Both the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the Nature Research Center will be staying open late for First Friday. In addition to being able to explore all the exhibits, you can attend an opening art reception for photographer Lawrence Earley, and his show "Carolina Grasslands." Tickets will be discounted to Dinosaurs in Motion, live jazz will be provided by Daniel DeLorenzo and Jacob Dowdy and the featured flick will be the classic 1963 epic, "Jason and the Argonauts."

 

Throughout Downtown Raleigh, look for the First Friday Flags and enjoy a citywide Gallery Walk as well as special activities at Marbles Kids Museum. Its also Watermelon Weekend Friday -Sunday at Marbles with watermelon play in the garden and a special screening of the movie Watermelon Magic at IMAX.

 

Backpack Buddies will will be collecting food donations along with Backbeat who will be playing 60's and Rock and Roll over at the Raleigh City Market.

Not too far away, the North Carolina Museum of Art will bring in the weekend with live music by Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band for Art in the Evening, Sound Bites about the Master, Mistress, and Muse and the 2011 movie, Drive starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks.

 

Over in Chapel Hill, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center invites kids ages 13-18 to join them for a Teen Movie Night. They will enjoy the film "Jurassic Park," and during the movie"s intermission, paleontologists will explain some of the science behind the movie.

 

Far from the city lights, Family Fun Night with Trish Miller at Bass Lake Park will feature a whole evening of family fun. Start off with arts & crafts, live animals and some fishing. Finish the evening with an interactive concert with Trish Miller.

 

Join them at Crowder District Park after dark on Friday night to observe nocturnal animals and roast s'mores around the campfire.

 

Come back to Durham Central Park Saturday night for a Warehouse Blues Concert featuring the smooth sounds of Cool John Ferguson.

 

Madagascar 3 will be playing on the outdoor screen along with live entertainment, food and themed activities for the entire family over at Womble Park Saturday night.

 

The W.D. Hill Recreation Center will host Poetry Open Mic Night Saturday. the event is free and open to both poets and spectators.

 

Come hear the Reggae sounds of Sahara Reggae Band Rock the Park Saturday evening at Rock Quarry Park.

 

Wall-e will be the featured family movie at the Holly Springs Cultural Center on Saturday morning.

 

The Depot Concert Series continues this Saturday in Apex with the Kickin' Grass Band.

 

Pullen Park will be the location for this weekend's Sunday in the Park Concert highlighting the Bluegrass sounds of Grass Street.

 

The fun continues into next week with the movie Beauty and the Beast at the Holly Springs Cultural Center on Monday morning and Rio at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Tuesday morning.

 

To round out the week, the Halle Cultural Arts Center presents Django Unchained as part of its Academy Award Film Series for a more grown up crowd on Wednesday night.

 

With a 164-acre campus, two buildings, an amphitheater, a park, and several gardens, the NCMA offers much to see and do. The Meet Your Museum Tour on Saturday introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, central Plaza, and related works of art.

 

This Sunday's Green Energy Workshop at Marbles Kids Museum will allow you to make gliders out of recycled materials and build electric circuits in this hands-on, minds-on workshop. The Carolina Hurricanes staff members will be at the museum for Hockey Fun on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will be offering Half Hour Tours of the Mill on Saturday and Mill Heritage & Local History Tours on Sunday. Also on Sunday, come contribute to a Community Art Project celebrating Yates Mill in the summer-time.

 

The State Fairgrounds will host a Horse Show and a Bead Mercantile Show.

Be a part of the Water Bear Hunt this week with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. They are looking for samples from Citizen Scientists like you. You can drop off samples Tuesday & Wednesday or listen to the findings on Thursday. You can even join Dr. Meg Lowman at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on Friday for some hands on exploration. Click through for all the details.

 

Join US Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers to play in the mud and discover what a Watershed is on Saturday afternoon at Falls Lake

 

Come take a peek at Holly Springs' newest park and offer your feedback on three conceptual master plans this Wednesday night at the Sugg Farm Park Open House.

 

Are your kids looking for some fun and adventure as their summer winds down? Several of this week's day camps at Wake County Parks still have slots available. Check out Time Detectives for kids ages 8-10 at Historic Yates Mill County Park or the Amazing Race for kids 12-15 at Harris Lake County Park.

 

National Night Out is Tuesday night. Many Triangle Police Departments are partnering with local shopping centers to put on community building events.