May 25th - May 31st 2017 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! May your weekend be full of fun, relaxation and cookouts! Remember, if you are looking for a great park to play at this weekend, go to ParkGeek.com, click on Parks and check off the activities or amenities you are looking for. We will give you a list of parks that match your request. Could planning a great Memorial Day Picnic get any easier?

The biggest and most exciting event in the Triangle this weekend is the Freedom Balloon Fest. Starting Friday and running through Monday, the 3rd annual balloon festival returns to Fleming Loop Park in Fuquay-Varina. There will be balloon ascensions, tethered rides, eveing balloon glows, a fun zone, food trucks, live music and a Merchant, Arts & Crafts Vendor Village. Click through for full schedule.

The North Main Athletic Complex in Holly Springs is excited to host the six day long 2017 NCBA World Series. The Fan Fest & DeMarini Long Ball Challenge are free events open to the public on Saturday. The games do require a ticket, but discount passes are available.

For more info on everything going on, go to www.Parkgeek.com click on "Event Search" and fill in the dates. Select the search button and start planning! See below for more...

Memorial Day Observations

Join them at Cary's Veterans Memorial Monday for an observance of Memorial Day with a patriotic ceremony and celebration honoring veterans of all wars and conflicts.

On Saturday and Sunday, Bennett Place will hold a Military Timeline Commemoration to remember soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Join military historians representing the American soldier throughout our nation's history, as they recognize the 100th anniversary of America'sentrance into WWI, and the 75th anniversary of WWII.

The Town of Garner will host a Memorial Day Observance at the Garner Veterans Memorial in Lake Benson Park on Monday.

Please join them Saturday morning for a Remembering Our Heroes Car Show to raise money to help fund the "War on Terror Memorial" in Holly Spring's Veteran's Park.

Fun at the Parks

Enjoy a leisurely stroll down to the Beaver Creek Bridge Friday evening along the American Tobacco Trail for an Evening Discovery Walk.

Come and learn about Occoneechee Mountain's Geologic Wonders Saturday as you explore the pyrophyllite quarry with a real geologist.

Bring your binoculars to Eno River State Park Saturday morning and join them for a relaxing morning of Birdwatching. Come back to the park Sunday to meet live turtles and a snake and learn about the park's Living Reptiles.

Join them at Durant Nature Park Saturday to Dip and Discover, a fun, hands-on program designed to find out what critters are lurking in the pond.

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park invites you to Paddle the Pond to explore the park's many features as seen only from the water Saturday or go Messing About with Boats and make your own model boat. Also on Saturday, you can take an Old Mill Tour and on both Sunday and Monday they are offering Mill Heritage & Local History Tours.

Join them for some Citizen Science Saturday at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.

Come find out what makes Box Turtles unique, why their populations are declining, and what you can do to help Saturday afternoon at Umstead State Park.

Join them at Oak View County Park Saturday for a one-hour History Hike through the old farmstead.

Learn about all about Spring Hummingbird Migration and find out what special adaptations these tiny little birds have that help them survive in a great big world Saturday at Blue Jay Point County Park.

The State Fairgrounds will host a Pet Bird Fair.

Crowder District Park's Sunday Family Feature will explore the Buzz on Bees. Learn the dances of bees and how they communicate, discover how pollination works, and taste different types of honey.

Are you looking to be a little more spontaneous? Pre-registration not really your thing? The Triangle has several beautiful lakes that offer boat rentals so you can enjoy the serenity of the water at your own pace. Bass Lake Park, Bond Park, Lake Benson, Lake Crabtree Park, Lake Johnson Park, Umstead State Park and Lake Wheeler all offer seasonal boat rental and they are all open for business this weekend!

Finish out the month of May on Wednesday with the Basics of Backyard Gardening at the American Tobacco Trail or a Photo Hike at Umstead Park.

Music, Movies & Musuems

This Thursday's Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will be about Disrupting Conservation.

Hidden Figures will be the featured film for Garner's Movie Night on the Back Lawn after dark Thursday.

After Hours Early Summer is a weekly event in Downtown Carrboro at the Weaver Street Market. Bring a picnic or chairs every Thursday evening May through June for a free concert. This Thursday features Saludos Company.

Art in the Evening kicks off the holiday weekend at the North Carolina Museum of Art with live music by Peter Lamb and the Wolves and a Friday Night Sound Bite exploring Miracles Manifested.

Join the Final Friday Cary Art Loop with extended hours at art galleries, restaurants, coffee houses, and other businesses that showcase visual arts, music, and more. There is even free C-Tran shuttle service between downtown venues.

Its Finally Friday in Apex! On the last Friday of each month from April to September, the Apex Downtown Business Association brings entertainment and food to Salem Street.

Last Friday Art Walk livens up Downtown Hillsborough with extended hours at local galleries, workshops for children, food vendors, sidewalk art exhibits and a concert on the Old Courthouse Lawn.

Join them for Fridays on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn. There are always a variety of food trucks available to entertain your palate along with live local music.

The PNC Downtown Raleigh Movie Series kicks off their season of great 90's comedies Friday with the classic film Mrs. Doubtfire.

One Friday a month the Bond Park Boathouse plays host to musicians, food trucks and after-hours boat rentals. Spend your Friday evening floating on Bond Lake in the evening sun while you listen to great music and enjoy delicious food or bring a lawn chair, friends and family and join them for an evening with the band Jared Place.

Traditional Dance Caller, Connie Carringer will teach fun dances for the whole family: Squares, Circles, Appalachian, and more accompanied by a live, old-time string band music Friday night at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

The Holly Springs Farmers Market will feature a Shred-a-Thon this Saturday morning along with live music and plenty of fabulous fresh produce, natural meats, local honey, baked goods and more.

Durham Cinematheque Movies in the Park kicks off their 2017 season with Sputnik at Sixty on Sunday in Durham Central Park.

The Six Sundays in Spring Concert Series continues this weekend at Carroll Joyner Park with Walking for Pennies.

This Wednesday's Hob Nob Jazz Series Concert at Regency Park will feature Marcus Anderson.

Holiday Weekend in Wilmington

If you are one of the lucky ones heading east to the coast, we wanted to let you know about some fun stuff going on this weekend in the Wilmington Area. The Battleship North Carolina will be hosting the Annual Memorial Day Observance. Remember those who gave their lives in service and honor veterans at a traditional Memorial Day Observance featuring a military guest speaker, an all-service Color Guard, a 21-gun salute by a Marine Corps Honor Guard, military band, Taps, and a memorial wreath cast onto the waters.

Wilmington's largest downtown arts festival returns this Memorial Day weekend. The Orange Street Arts Festival boasts the work of more than 80 artists, live entertainment and a food, beer, and wine tent.

Carolina Beach kicks off the season with a concert and Fireworks by the Sea. Local band, Jack Jack 180, featuring a diverse blend of rock and pop will be playing Friday night followed by a fabulous fireworks display. Sunday starts their movie season with Trolls.

Also in Carolina Beach, the State Park invites you to a Carnivorous Plant Hike both Saturday and Sunday and an Astronomy Program after dark Saturday.

While you are in the Wilmington area, you may want to check out the Fort Fisher Aquarium. Membership to the three North Carolina Aquariums and the North Carolina Zoo are reciprocal. Our favorite is Luna, the albino alligator.