May 16th - 22nd Triangle 2019

by Pam & Michael Davison

They often say if you don't like the weather here in North Carolina, wait a day. Well, it look like this weekend is going to be fabulous! There is a glorious selection of fun and festivals this weekend!

Festivals Around Town

 Artsplosure is the annual arts fetival in Downtown Raleigh you won't want to miss. The festival boasts non-stop activities, entertainment and more than 180 juried visual artists and crafters from across the country. Along with multiple stages with ongoing live entertainment, your kids won't want to miss the variety of entertainers on the The Kidsplosure Stage, which boasts a weekend full of family and kid centered entertainers.

Celebrate North Carolina during the annual Got to be NC Festival. Come enjoy a mix of food, music, carnival rides and games, antique farm equipment and grandstand entertainment. And best of all, admission is free for all ages! There are a few events that do have an admission fee like the Masonic Carolina Pig Jig BBQ Cook-off and the carnival rides but others like the John Deere Gator Wars, Canine & Equine Shows, Antique Tractor Pulls, Raleigh Trans Jam BMX Contest and the fireworks are free!

This weekend at the Fairgrounds there will also be a Boat Show and 4H Youth Horse Shows both Saturday and Sunday.

The Town of Morrisville's SpringFest turns Town Hall Drive into a carnival for the whole family! The event includes great entertainment, midway games, rides, live music and some of your favorite food trucks! Click through for the list of trucks.

Rock Quarry Park will be hosting the BIMBE' Cultural Arts Festival Saturday. The annual family event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, art and traditions.

Wheels on Academy brings antique cars, entertainment, food, and fun for the entire family to Downtown Cary. This year they have combined it with Cary Public Safety Day. Visit the Bike Cary booth, explore police and fire vehicles, meet Town of Cary Police and Fire crews, enjoy a kid's fun zone, and food trucks Saturday.

Saturday is Kids Appreciation Day in Holly Springs. Kids are invited to Sugg Farm Park for lots of free food, activities and family fun.

Visit BloomFest in Downtown Chapel Hill Sunday. Celebrate community and all things Spring, with flowers, gardens, butterflies, shows, arts, crafts, treats and more. There will even be a 20-foot Carolina-themed floral archway and parades with the popular Paperhand Puppets.

Bring the kids to Touch A Truck Sunday at the Apex Community Center. There will be vehicles of all kinds including emergency, construction, landscaping, military, transportation, and delivery.

Start Your Weekend Friday

Iris after Dark Friday features music, small plates and specialty drinks.

Wreck-It Ralph will be the featured flick at Friday night's Lakeside Movie at Bond Park. The boathouse will be open for you to take a boat out on the lake while you wait for the sun to set.

Big Fat Gap will be the featured band Friday night on the front porch of the Carolina Inn along with food trucks Poblano Tacos and Jeffery"s Grill.

Examine an owl pellet and take a night hike to look for signs of Owls, other predators and prey Friday evening at Lake Crabtree County Park.

Its Third Friday in Downtown Durham! Come enjoy a Gallery Crawl with live music and more.

Getting Outside at the Parks

The Longleaf Festival at Harris Lake County Park will feature a hayride, living history programs, live animals, games, crafts, food trucks and over 30 agencies and organizations with interactive exhibits

Historic Oak View Park invites you to their annual Barnyard Birthday Bash Saturday. Come wish the goats "happy birthday!" with cake and festivities.

Saturday is Mud Day at Walnut Creek Wetland Center. Activities will include obstacle courses, soil painting, mud kitchen, clay art, water wall, dirt play, build-your-own log hotel, giant bubble wands, earth bracelets, fort building, and much more. There will be live animals, plants for sale, vermicomposting information and milkweed seeds you can plant and take home.

The Oaks & Spokes Bike Festival continues through May 29th. This weekend enjoy a Citrix Cycle Try-it Friday night at the NC Museum of Art and a Bike-in Movie Saturday featuring Pee Wee's Big Adventure at the Alamo Drafthouse.

As a Special treat this Saturday, Historic Yates Mill Pond will be conducting Corn Grinding Demonstrations so you can see the mill wheel working. Also Saturday your invited to join them for some Country Dancing in the Mill Yard. Come back Sunday to learn how farmers Tended their Crops for over 200 years.

Take a hike at Blue jay Point Saturday and then try your hand at Nature Journaling.

Eno River will host the annual Youth Fishing Tournament and Centennial Celebration Saturday. Youth ages 5 to 13 are invited to pre-register for this exciting event. All fishing gear and bait will be provided for free, or you can bring your own.

For you early risers, bring your binoculars to Eno River State Park Saturday morning for some Bird Watching. Come back to the Eno Sunday for a guided Durham History & Wildflower Hike.

Paddle Lake Crabtree by Moonlight Saturday and enjoy views of the full moon from the lake.

Start and end at Durham Central Park Saturday for a Durham Trails Bike Tour.

Get your Hands-On in the Hive with Mr. Buzz Sunday at Historic Oak View County Park and learn what it takes to maintain bee hives.

Hike the woods Sunday at Durant Nature Preserve on a quest to find materials that will make a trusty, homemade boat. Examine several kinds of Natural Boats, then build your own model barge to test out in the creek.

Music & Movies and Museum Fun

The Halle Cultural Arts Center invites you to bring your kids for a SuperFun Saturday on the first and third Saturdays of the month so they can enjoy free arts and crafts.

Artists from across the region will share their talents and capture the beauty of Fuquay-Varina on canvas for an En Plein Air Paint-Off. While you are Downtown, stop by the Grand Opening of their new Arts Center!

Explore Durham"s Civil Rights Legacy with a Civil Rights Heritage Walking Tour Saturday morning and explore many of the sites in downtown Durham that were important during the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights movement, including the Durham County Courthouse, the Arts Center, and the Kress and Woolworth buildings, and sites of sit-in protests.

Round out your weekend with another installment of the Six Sundays in Spring Concert at E. Carroll Joyner Park. This week features Orquesta GarDel.

Monday's featured movie at the Holly Springs Cultural Center will be the animated Tarzan.

Wednesday's Josh Cellars Jazz Series at Regency Park will feature Steve Hobbs.