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November 15th - November 21st 2012 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

 Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the holiday buzz is in the air! This weekend officially kicks off the holiday season in the Triangle with parades and seasonal events. The ParkGeek Passport Challenge is still on. Find the QR codes at a Wake County Park, scan it with your smart phone and log is as much fall fun as you can before First Night Raleigh!

Night Owls and Candle Magic this Saturday night at Blue Jay County Park is the ParkGeek Passport Featured Destination this weekend. Bring the "night owls" in your family to enjoy the magic of a stroll along their luminaria-lined trail as you learn about the late fall seasonal activities of our local owls, enjoy hot cocoa and make a craft.
 
While all the Wake County Parks are ParkGeek Passport Destinations, we want to highlight Historic Yates Mill County Park this weekend. They are holding a Food Drive to support the Raleigh Warehouse of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC from now until November 19th so drop off a few non-perishable items on your way to one of their fabulous programs or tours.
 
The fun at Yates Mill starts Thursday at lunch time when you get to become Pilgrims at Play. Bundle up and come back to the park Friday night to explore the Winter Sky and help gather data for an international citizen science project. On Saturday, you can learn how colonial frontier communities prepared for the dark, chilly days ahead during the Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker. You'll get to knead bread, roll candles, and try your hand at corn cob darts to sharpen your hunting skills. They will also be offering Corn Grinding Demos & Costumed Tours of the fully restored and functioning grist mill on both Saturday and Sunday.
 
The Raleigh Christmas Parade Marches into Downtown!

Bundle up and head downtown early Saturday morning to get a great spot to watch the Annual Christmas Parade in downtown Raleigh. The event is expected to draw more that 60,000 spectators to see the the largest parade between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The parade is also broadcast live on WRAL starting at 10:00am.

Once you are downtown, you can head over to The North Carolina Museum of History for the Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration. Come celebrate North Carolina's American Indian heritage at this exciting festival featuring music, dancing, storytelling, hands-on activities and food. There will be members of the state's eight recognized tribes sharing their heritage and demonstrating their skills at pottery, basketry, beadwork and stone carving. Its a great event to learn about the history of the American Indian that took place right here in North Carolina.
 
The Burwell School Historic Site will be displaying a Festive Santa Paintings Collection through mid December. Hillsborough resident Nancy Campbell's father painted Santa Claus every year as a gift to his family. Come on out to enjoy the unique and impressive Holiday collection.
 
Find creative, locally handmade gifts of art for everyone on your holiday list at the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market both Saturday & Sunday.
 
Journey through a wintery Carolina from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Crystal Coast and command the rails by driving Thomas the Tank Engine, Percy and other trains and trolleys with the Wonderland Express at the Museum of Life and Science. The handcrafted exhibition is open until January for the whole family to enjoy.
 
Learn how to make Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday cards using pressed leaves and flowers during Home Made for the Holidays on Monday at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
 
Great Fall Fun for the Whole Family
 
All Girl Scouts (Past, Present and Future) and families are Invited to celebrate Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary Event. There will be fun activities, games, cupcake decorating, demonstrations and more at Womble Park Saturday morning. 

Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of the hunt, but just don"t have the heart or the stomach to bag that buck? Come to Harmless Hunting at Lake Crabtree County Park on Saturday and join a harm-free hunt for deer.

West Point on the Eno will spend Saturday afternoon exploring the Owls of Durahm and observing local animals'  Winter Preparations.
 
Explore the pyrophyllite quarry at Occoneechee Mountain with a real geologist on Saturday's Geology Hike.
 
Lake Johnson Park will be hosting a Family Nature Walk on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area will also be taking a Nature Hike on Saturday to leisurely investigate the historic Old Oak Trail.
 
After Saturday's Festival at the NC Museum of History, Crowder District Park invites you to apply what you learned during Sunday's Family Feature focusing on Native Americans. Learn about the original Americans through folktales, tribal songs, a nature walk and authentic games.
 
Bundle up Tuesday morning at Prairie Ridge Ecostation to enjoy their monthly Walk Through the Seasons.
 
Art & Culture

The Carrboro Film Festival is a celebration of the film and video creativity we have in Orange County. All filmmakers-from beginner to well-established professionals will be featured Sunday afternoon.

Help Stuff Their Turkey at Mables from Thursday the 15th until Wednesday the 21st. Receive one free museum admission pass or buy-one-get-one free IMAX documentary coupon for every 4 cans of food donated. Marbles Kids Museum also invites you and to a Meet and Greet with UNC-TV Characters on Saturday, Science Solvers on food chemistry on Sunday, Target $2 Tuesday Night on Tuesday night and to Celebrate Thanksgiving with Marbles from Tuesday the 20th until Sunday the 25th with lots of fun special holiday activities.
 
The North Carolina Museum of Art kicks off the weekend Friday night with Art in the Evening featuring tunes by Side Car Social Club and an in-depth exploration of A Stillness Within. Bring the kids Saturday for a Family Fun Saturday event featuring theDesign of a Space and join Thomas Michie for a lecture about the decorative objects in the exhibition Still-Life Masterpieces on Saturday afternoon.
 
Thursday night's Science Cafe will focus on the New Dog on the Block, a discussion with Dr. Roland Kays about coyotes moving into NC. 
 
The Halle Cultural Arts Center offers a night off on Thursday with Pizza & a Show Family Movie Night. The featured flick will be "Brave". Bring your kids back Tuesday morning for the film Cars.
 
Shake off the cold temperatures at the Holly Springs Cultural Center Saturday morning with their Family Movie, Surf's Up. Come early to the movie and enjoy a free Clown Show.
 
Historic Preservation Society of Durham docents will lead a Civil Rights Legacy Walking Tour  focusing on sites in downtown Durham that were important in the 1950's and 60's Civil Rights movement.
 
A Fun Day Trip

If you are looking for a fun day trip outside the Triangle, the Natural Science Center of Greensboro is a great destination. The Museum is an awesome blend of children's museum, science center and outdoor zoo. With lots of hands on exploratory opportunities for little ones, science shows and displays for older kids, and a beautiful outdoor area with a wide variety of animals in natural habitats, the center can keep the whole family engaged. The museum also sits adjacent to a large park and lake which make for a great picnic opportunity.

There will be two ongoing Holiday programs at the Museum that you may want to check out. The Light Before Christmas is a 30 minute, 3D Omnisphere Movie about two children who are lost on a cold, blustery Christmas Eve and are magically transported into the classic tale.
 
Secondly is the Laser Holiday Show. Running both daily and for an evening presentation on Friday, December 22nd the popular laser show combines festive holiday music with an amazing laser light show that dances across the OmniSphere Theater's 40-foot dome.

 

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