September 21st - 27th Triangle 2017

by Pam & Michael Davison

This week we have over 100 events listed! We will cover the highlights in this week's newsletter, but for the full listing, feel free to go to the Events Search at ParkGeek.com.

We truly appreciate evey time you tell someone about ParkGeek and share the newsletter link. "Like" us on Facebook to get daily updates about what's going on around the Triangle. The newsletter is posted on Facebook each week also.

Take a Child Outside Week starts Sunday. There is a multitude of events for children at the state, county & local parks as well as the Arboretum. There are even many evening programs. Some have waived their fees this week, but many do still require registration and some already have waiting lists so click through to get more information or type in TACO at the Events Search.

TACO kicks off Sunday with a Family Feature on how Reptiles Rock at Crowder District Park, a Family Scavenger Hunt at JC Raulston Arboretum, C.A.S.T. (Catch A Sure Thing!), a fishing program for kids at Jordan Lake, a Family Naturalists program on Pollinators at Walnut Creek Wetland Center, a Nature Play Day at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a History Hike along the American Tobacco Trail, and some Spider Sniffing after dark at Lake Crabtree.

The JC Raulston Arboretum invites you to bring the kids to make Nature Paintings on Monday. Also Monday, Kids Get Crafty with Autumn Leaves at Crowder Park, they will be doing some Family Fishing Lake Johnson and you can take a Guided Hike at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.

Have some Fishing Fun Tuesday at Lake Crabtree along with a Walk Through the Seasons at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Fairies in the Garden at JC Raulston Arboretum, Junior Kids' Fishing at Lake Johnson and Magical Monarchs at Durant Nature Preserve,

Both Sertoma Arts Center and Lake Wheeler will host Terrific Turtle programs for ages 2-6 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Blue Jay Point will be sharing some Creepy Crawly Stories Wednesday and going on a Spiderific Hike. Also Wednesday, Kids will be Fishing at Lake Johnson Park, you can learn about Chimney Swifts at Walnut Creek Wetland Center, explore the Beaver Pond at Annie Wilkerson Nature Park, go on a Natural Explorations at Yates Mill County Park, do some Pond Dipping at JC Raulston Arboretum, and Paint and Play at Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Thursday is a Nature Play Day at JC Raulston Arboretum, while they will be telling Nature Stories at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.

They will be sharing Park Tales about Night Animals at Yates Mill County Park, hosting a Garden Storytime at JC Raulston Arboretum and holding a Nature Play Day at Annie Wilkerson Nature Park on Friday. Also starting Friday, Durant Nature Preserve invites the whole family to a Family Campout.

Join Prairie Ridge Ecostation for a Citizen Science opportunity Saturday, go on a Scavenger Hunt at JC Raulston Arboretum, learn about Marvelous Migration at Harris Lake County Park. At dusk Saturday, you can take a Twilight Walk at Annie Wilkerson Nature Park.

My favorite TACO event every year is the Storytelling Festival at Historic Oak View County Park on Saturday. The festival features a wide variety local and nationally celebrated storytellers sharing their tales at spots throughout the picturesque park.

Fall Festivals

The 13th Annual Ray Price Capital City Bikefest will take place in the heart of downtown Raleigh all weekend with live music, festival fare, stunt shows and specialty rides.

Join the North Carolina Museum of Art Saturday as they unveil the newly reinstalled African art gallery in the East Building with a daylong celebration of African art, nature, music, and culture during Threads of Africa.

West Point on the Eno invites you to the 4th Annual North Carolina Jerk Food Festival. There will be cook offs, a wing eating contest, cooking demos, lots a great food and live Reggae Music all day!

The Live & Local Roots Festival comes to Hillsborough Street Saturday with Live music, Food Trucks, Novelty Vendors, Children"s Activities and an Art Market. Click through for the whole line up.

Latin music lovers will "feel the music" at the Annual Latino Fiesta Saturday at Rock Quarry Park. Festival goers can dance to live music, taste authentic foods, shop the marketplace for arts and crafts, and learn about health, education and employment opportunities available in the community. Again this year they are adding a Soccer Challenge.

The Dragon Boat Festival returns to Regency Park Saturday. In addition to a full slate of dragon boat races, the celebration of Asian culture includes dozens of live stage performances, games for kids, food vendors, cultural and health information booths.

