November 3rd - 9th Triangle 2016

by Pam & Michael Davison

The leaves are all coming down quickly now and it sounds like the temperatures are going to cool off to make it a fabulous fall weekend here in the Triangle!

Even though Veteran's Day is next Friday, we will commemorate the holiday in Downtown Raleigh this Saturday with a Veterans Day Parade followed by a wreath laying and ceremony on Saturday. Music and static displays make up this perfect family day.

The NCSU service learning students have an awesome afternoon planned for you Wednesday at Harris Lake County Park. For a school project, the State students are hosting a Campfire, Cookout, Crafting and Canoeing. Bring the family out for dinner and fun!

The fun starts early at Knightdale Station Park with Food Truck Thursdays. Join CockADoodleMoo and Hula Dogs Shave Ice for lunch or Bulkogi and Two Roosters Ice Cream for dinner.

With the holidays just around the corner, we at ParkGeek are excited to be your source for local parades, tree lightings and holiday events.Tuesday kicks off the holiday festivities with the public ticket sales for the Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science. Last year's event sold out in only four days so plan ahead and get your tickets now. Click through for the prices and event times.

In preparation for the needs of the upcoming season, Crowder District County Park is holding a Food Drive for the month of November.

First Friday

The weekend kicks off Thursday night at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This week's Science Thursday includes a round of Science Trivia.

A Teen Science Cafe on Tick Tock: Your Heart is the Clock will explore the relationships between heartbeats, heart rates, and lifespans of various mammals Friday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Across Bicentennial Plaza, the North Carolina Museum of History will celebrate First Friday with extended hours and samples from Asheville brewer, Four Saints Brewing Company. Also Friday, you are invited to make an appointment and bring up to three of your treasured possessions to their Conservation Assistance Day for an assessment.

First Friday also brings extended hours and special events to Marbles Kids Museum and many local restaurants and galleries through the monthly Gallery Walk. The Morning Times Market invites you to join them for local artisans, live music, entertainment, and local craft beer.

In addition to extended hours, this month's First Friday at the City of Raleigh Museum features Rockstock at the Museum. Join them for German music, food, cider and beer tastings, to highlight the diversity of Raleigh's Rostock Sister city. There will be activities for children and a silent auction to support student travel scholarships.

The Tea Cup Gin Unplugged will be playing at the North Carolina Museum of Art Friday evening for Art in the Evening and you are welcome to join them for a Sound Bite on Change over Time, a College Lecture and Tour on Fashion and Car Culture in the 1920s and 30s and the 1930 film Madam Satan.

Outside the city lights, join the rangers at Crowder District Park for an evening learning Survivor Skills.

Festivals & Outdoor Fun

Since October 27th, Amanda Parer's installation Intrude has been delighting visitors at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The free 10-day exhibition features five enormous (23 feet high), illuminated, inflated rabbits! In addition, the Museum is hosting Hoppy Hours both Thursday and Friday evening featuring a different musical theme, with surprise guests, surprise events, a pop-up Museum Store, food trucks, and featured beer from Fullsteam Brewery, wine, and nonalcoholic drinks for purchase. Thursday's theme is Classical Rabbits with the North Carolina Symphony and Friday is Trip-Hoppy Hour featuring SPCLGST and an opportunity to meet artist Hank Willis Thomas.

The rabbits will mark their last day in Raleigh with a NCMA Park Celebration. Join them in celebrating the expansion of the Museum Park! Explore their new community spaces and gardens, see exciting new art installations, sample treats from food trucks, and enjoy engaging and creative experiences for all ages.

The Annual Celebrate Fuquay Varina comes to Downtown Fuquay-Varina Saturday after being rescheduled from October 6th. The event features live entertainment at 4 venues, a free kid zone, a craft beer garden area with concerts by Crush and the Magic Pipers, arts, crafts and classic cars, the Bengal Tiger Auction and Downtown Chili Cook-off.

November is Pecan Pickin' Month at Historic Oak View County Park. Come on out to the park anytime this month to harvest your own pecans that have fallen from the trees in their Pecan Grove.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park, is the perfect venue for that fall family picture. While you are there, take an Old Mill Tour on Saturday or a Mill Heritage & Local History Tour on Sunday to get a peek inside the fully restored mill. Saturday, you are also invited to take a Fall Foliage Hike.

Laurel Hills Park invites you to the Sassafras All Children's Playground Dedication Saturday morning. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, children can explore the playground, dance and sing along to the Sandbox Band, and create an art project.

Learn all about the Animals of Falls Lake on a guided hike Saturday afternoon.

Hike along a beautiful stretch of the Eno River to the lovely spot called Bobbit Hole Saturday afternoon.

Lake Crabtree will host a Birding Hike, Telling Trails Exploration and a Brown Headed Nuthatch Nestbox Workshop on Saturday.

Come get a peek at Saturn, Venus, the Moon and Mars Saturday after dark at Jordan Lake for a Sky Watching Session with Morehead Planetarium educators.

Get a jump start on your holiday decorating Sunday along the American Tobacco Trail when you try your hand at Holiday Wreath Making.

Bring your little ones to Crowder District Park this week for their preschool programs. Click through for the ages and themes.

Museums & Movies

Engineers Day on Saturday at the Museum of Life and Science features hands-on activities exploring the ins and outs of robotics, circuits, and simple machines. Learn how to generate electrical power from mechanical energy, and discover the world of materials science.

The History of the Harvest: Three Sisters Garden will explore the American Indian legend of the three sisters (corn, beans, and squash), and give you the opportunity to create your own three sisters garden starter kit to take home Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of History. On Sunday, the Museum will host pianist Jean Dube as part of the Paderewski Festival and a book signing with author Warren L. Bingham.

Ages 4-12 are invited to join them at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Saturday morning for Super Fun with free arts & crafts for children.

Science Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will discuss Healthcare in a Shirt. Come learn about research ongoing at NC State University's College of Textiles toward garment-based designs that monitor health and harvest power from the body.

The Apex Community Center invites you to PJs & Popcorn Movie Night Saturday for the fun family favorite "Inside Out."

Come to the Burwell School Historic Site Sunday to hear a discussion and presentation with Sheila Smith McKoy about the historical significance of Elizabeth Keckley.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will feature The Tale of Desperaux as their Free Family Movie on Monday.

What to do at the Fairgrounds

Even though the State Fair is packed up for another year, there is plenty going on at the Fairgrounds. This weekend brings the return of the Capital Area Handbell Festival. Come enjoy the final concert Saturday afternoon.

More than 60 exhibitors are expected to participate in the Duke Raleigh Hospital City of Oaks Health and Fitness Expo Friday and Saturday. The fun-filled event will be offering a wide variety of health and fitness related activities including interactive sports activities, free health tests and screenings, free fitness classes and many more health and wellness resources for the entire family!

The whole family will enjoy the Annual Train & Railroadiana Show & Sale this weekend.

Triangle Farms will be hosting an Indoor Horse Show at the Hunt Horse Complex starting Friday and running through Sunday. These shows are hunter horse shows with most of the competitors being from North Carolina.

The Jump for the Children Horse Show, benefiting Duke Children's Hospital starts next Tuesday and continues through Sunday, November 13th. There are free shows each night except Saturday night. Families are always welcome to walk around the barns and see the horses and riders up close.