February 2nd - 8th Triangle 2017

by Pam & Michael Davison

Happy Groundhog Day!! Sir Walter Wally will be deciding how soon to expect Spring's arrival Thursday at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' 20th annual Groundhog Day celebration. The day's activities kick off at 9 a.m. and run through 1 p.m. The shadow ceremony where he'll make his prediction begins promptly at noon.

Snerd the Groundhog will reveal his prediction to the Mayor of Garner at noon over at White Deer Park. There will be crafts, games and educational tables featuring live animals.

How did people predict the weather before The Weather Channel? Can animals really help? They will be exploring Wizened Woodchucks & Weather Predictors in the Visitor Center all day Thursday at Historic Yates Mill County Park

Laurel Hills Park will host a Family Nature Night: Predators on the Prowl Thursday for the whole family with games and activities that will teach you about evening predators active in these winter months.

The Community Arts Festival is running through Saturday at the Holly Springs Cultural Center with fun events every day culminating with the Vendor Showcase and Food Truck Rodeo on Saturday! Thursday night features the cast of "Finding Patience" for a night of drama, comedy and suspense.

The fun starts early in the Triangle with another Science Thursday at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Enjoy extended hours and a interactive Science Cafe to test your knowledge on Science Trivia.

Marbles Kids Museum also stays open late every Thursday. Twilight $2 Thursdays features discounted admission and extended hours.

First Friday Fun

The Holly Springs Community Arts Festival continues through Saturday. Join them Friday night for dancers from Holly Springs and surrounding towns.

Art in the Evening kicks off the weekend Friday night at the North Carolina Museum of Art with live music by the Onyx Club Boys. The Friday Night Sound Bite will explore Remembering Robert and the featured flick is the film, Chimes at Night.

First Friday is back in Downtown Raleigh with their monthly Gallery Walk, extended hours at the Raleigh City Museum and Marbles Kids Museum.

The North Carolina Museum of History will be Celebrating Jugtown Pottery this First Friday with an opening reception. The event will also feature a short documentary film, and a panel discussion and free samples of the latest beers and ales by Neuse River Brewing Company.

Teen Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will explore if X-Ray Vision is Science or Science Fiction?

There will be a whole evening of Family Fun out at Bass Lake Park Friday night. Make arts and crafts, meet a live animal, or borrow a fishing pole for the first hour then enjoy a magic show with Dan the Magic Man or a concert by Trish Miller.

Parades and Festivals

The Annual NC MLK-Black History Month Parade & Step Show takes place Saturday in Downtown Durham featuring floats, marching bands, steppers, horses, motorcycles, school groups and more.

Its LEGO-palooza weekend at the Morehead Planetarium both Saturday and Sunday. See the amazing displays of unique LEGO scenes, from settlements in outer space to hometowns throughout America (including forts, amusement parks, city landmarks and more) created by the North Carolina LEGO Users Group.

Experience activities for kids and adults, arts and crafts vendors, folk and classical performances, and delicious Russian food all day Saturday during the Triangle Russian festival at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts their monthly Science Saturday this weekend with Dr. Bill Brandon discussing The Color Ranges of Everyday Lighting Sources (from the incandescent bulb to light emitting diodes).

Seeing and Seen: Films by William Noland will be featured Sunday afternoon at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The film maker will be on hand to introduce his work.

The Holly Springs Library will be showing Finding Nemo Monday morning.

Grab the kids, snacks and some snugly blankets and head over to the Halle Cultural Arts Center Tuesday morning for the film Kung Fu Panda 3.

More to do at the Parks

Jordan Lake invites you to go on a Bird Scavenger Hunt or join a Bald Eagle Talk & View Saturday. Come back after dark to do some Skywatching with Morehead Planetarium Educators.

Join Lake Crabtree's bird enthusiast Saturday morning and go Birding with Vernon.

Its another Citizen Science Saturday at Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife Learning. These Saturday morning adventures will introduce you to a citizen science project and enlist your help collecting and entering data as you enjoy a walk around the grounds with one of their naturalists.

Join Falls Lake Rangers Sunday afternoon for a class in Beginning Orientation with a compass and learn how to navigate before the time of GPS and cell phones.

Learn What A Ranger Does Monday afternoon at William B. Umstead State Park.

Crowder Park invites you to join them Tuesday for a Nature Family Program all about Busy Beavers.