What a greet weekend this is looking to be. There is a wide variety of concerts, movies, park events and historical programs throughout the weekend.

 

The weekend starts early with Thursday evening fun! From 3pm-7pm every Thursday, Marbles Kids Museum drops their admission price to $2 and stays open late for family fun.

 

Oak City 7 is back to Raleigh's City Plaza Thursday night featuring the bands Brittany Marie, Lowderstill and the Aaron Gallagher band.

 

Science Thursday at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences features extended hours, a competitive round of Science Trivia and a Panel discussion on Weather Forecasting Accuracy.

 

Its another Throwback Thursday at Regency Park! They will be showing the 1989 classic Dead Poets Society on their outdoor screen.

 

They will be throwing a First Thursday Downtown Block Party in Mebane this week.

 

Looking for a unique wedding reception venue? The North Carolina Museum of History invites you to their Bridal Open House Thursday evening.

First Friday is always a blast in Downtown Raleigh! The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences stays open late featuring a classic sci-fi or horror movie, eye-catching exhibits, live music from Lily and Molly James, snacks and beverages from the Daily Planet Café and an opening reception for painter and native North Carolinian Mark Stephenson. This month's movie will be the the 1964 film "The Gorgon." You will also want to catch their special exhibit Dig It before it closes August 16th.

 

The North Carolina Museum of History joins the fun along with the City of Raleigh Museum and Marbles Kids Museum with extended hours and special activities. The North Carolina Museum of History will host a panel presentation on Earl Owensby: Tar Heel Film Legend as well as show a few clips from some of Owensby's classic films.

 

Along with the Museums, local Raleigh galleries and restaurants host a Downtown Gallery Walk and there will be local artisans, live music by Stone Age Romeos, entertainment, and local craft beer at City Market.

 

Not too far outside of Downtown, the North Carolina Museum of Art will be jamming to the sounds of the Onyx Club Boys in their lobby turned lounge, going on an exploration of City Dwellers and showing the kid favorite Big Hero 6 on the big outdoor screen come dusk.

 

Fridays on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn will bring Big Fat Gap to the stage along with food trucks D"Burritos and Saltbox.

 

Far from the city lights, Bass Lake invites you to bring the kids to the park for a Family Fun Night. Start off with some arts and crafts, meet a live animal, or borrow a fishing pole and then end the evening with either a magic show or a kid friendly concert.

 

Harris Lake County Park is hosting a Sunset Campfire Friday evening complete with marshmallows and some campfire songs.

Celebrate Second Saturday at the Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum with a Summer Children's Festival! Throughout the day, enjoy music, dancing, and historical crafts, activities and games!

 

Second Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of History will be all about our Dirty History. Find out about and play in the amazing variety of soils in the state, and learn about the father of soil conservation, Hugh Hammond Bennett.

 

Grab on and discover the power behind the chomp in some of the NC Zoo's meat eating residents Saturday for Claws and Jaws.

 

The 2015 UNC Football Team will host the annual Meet the Heels Day Saturday at the Eddie Smith Field House.

 

The North Carolina State Fairgrounds will host an eclectic mix of events this weekend. Some are free and others do have an admission fee so click through for all the details. The Southern Bridal Show and Expo will host over 150 wedding experts to help you plan the big day while there will be over 100 vendors and train races at the Toy Train Sale & Swap Meet. There will also be three Horse Shows over at the Hunt Horse Complex.

 

Join them for Honey Bee Day at the Zebulon Farm Fresh Market Saturday. Come out and examine a bee hive, see where honey and pollen are stored, enter the honey recipe contest, watch the cooking demonstration, play bee themed games, enjoy free face painting, raffles for free produce and honey from the market.

 

After its initial success, the Second Sunday CITY mARTket Fair is back this weekend at Raleigh's Historic City Market.

 

The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo will bring over 50 food trucks to downtown Sunday afternoon along with tables and chair seating for over 1,000 people.

 

Sunday evening is Family Fun Night at Marbles Kids Museum. Join them for this free, after-hours program exclusively for kids with special needs and their families to play in the museum in a calmer, quieter environment.Carolina Hurricanes staff members will be at Marbles Kids Museum for some Hockey Fun Tuesday afternoon.

 

Paleontologists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will be excavating dinosaurs in two areas of the Utah desert as part of the Dinosaurs of the Dawn project this summer. Join them Tuesday morning for a live interactive chat.

Songs of the Fall, a Colorado-based Americana band featuring a fusion of celtic, delta blues, and bluegrass will be playing Saturday evening at Bond Park.

Come enjoy an outdoor concert by ReggaeInfinity Saturday at the Apex Nature Park.

 

Saturday morning's Movie @ Your Library at the Holly Springs Cultural Center will feature Atlantis: The Lost Empire in their cool, air conditioned theater. Come back Monday for the kid favorite Wings.

 

Chuck Champion's unique blend of Roots Rock, Blues, Country Rock and Americana will delight park goers Sunday night at Pullen Park.

Join them at Prairie Ridge Ecostation Saturday for a Butterfly Walk.

 

Come out and enjoy the early morning light at William B. Umstead State Park Saturday morning for a Beginner Photo Hike. Come back Sunday with the kids so they can complete the Junior Ranger Program.

 

Come to Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve Saturday evening to take a Twilight Walk.

 

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park will be offering Saturday at the Old Mill Tours and Mill Heritage & Local History Tours on Sunday. They will host a Seniors Stay Fit Nature Walk Monday.

 

Eno River State Park invites you to tour the historic Piper Cox during Sunday's Open House.

 

Wilkerson Nature Preserve will host an Astronomy Night Wednesday evening. Join them for an indoor presentation and then head outside for an opportunity to view the moon, stars, and planets with the Preserve"s telescope.

 

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area will also host an Astronomy Viewing Session Wednesday night with Morehead Planetarium Educators.