee Mountain Park Ranger for a Canoe Trip on the Eno River. The program includes an introduction to basic canoeing and a trip down the river Friday morning.

Join an Umstead State Park Park Ranger Friday evening for a Night Hike to look for nocturnal animals, gaze at Constellations will and hear a short story told about the rich pirate history of NC.

Aquatic animals need certain conditions to live in the water. Come to Eno River State Park Saturday morning to learn about why PH matters. Also on Saturday at Eno River you can learn about Invasive Species and Plant Succession.

You have the opportunity to tour the fully renovated mill on Saturday and Sunday at Historic Yates Mill Pond. You are also invited to Paddle the Pond Saturday morning or afternoon.

Come and learn about Occoneechee Mountain's Geologic Wonders Saturday as you explore the pyrophyllite quarry with a real geologist.

Volunteers are needed Saturday for Lake Johnson's Big Sweep. Helpers are needed by both boat and on foot for the litter clean up.

Do a Stream Stomp Saturday at Durant Nature Park and spend the afternoon exploring what lives in the creek.

Celebrate National Moth Week with at Prairie Ridge Ecostation Saturday with a late night moth program. Enjoy a brief orientation in the outdoor classroom, then head out to their blacklights and baits to see what's out and about throughout the night.

Join hummingbird expert Susan Campbell Saturday at Prairie Ridge Ecostation for a Hummingbird Banding Demonstration and learn how scientists study the tiniest birds.

Kids Get Crafty in the Summer Sun Monday at Crowder District Park. Kids of all ages are invited to create a craft inspired by the sun.

Tuesday is Nature Play Day at Blue Jay Point Park. Bring your little ones for a water themed, free play exploration.

Join an Umstead State Park Park Ranger Wednesday morning at the Boathouse for a lesson in Canoeing and the chance to try out your new found skills.

Music this Weekend

Traditional Dance Caller, Connie Carringer will teach fun dances for the whole family accompanied by a live old-time string band at Friday night's Family Dance at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

Its Third Friday in Durham! Join them for a Gallery Crawl and Caique Vidal & Batuque will be in concert Friday evening under the stars at Durham Central Park. Before the free concert, you can enjoy food trucks: Rare Earth Farms, Route Bistro, Mama Voulas, Cocoa Forte, Bull City Ciderworks, and Bull City Burger & Brewery,

Fridays on the Porch of the Carolina Inn features local bands and Triangle food trucks every Friday evening..

Clay Street After Work will present Matt Boswell and HBB in Downtown Mebane Friday night.

Thelonious will be playing music at Fletcher Park for a Raleigh Sunday in the Park Concert.

Movies at the Parks and Museums

Take the night off Thursday night and join them for Pizza and a Movie featuring "Smurfs: The Lost Village" at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

Raleigh Little Theater will present Movies in the Garden Thursday evenings preceded by Food trucks and pre-movie activities. This week's movie will be "La La Land" and food will be provided by American Meltdown with a pre-show scavenger hunt.

Sing will be playing on the big screen at Regency Park Friday night.

Brazil will be the featured flick Friday after dark on the outdoor screen at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Apex Nature Park will show Hidden Figures on the big screen after dark Saturday.

Rock the Park after dark Saturday at Durham Central Park. Food vendors will be on site and the featured flick will be Who Gets the Dog?

Monday morning at the Holly Springs Cultural Center they will present the movie Bolt.

Starting Monday and running through next Friday, the Halle Cultural Arts Center will be hosting an entire Week of Free Kid's Movies. Click through for the complete line up.

Even More Fun Events

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' Science Thursday will be explore Branching Out:People of Color and the Great Outdoors.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences also invites you to join them for another Saturday Science Buffet with Bob Alderink, Head of the Museum's Natural World Investigate Lab.

The Holly Springs Farmers Market presents Founders Day along with Saturday's weekly market.

Learn about one of the most historically important crops in North Carolina, corn at Saturday's History of the Harvest tour at the North Carolina Museum of History.

Celebrate North Carolina food, culture, and history Saturday at Duke Homestead's Pork Peanuts & Pickles Festival. This extremely tasty event includes BBQ and Pie contests along with costumed interpreters demonstrating historical cooking methods.

Just in time for back to school shopping, the Kids Exchange Consignment Sale returns to the State Fairgrounds this weekend.

The Hunt Horse Complex on the grounds of the State Fairgrounds will be hosting a Indoors Horse Show Friday through Sunday.

Also at the Fairgrounds, over 80 exhibitors will be on hand for the Sports Card, Memorabilia, & Comic Con show Friday through Sunday.

15 food trucks along with a beer tent will all be a part of Downtown Wake Forest's Food Truck Rodeo Sunday afternoon.

Chill on the Hill at Dorothea Dix Park Tuesday evening. Escape your busy workweek. They'll bring some lawn games and food trucks so you can play games, picnic and enjoy the view.