June 2nd - 8th Triangle 2016

by Pam & Michael Davison

It looks like another fabulous weekend! With over 100 events listed on ParkGeek.com this week, we are going to hit the highlights in this week's newsletter. Please go to the ParkGeek.com Event Search for the complete listing.

First Friday (and Thursday fun Too!)

Pickin' in the Plaza kicks off the weekend Thursday night in City Plaza with Hank, Pattie, & The Current with Kate Rhudy.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will be taking a summer sabbatical from First Fridays but they continue to stay open late every Thursday. Join them this week for a competitive round of Science Trivia.

The North Carolina Museum of Art will be exploring Tiger, Tiger and jamming to the tunes of the Stephen Coffman Trio Friday as part of Art in the Evening.

Take tours of "The Story of North Carolina" or a Behind the Scenes Tour and sample mead from Durham's Honeygirl Meadery during First Friday at the North Carolina Museum of History.

City Market will host the usual First Friday festivities with local artisans, live music, entertainment, and local craft beer. You are also invited to explore the First Friday Gallery Walk throughout the galleries and restaurants in Raleigh and extended hours at the Raleigh City Museum and Marbles Kids Museum. Enjoy local artisans, live music, entertainment, and local craft beer, at the Morning Times Market every First Friday.

The Live and Local Music & Arts Series in Downtown Chapel Hill will wrap up their spring season with a Night of Play. They will be filling the Plaza with games of all shapes and sizes - Twister, Giant Jenga, Cornhole and more!

The Karate Kid will be the featured flick at the PNC Downtown Raleigh Movie Series Friday after dark in Raleigh's City Plaza.

Fridays on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn will feature the Franklin St. Band and the food trucks Bulkogi and CockADoodleMoo.

Head on over to Bass Lake Park Friday night for their monthly Family Fun Night. Start with some fishing, arts & crafts and live animal demos and end with a special kids show.

You and your kids are invited to join them Friday night for a Family Nature Night at Walnut Creek Wetland Center. This week's program will explore wetland arthropods and other invertebrates that call the wetland home.

Festivals, Fairs & Special Events

Saturday celebrates the Dog Days of June at Bond Park. There will be a Charity Raffle, the Skyhoundz Canine Frisbee Disc Competition, a Dog Wash, Rabies Vaccines and Microchipping Clinics.

Saturday is the Annual Beaver Queen Pageant at Duke Park. Come enjoy the annual neighborhood "pageant" featuring live music and fun.

Downtown Apex will come alive with the Latino Arts Festival Saturday. There will be crafts, art workshops, piñatas, jewelry making, woodworking, a Latino Culinary Fest & Bazaar, dance performances and live music.

The Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department will be hosting a Bike Safety Rodeo for kids Saturday.

Saturday is Crawfish Day at the State Farmers Market. Get there early because they will sell out!

The Wake County Animal Center is hosting Animal Services Day Saturday at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds showcasing exhibitors and activities to promote responsible pet ownership.

The North Carolina Zoo invites you to celebrate World Oceans Day with them on Saturday.

The Holly Springs Farmers Market will gear up for their annual Taste of Holly Springs Saturday morning. Come enjoy sample some of the best dishes from local Holly Springs restaurants.

Kids Together Park invites you to their Birthday Party Sunday. Craft noisemakers, join the parade, here the story of the park and help make Roly Poly fruit slushies.

Music, Movies & History

The Brown Mountain Lights are unusual lights that have been reported in the Linville gorge area of North Carolina for about a century. Come to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Friday afternoon to hear a lecture about a project imaging the mountain. Come back for Science Saturday to learn about the Astronomer Who Came In From the Cold, the path to becoming an observational astronomer.

James Murchison, Founder and Designer of Backstabbers Clothing will be giving a Lecture/Discussion Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of History to share his insights about opening his own clothing design business in Raleigh.

Kick off the Summer Reading Program Saturday morning at the Holly Springs Community Library . There will be crafts, a family story time and the opportunity for all ages to sign up for the Summer Reading Program that runs through July 31st.

Its another SuperFun Saturday at the Halle Cultural Arts Center. Bring your kids by to enjoy free arts & crafts.

Tours are back at Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park! Join them Saturday for a Half Hour Tour of the main power drive and milling machinery of the fully restored mill. Sunday brings Mill Heritage & Local History Tours.

Marbles Mondays kick's off this week! This summer the Marbles Kids Museum will be open 9am-5pm on Mondays with no field trips!

The Halle Cultural Arts Center invites you to bring the kids to their Free Week Long Kid's Movies. Click through for the entire line up.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center kicks off their Summer Cinema Series with the movie Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's Hob Nob Jazz Series brings La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet to the stage at Regency Park.

National Trails Day

Saturday is National Trails Day. Celebrate here in the Triangle with a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, guided hikes & programs and celebrations.

There will be volunteer workdays at many of the county and state parks on Saturday. Most do request that you register so they have a good idea of how many people will be helping. Click through for all the details.

Celebrate National Trails Day with a self-paced walking challenge, the Triangle Volksmarch. Pick up your passport & map at event locations, visit stamp stations along the Capital Greenway anytime between 9am & 5pm, and earn a patch. There will also be events and programs at Umstead Park, Prairie Ridge EcoStation, and the NC Museum of Art.

Parks with Trail Day Workdays include Falls Lake, Eno River and Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.

Wake Forest will celebrate National Trails Day Saturday at E. Carroll Joyner Park with an Environmental Education Expo.

Artify: The Arts in the Parks puts a twist on National Trails Day at Regency Park Saturday. Join them as they "artify" the National Trails Day celebration and walk the beautiful Symphony Lake Greenway. Members of the Greenway Committee and the Cultural Arts Committee will guide you through a series of visual arts experiences, designed by artist Nate Key, as well as other visual and performing artists, at stations along the trail.

Harris Lake County Park will host a Family Disc Golf Lessons and Play Time Saturday for families of all levels.

Lake Crabtree invites you to go Birding with Vernon early Saturday

Saturday night, come back to Prairie Ridge Ecostation for a Firefly Watch.

What does a Park Ranger do? Come learn about their job first hand Sunday afternoon at Falls Lake State Recreation Area.

Join the competition to create the most Fabulous Fish! Each family will get to work as a group to invent a type of fish out of upcycled materials and craft supplies Sunday at Durant Nature Park.

Both Harris Lake and Crowder Park will hold a variety of programs for young children next week.