The big activity this week is the NC State Fair. It opens Thursday and you have until next Sunday to take it all in. We have ticket information and special days so click through before you go.

 

The lobby of the Wake Forest Town Hall will be the scene of an Energy Fair & Safety Expo on Thursday. The Wake Forest Power linemen will also offer on-demand electric safety demonstrations in Centennial Plaza for groups of two or more.

 

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Nature Research Center will stay open until 9pm every Thursday. In addition to being able to browse all their exhibits, tickets to the Titanic are discounted, you can check out the weekly Science Cafe and this Thursday, you can come hear author Julie Hedgepeth Williams discuss her new book A Rare Titanic Family about her great-uncle Albert Caldwell, who survived the Titanic disaster.

 

The USAF Heritage Ramblers, a part of the Heritage of America Band will be playing a free concert featuring New Orleans and Chicago styles of traditional jazz at the Holly Springs Cultural Center Thursday night.

 

Shape up Downtown continues with O2 Fitness at Raleigh's City Plaza. The classes are all free. Monday features O2 Energy, Tuesday is Yoga and Wednesday you can sweat a little with a BodyPump class.

 

 

With only a few weeks until Halloween, there are plenty of spooky activities to get your little ghouls and goblins in the mood. With fun seasonal activities for little ones, family centered events and truly spooky haunted houses for the older crowd, there is most certainly something for everyone these next few weeks. Many of the following events do have admission fees or require reservations so click through for all the details. There will be even more Halloween activities next weekend, so if you are trying to plan ahead, just go to the Events search at www.ParkGeek. com, put in the dates and start planning!

 

Head on over to Harris Lake Park on Saturday afternoon for their annual Haunting at Harris. This year's theme is Raiders of the Lost Park. Come enjoy games and activities as well as the famous haywagon ride. Not only can you scan in Haunting at Harris as a ParkGeek Passport Challenge Destination, but head over towards the bulletin board by the restrooms and scan in the park also.

 

Along with bats and black cats, wolves are another great Halloween animal. Head over to the NC Zoo for HOWL-O-Ween to learn the howls and tales of the Red Wolves.

 

Campus Hill Park is hosting a Pumpkin Splash Saturday evening. Dive in and swim in the pool with pumpkins, then choose one to decorate!

 

 

While October is a sensational time of year to just get in the car head over to a state or county park and go for a hike, there are some great guided hikes and special programs going on at the parks to make your Fall weekend that much more enjoyable!

 

The Farmers' Markets are bountiful will local farmers' fall harvests. The Holly Springs Farmer's market closes out it's season with the Annual Chili Cook-off.

 

Drop by Blue Jay County Park's newest attraction, the Natural Play Area, for its Grand Opening! Try out the ever-popular "Stump Jump", play in "Sandy Hollow", have cookies, get your face painted and even try a short "Woodland Bingo" scavenger hunt.

 

The Big Sweep continues this weekend at Eno River State Park. Volunteer your time and help clean up the waterway. Or you can learn the difference between a Dragon Fly & Damselfly. Saturday afternoon, you are invited to tour the restored Piper Cox House.

 

Meet at the Carrboro Century Center Saturday morning to volunteer for Make a Difference Day, part of the NC Big Sweep initiative.

 

Volunteers will be cleaning up the Swift Creek Saturday morning after meeting at Ritter Park as part of the Big Sweep.

 

Are you looking to create a beautiful Container Garden for autumn? Come to a Backyard Wildlife Series Program at Crowder District County Park Saturday to learn how and to actually design a colorful planter to take home.

 

Take a Geology Hike with a ranger Sunday morning at Occoneechee Mountain to learn the geologic history of the area.

 

Friday morning, they will be doing some Bird Watching at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. Sunday, you are invited to join them on a Canoe Hike of Weaver Creek.

 

Take a Giant Trees Hike Sunday afternoon at Wilkerson Nature Preserve and learn how to identify trees by their bark, leaves and other characteristics.

Bring your kids to Umstead State Park on Sunday afternoon and learn what ir takes to become a Junior Ranger. Tuesday morning, you are invited to have some Fishing Fun on Big Lake.

 

Did you know that the Eastern Box Turtle is our state reptile? Come to Lake Crabtree County Park on Sunday to learn all about this Tarheel Turtle.

Get Hooked Sunday afternoon at Durant Nature Park. Join them for a lovely fall afternoon of fishing on the lakeshore.

 

Why do Leaves change color when it gets cool? Come learn what makes fall so beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Harris Lake County Park.

 

 

Friday night features a variety of programs at the North Carolina Museum of Art.Art in the Evening brings extended hours and live music with Side Car Social Club. The Gallery Tour will focus on what a still life left behind after the party. Everyone is invited to participate in Articulation: Poetry with Dasan Ahanu, a poetry slam hosted by the St. Augustine's University lecturer and spoken word artist. Stay later and enjoy the 1948 flick, Sleep, My Love.

 

Author Francesca Rappa will share the process of writing her book Melody West and the Trumpeter Swan and answer audience questions Saturday afternoon at the NC Museum of Art. If you are a teacher, you may want to check out the Workshop: A Tour of the New ArtNC Saturday morning.

 

Fall for the Arts, a family friendly festival showcasing local artists and providing creative fun for all ages, is coming to Fuquay-Varina Friday night.

 

It's the second Friday of the month so it's time for Art After Hours in Downtown Wake Forest.

 

Come on out to Bass Lake Park Friday night for some Family Bingo.

 

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will feature Charlote's Web for their Saturday morning family movie.

 

This Saturday, the Glenwood South Global Fare will feature live performances (including belly dancers, bands, live painting installations), a children"s zone, vendor tents, free pepsi promotional giveaways, and an Iron Chef competition.

 

The Outliers will be playing bluegrass music spaning genres from reggae to Delta blues at the North Carolina Museum of History on Sunday afternoon.

 

Come on out to the Historic Burwell School Wednesday night for a Poetry Reading with Arron Belz.

 

 

Saturday's ParkGeek Passport Destination is Chemistry Day at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! This year's event highlights nanotechnology, the science of building machines at a subatomic level. Chemistry Day is fun for all ages but particularly aims to inform aspiring young scientists about careers in chemistry and local opportunities to get involved with others who share their interests.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will offer Mill Heritage & Local History Tours both Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the tours, make sure you leave time to explore the education center.

 

Historic Preservation Society of Durham docents invite you to join them for a Tobacco Heritage Walking Tour.

 

Come back to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Wednesday for National Fossil Day. Also a ParkGeek Passport Challenge Destination, the free mid-week event will focus on fossil plants and what they can tell us about the landscapes and life of the distant past.