October 17th - 23rd Triangle 2019

by Pam & Michael Davison

Fall is in full swing and Halloween is right around the corner! We have lots of family fun here in the Triangle this weekend!

The State Fair opens Thursday. Tickets are available online or at the gate.

There are a few repeating events that kick off the weekend fun every Thursday. Marbles Kids Museum stays open late and offers reduced admission and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences presents a weekly Science Cafe. This week will explore how climate change is effecting birds.

Prairie Prairie Ridge Ecostation, which is free everyday, invites you to bring your little one every Thursday morning for a Nature Storytime or on Tuesday or Saturday afternoons to explore their Nature PlaySpace during a Nature Play Day. You can also find out how you can contribute to Citizen Science research every Saturday. Twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, they offer a guided Walk Through the Seasons.

In addition to free admission, the North Carolina Museum of Art offers Weekend Family Friendly Tours and Guided Tours of the Museum Park, the amazing outdoor exhibits every weekend.

Getting in the Halloween Spirit

Mordecai Historic Park will host their Haunted Mordecai Lantern Tours and Haunted Mordecai Festival next weekend, but they invite you to join them on a Haunted Trolley Tour both this weekend and next weekend.

Fright Night comes back to Edison Johnson Community Center Friday night with classic carnival games, a costume parade, and a haunted house

Explore the darker side of nature during Saturday's Creepy Crabtree festival at Lake Crabtree County Park. This FREE park-wide event promises lots of fun activities, as well as an opportunity to get out and enjoy Lake Crabtree in its fall splendor.

They will be Celebrating Senses at the Zoo this Saturday. Investigate how animals use their amazing senses in a challenging world. Celebrate Boo at the Zoo both Saturday and Sunday next weekend with trick or treat games, storytelling, live entertainment and a children's costume contest.

Join WakeMed pediatric surgeons on Saturday at Marbles for Operation Pumpkin, some pumpkin carving.

The Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park will host a Haunted Trail Saturday evening. There will be both a Family Version and a Full Fright Version.

The Pumpkin Patch Express returns to the Museum of Life and Science both Saturday & Sunday. Ride the train, take home a pumpkin and enjoy crafts and games. There is an extra fee for the holiday fun and reservations are recommended.

Fall Festivals & Fun

The West End Poetry Festival brings over 50 poets, 4 days of readings, workshops, and panels to Carrboro Wednesday through Saturday.

Raleigh Parks will be hosting a number of Fall Festivals from this weekend through November 2nd. Click through for the parks and dates.

You"re invited to the Grand Opening of the Joyner Park Community Center on Saturday which will include a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, brief remarks by Town officials, tours of the facility, class and program demonstrations, face painters, a DJ a fitness fair and light refreshments.

Celebrate Autumn in Raleigh with a local-centric Market & Festival at Dorothea Dix Park Saturday. The festival will include live music, local craft beer, vendors, hay rides, carnival games, arts + crafts, food trucks + tents and free pumpkins.

History, Art, Music & Movies

Mad Love will be the featured flick for Friday's Fall Film at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Come early and enjoy Iris after Dark.

This week features the Third Friday Gallery Crawl in Downtown Durham with live music and more.

The Incredibles will be the featured flick at Bond Park's Lakeside Movie Friday night along with a chance to take a boat out on the lake before the movie.

Come to Downtown Durham Saturday morning for a Civil Rights Heritage Walking Tour to explore Durham's Civil Rights Legacy during the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights movement.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will offer Costumed Corn Milling Demonstrations this weekend. Step back in time and take a tour with 19th century costumed interpreters as you watch the millstones at work grinding corn into meal.

Also at the Mill this weekend, they will be Going to the State Fair and exploring origins of the State Fair and the history behind some of its tasty treats, then make a fair-related craft to take home!

Downtown Hillsborough hosts a River Park Concert Saturday afternoon with Anders Osborne, Samantha Fish, Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics and the Eno Mountain Boys.

Jazztones will be the featured band at this weekend's Sundays in Hillsborough Concert.

Spooky Buddies will be the Monday Morning Movie at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.

Enjoy Fall at the Parks

Join them for the seventh annual Canine Contests Saturday at Crowder County Park. They"re looking for the best dog tricks and canine costumes so, grab your dog and show off their special talent and/or a super cool costume.

They will be celebrating Halloween at Holly Point Saturday at Falls Lake with games, crafts, refreshments, a costume contest, campfire stories and a night hike.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation hosts Special Sunday Programs all month. Joint them this week to learn about the Spooky Critters of Prairie Ridge.