January 25th - 31st 2018 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

We at ParkGeek.com are excited that in March we will celebrate twelve years of serving the Triangle! It has been our passion and our purpose to share the awesome array of parks, museums and events available. You can help us get the word out. If you enjoy getting this email, pass it along and forward it to a friend. If you use the website, share it with a co-worker. Like us on Facebook. We post this newsletter as well as fun daily events and news. We are elated with what ParkGeek.com has become in twelve years and we eagerly await what the future will bring.

Movies, Concerts & Festivals

Wander the galleries with friends Friday evening as you enjoy the extended hours and the movie Il Boom during Iris after Dark at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Its Final Friday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Get ready for Astronomy Days with "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and a chance to sort out the science behind the movie.

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences partners with NASA and the Raleigh Astronomy Club to host Astronomy Days Saturday and Sunday. There will be a full weekend of expert speakers, exhibits and lots of hands on activities. Click through for the whole line up.

Join the North Carolina Museum of History to kickoff Black History Month with Saturday's African American Cultural Celebration. This year's theme is From Africa to the Americas. More than 75 musicians, storytellers, dancers, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors, chefs, teachers, scholars, and more will be on hand to help tell the rich and varied stories of our state and the continued quest of defining and working for freedom.

LEGO-palooza returns to the Morehead Planetarium both Saturday and Sunday with LEGO exhibits displayed throughout the building. Come see scenes of outer space, trains, amusement parks, city landmarks and more! There is something for everyone to enjoy including LEGO activities so kids can come up with their own creations.

Entries for both the adult and youth Mill as Muse Art and Photography Contests are due by Thursday. Bring your kids out to Historic Yates Mill County Park Sunday afternoon for a Mill as Muse Creative Art Session. They will have the opportunity to craft a work of art to take home or to enter into the "Mill as Muse" kids art contest.

The Holly Springs Cultural Center will be showing the animated Cinderella Monday morning.

Fun at the Parks

Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife Learning continues to hold a Nature Storytime every Thursday morning and Citizen Science Opportunities every Saturday. The Nature PlaySpace will be stocked with extra special materials and supplies and a Museum play facilitator will be present during Nature Play Days every Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Join them at Crowder County Park Friday after dark for a Predators and Prey as they explore the park at night, learn how predators adapt to catch their prey and play some games to test your senses.

Take a fascinating trip into the past with Joe Judge as you learn about the history of Log Hewing and watch a hewing demonstration Saturday at Harris Lake County Park.

Gather your recyclables and head on over to Durant Nature Preserve Saturday for a Recycling Relay Rumble! You'll work in teams to complete relay challenges and engineering feats like bridge building and egg drops using recyclables. Ages 16+ are invited to come back Sunday afternoon to build your Nature Journaling skills by sketching at the farmhouse.

They will also be Nature Sketching at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve Sunday. Basic nature journaling instruction and supplies will be provided.

Though the trees have lost their leaves, you can still learn to identify them by their bark and buds. Adults are invited to a short presentation on Winter Tree Identification, and then a hike out into the woods to practice keying out trees by their winter characteristics Saturday afternoon at Historic Yates Mill Park.

Letterboxing is a bit like geocaching, but uses puzzle solving and your brain instead of technology! Come learn how it works Saturday at Blue Jay Point County Park.

Come learn what Animals live around the Falls Lake Area Saturday. Learn what signs to look for to let you know an animal has been around.

Learn about the history of the Piper Cox House, the families who lived there, farming and pioneer life on the Eno River during Sunday's Open House at Eno River State Park.

Sunday's Winter Hike at West Point on the Eno Park will explore the most scenic stretch of the Eno River past many rock outcrops and rapids to the stone ruins of the old Holden Mill.

Fun at the Fairgrounds

Celebrate the Year of the Dog at Saturday's Chinese New Year Celebration at the State Fairgrounds. There will be Chinese and Asian cultural performances (including the famous lion and dragon dances), exhibits, food, merchandise vendors and arts and crafts for the entire family to enjoy.

The Hunt Horse Complex will host an Indoors Hunter Jumper Horse Show Thursday through Sunday.