The annual Carrboro Music Festival is back Saturday and Sunday. The free two day event showcases Triangle-area performers and the varied musical styles they represent.

BBQ, Blues & Brews comes to the Historic Varina Shopping District Saturday along with music, vendors, merchant specials, an assortment of family fun and the anticipated BBQ Competition. There will also be a special Artists' & Crafters' Market.

The North Carolina State Fairgrounds will host the Southern Ideal Home Show, the North State Toy & Hobby Show, the DogGoneFast Flyball Club Flyball Tournament and the Tar Heel Futurity Fall Classic horse show.

La Fiesta del Pueblo returns to Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh Sunday showcasing popular and folk music and art, dance performances, educational booths, children"s activities, and food from different regions of Latin America.

More Fun, Music & Movies

Bring the family to the Halle Cultural Arts Center Thursday evening for Pizza and a Movie Night. The featured flick will be Boss Baby.

Thursday's Follow Me 2 Fuquay-Varina Concert will feature the band Smile along with craft breweries, vineyards and eateries.

Thursday's Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will explore Saving the Puerto Rican Parrot.

Downtown Historic Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro come alive for the Last Friday Art Walk with artists, food vendors, musicians and craftspeople set up on the sidewalks around the courthouse. There will be a concert by Risse on the old courthouse lawn.

This week's Friday on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn will feature local bands and Triangle food trucks.

In celebration of the 151st anniversary of emancipation, and in partnership with MOJOAA Performing Arts Company, Mordecai Historic Park presents a theatrical experience: Escape to Freedom both Friday and Saturday.

Monday's Morning Movie at Holly Springs Cultural Center will feature the Muppets Take Manhattan.

Artist Bland Hoke will install Banjostand, a popular interactive public art project, for the International Bluegrass Music Association's 2017 World of Bluegrass event Sept. 26 - 30 just outside the Raleigh Convention Center.

Music on Market in downtown Raleigh Wednesday evening will feature a local band, local art and vendors.

Wednesday's Pickin' In the Pines Concert at Regency Park will feature the sounds of Johnny Folsom 4 with Canady Thomas playing a Patsy Cline Tribute.

Fun at the Parks

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park invites you to take a Tour of the Old Mill Saturday or a longer Mill Heritage Tour on Sunday. Friday through Sunday you can join them for the Autumnal Equinox. Also Friday, Yates by Night will explore FALL-ing for Nature. Come back Sunday for Apple Seeds and Orchard Fun.

Join Sarah P. Duke Gardens every Thursday afternoon for Gardening Open Hours. Each week, a staff member will guide families through an exploration of all things connected with growing plants.

Harris Lake County Park will host an Evening Campfire Friday evening. Come enjoy a short hike, roasting marshmallows and enjoying the sounds of a variety of musical instruments.

The City of Raleigh dedicates the Dr. Bill and Merrie Hedrick Homestead at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve in a ceremony on Friday morning.

Eno River State Park invites you to an Open House at the historic Piper-Cox House to take a trip into the past, & learn about colonial games and activities Saturday. Also at Eno Saturday, you can learn about the Salamanders that live at the park.

Kids Together Park invites you to their annual Walk For Inclusiveness on Saturday. There is a fee to participate and there will be a walk on the 1.4 mile segment of the Hinshaw greenway, refreshments, games, decorating station and an awesome raffle.

Learn about the Eno and Occaneechi Indians while walking in their footprints along the river during this 1.3 mile imaginative history experience Saturday at Occoneechee Mountain. Come back Sunday to do some Forest Bathing. You can even go Fishing with a park ranger Wednesday.

Morehead Planetarium will bring their telescopes to Jordan Lake after dark Saturday for some Skywatching.

Daytrips

Fall here in the Triangle is spectacular. Take a day trip and explore some of the fun attractions we have just outside the Triangle.

The Natural Science Center of Greensboro is an amazing destination only a couple hours away being a hybrid of a zoo, science museum, an aquarium and childrens' museum all under one roof.

The Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington is also a great destination to leap back into history.

Saturday and Sunday is a Civil War Weekend at Tryon Palace. Admission to Civil War Weekend activities at the New Bern Academy Museum and Tryon Palace grounds will be free.

Saturday is Museum Day Live! The annual event is sposored by Smithsonain Magazine and features hundreds of Museums nationwide. Through their website, you can get 2 free tickets to a wide variety of participating museums.