June 22nd - 28th 2017 Trinagle

by Pam & Michael Davison

Summer is officially here and Independence Day is right around the corner! It looks like TS Cindy could make the weekend interesting so if in doubt, please call the venue and make sure events are still or if they have been moved inside.

ParkGeek has all the July 4th fun! From pancake breakfasts and patriotic concerts to kids parades and fireworks, we have it all to help you schedule your holiday to the fullest potential. My goal each year is to see three consecutive nights of fireworks displays on the 3rd, 4th and 5th!

The Farmers Markets are in full swing now. The State Farmers Market in Raleigh is open every day with loads of fresh local produce. The Holly Springs Farmers Market invites you to a Breakfast Food Truck Rodeo Saturday and the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market will host their annual Tomatolicious event Wednesday at lunch.

Marbles Kids Museum is giving rising year round kindergartners a Kick-off to Kindergarten Thursday evening. The free event will highlight a variety of school related activities like buying lunch, taking the school bus and getting moving at recess! The event is free for kids and their families.

Fun throughout the Triangle

There is quite an eclectic mix of events this weekend. If you are trying to get out of the heat, remember we have a handful of free museums in Raleigh.

Along with free admission every day, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences invites you to their special exhibit, Race: Are We So Different? through October 22nd. They also have daily story times, meet the animals and a discovery room. This week they will feature Extended hours for a Lecture on Your Brain on Nature: Awe, Biophilia & the Power of Our Nature Neurons Wednesday evening and a Superhero Science Adult Night Thursday.

The North Carolina State Fairgrounds will host a NCAHA Open Summer Extravaganza, and a Hunter Jumper Horse Show.

The City of Raleigh Museum (COR) has a mission to "Preserve Raleigh"s Past for the Future." The museum collects and cares for artifacts, curates exhibits, and provides educational programing that highlight and interpret Raleigh's history and heritage. Admission is free and they also stay open late for First Friday.

In addition to free admission, the North Carolina Museum of Art offers Meet Your Museum Tours every weekend along with Weekend Family Friendly Tours and Guided Tours of the Museum Park. You can also check out an Art in a Tote at the information desk to guide your museum exploration with small children through games, stories and hands on creativity.

The North Carolina Museum of History offers free admission and the awesome permanent exhibit "The Story of North Carolina." Right now you can also experience the amazing exhibit, North Carolina and World War I. The 6,500-square-foot exhibit highlights 500 artifacts, period photography, a trench diorama, historical film footage, educational interactive components, and video re-enactments! This Saturday, they will also host a book talk on a Bataan Death March Survivor.

Marbles Kids Museum does have an admission fee, but in addition to their regularly scheduled fun, they invite you to enjoy the exhibits open late every Thursday with discounted admission.

June Goes out with Music

After Hours Early Summer Thursday night in Carrboro at the Weaver Street Market presents the sounds of The Ivory Boys.

The Durham Central Park Concert Series presents Orquesta GarDel Friday night.

The Steve Hartsoe will be playing the family friendly Summer at the Springs Outdoor Concert Friday night at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.

The Starlight Concert Series at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center will host a Celebration of Bluegrass Friday evening. The evening begins with performances by the young musicians of Bluegrass Camp and concludes with a guest band.

A local band will be playing a Friday on the Front Porch Concert at the Carolina Inn with a couple of area food trucks.

Traditional Dance Caller, Connie Carringer will teach fun dances for the whole family accompanied by an old time string band Saturday evening at the Halle Cultural Arts Center's Family Dance.

SWAG will round out the weekend Sunday night with a beachy southern soul concert at Dix Park.

Movies after Dark

Take Thursday night off and bring the whole family to the Halle Cultural Arts Center for Pizza and a Movie Night featuring Beauty and the Beast.

The North Carolina Museum of Art will present Sully on the big outdoor screen Friday after dark.

Movies by Moonlight brings The Lego Batman Movie to the big screen Friday night at Regency Park.

The PNC Downtown Raleigh Movie Series will be showing Men in Black as this week's throwback film in Raleigh's City Plaza Friday after dark.

Apex Nature Park will be screening the amazing true story, Hidden Figures on Saturday after dark.

They will Rock the Park Saturday night at Durham Central Park with the family classic The Peanuts Movie. Food vendors will even be on site and food will be available for purchase.

The Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater will present a Family Movie Night with the Secret Life of Pets Saturday along with a pajama fashion show for children ages 12 and under prior to the movie. Food vendors will also be on site selling snacks and refreshments.

Hook will be the free Monday Morning Movie at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.

Fun at the Parks

Free Lunches will be served at Historic Oak View County Park Monday through Friday from now until August 11th. Kids 18 and younger are invited to join them for a meal and fun kids activities.

Come explore Crowder Park by Night Friday and learn who comes Alive After Dark as they catch and release fireflies.

They will also be exploring the park after dark at Umstead State Park Friday evening as they take a Night Hike. Come back Monday to decrease your stress with Outdoor Meditation 101.

Raven Rock State Park invites you to their Pollinator Party Saturday to learn all about bees, butterflies and hummingbirds! Come dressed up as your favorite pollinator, or dress up your pet, with special prizes for those that come in costume. There will also be fun educational exhibits, games and crafts.

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

Historic Yates Mill Pond County Park invites you to take tours of the restored mill both Saturday and Sunday. You can enjoy Paddle the Pond on Saturday.

Join an Eno River Park Ranger Saturday morning for a short hike to the wilderness cabin and a Sing-a-Long.

C.A.S.T. (Catch A Sure Thing!) is back Sunday morning to Jordan Lake for kids who would like to learn how to fish.

Come to Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve Sunday afternoon to learn the art of Nature Journaling.