July 7th - 13th 2016 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

Wonderful Summer weather lends itself to having fun with friends and family. With such an amazing variety of events going on this weekend, from movies and concerts to hikes and history programs, I hope you can find something to do to make this weekend part of your summer to remember.

The Farmers Markets are in full swing now. Just about every town in the Triangle has its own Farmer's Market Saturday morning and several have weekday times, too. Go to the Event Searchat Parkgeek.com and plug in Farmer's Market and we will give you all the details so you can bring home some local honey or some just picked tomatoes.

The State Fair is still several months away, but there will be a Gem & Jewelry Show at the State Fairgrounds this weekend along with a 4-H Horse Show.

There are several reoccurring events every week. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences boasts extended hours and Science Cafe Talks every Thursday night. This week features some competitive Science Trivia. The Museum also invites you to their special exhibit, American Adventure through September 7th.

Also every Thursday evening, Marbles Kids Museum offers discount admission and stays open late for Twilight $2 Thursdays. On Marbles Mondays through the summer, Marbles invites you to enjoy all the exhibits without the competition of the large groups of kids generated from field trips.

Get outside, get moving and get healthy every Thursday morning at Raven Rock State Park. Take a Hike for Your Health, a guided 3 to 6 mile hike that varies week to week.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning invites you to bring the kids out for Nature Stories every Thursday morning. Everyone is invited to Prairie Ridge on Saturdays to learn about how you can become a Citizen Scientist.

The North Carolina Museum of Art invites you to take a Meet Your Museum Tour or a Weekend Family Friendly Tour every Saturday and Sunday.

Lake Crabtree County Park hosts Crabtree Casters on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month for an informal fishing experience.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park invites you to get a peek inside the fully renovated mill on a half hour Mill Tour on Saturdays or a one hourMill Heritage & Local History Tour on Sundays.

Festivals, History and Museum Fun

Duke Homestead Historic invites you to their annual Pork Peanuts & Pickles Festival. Visitors can enjoy historic cooking demonstrations, and browse their local arts and crafts vendors.

In addition to their regular Friday night events, this weekend, the NC Museum of Art invites you to a Poetry Slam Friday night as well as a two day visit from the Truth Booth, a nationwide traveling public art project. Also Saturday, the museum is hosting a Family Fun Saturday event all about Ancient Vessels. Come back to the Museum Sunday for a lecture on Civilization and Barbarity, Cooked and Raw.

Observe bead artist Eric Ennis as he works, then create a simple bead pin of your own during Saturday's Make It, Take It program at the North Carolina Museum of History.

Get moving at Project Dance Saturday morning at Marbles Kids Museum with guest star dancers from the American Dance Festival. Donald West will lead a hip hop dance workshop for kids and families. Bring the kids back Wednesday to have some Hockey Fun with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Grab a picnic lunch and teddy bear from home, and head to Historic Yates Mill County Park Sunday for a Teddy Bears' Picnic. Come explore the history of the Teddy Bear and play some sweet bear games.

Music to fill the Air

Oak City 7 steps up this Thursday with concerts by 120 Minutes, Shirlette Ammons and Hotline in Raleigh's City Plaza.

Fridays on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn will feature the Holland Brothers and the food truck Bam Pow Chow.

The Big Chief will be playing a wide variety of styles, from rock and roll to blues, country, jazz, pop, and New Orleans R & B at the Holly Springs Cultural Center Friday night.

The Fuquay-Varina Arts Council presents their monthly Art After Dark in downtown Fuquay-Varina. Enjoy live music, local artwork, an Artist and Crafter's Market, and a variety of creative events featuring the Arts in various forms.

On the second Friday night of each month the streets of Downtown Wake Forest come alive with food, merchants and music for Art After Hours. This Friday, you can also enjoy another installment of Friday Night on White with a concert by Stone Age Romeos.

Downtown Carrboro will come alive with live music and other art related entertainment for2nd Friday Artwalkwalk.

Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band will be playing for Art in the Evening at the North Carolina Museum of Art. You can also join a Museum docent for a casual, in-depth exploration of Play Ball.

The Lounge Doctors will be playing a mash-up of rock and blues Friday night for a Starlight Concert at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center.

Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass will be performing a Warehouse Blues concert at Durham Central Park Friday night.

Bass Lake Park will host an evening of Family Bingo Friday night.

Bombadil will be playing an Apex Music in the Park Concert Saturday night at Apex Nature Park Saturday.

Reggie will be singing, playing guitar, banjo, and a kick-drum suitcase for percussion; while Ryan sings and plays the bass for Saturday nights performance by the Harris Brothers at Sertoma Amphitheatre.

Finish out the weekend at Pullen Park with a Sunday in the Park Concert featuring a performance by the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra.

Summer Movie Fun

Movies By Moonlight at Regency Park Friday night will feature Kung Fu Panda 3.

The North Carolina Museum of Art will be showing Matt Damon's The Martian on Friday night on their huge outdoor screen. They will be screening the 1976 classic Rocky on Saturday after dark.

Holly Springs Cultural Center will be showingCats & Dogs Monday Morning. Come back Wednesday afternoon for The Goonies.

Fun at the Parks

Friday night's Astronomy Night at Falls Lake State Recreation Area will offer a beautifully diverse sky full of planets, nebulae, clusters and galaxies. Learn about the Dangerous Plants and Animals around the Falls Lake area Saturday afternoon.

Come to Lake Crabtree County Park Saturday morning to learn all about Terrific Trees.

Also Saturday morning, you can head over to Eno River State Park to take a Peaceful Morning Hike. Saturday afternoon, you can investigate theWater Bugs that help scientists infer about the Eno's water quality. They will be looking for Box Turtles Sunday.

Discover the fascinating world of hidden pond life as you scoop for critters, then view your finds under a microscope during Saturday morning'sFamily Pond Study at Harris Lake County Park.

Saturday afternoon, Crowder District Park will host a Discovery Table about the bees that live in the park. Come back Sunday for Crowder's Family Feature on Wonderful Wetlands.

Harris Lake County Park invites you to bring your kids ages 1-3 and 2-6 for their monthly programs Monday morning. This month's theme is Water Fun.

Help rangers take a Eagle Count Sunday at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.