February 15th - 21st Triangle 2018

by Pam & Michael Davison

I've seen a few daffodils and cherry trees blooming throughout the Triangle so Spring must be right around the corner. If only we could get through this warm and sunny one day and cold and dreary the next. We may run into some more questionable weather Saturday so, check with the venue if you have any question that an event may be canceled or postponed.

The Fun Starts Early

Despicable Me 3 will be the featured flick this Thursday for Pizza and a Movie Night at the Halle Cultural Arts Center. Come back Friday night for a Family Dance complete with a traditional dance caller and live old-time string band. The Halle will also host an Opening Reception for Artists Francine Zoppi, Trish Klenow, Meera Goyal, and Geraldine Valesquez Friday evening.

Thursday night's Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature Fighting Pollution with Designer Microbes.

Family Nature Night returns to the Sertoma Arts Center with a chance to see Critters Up Close. Come discover the truth about some often misunderstood animals and even get a chance to touch a captive snake.

Third Friday is back in Durham with their popular Gallery Crawl.

Iris After Dark returns Friday night to the North Carolina Museum of Art with music, small plates and drink specials. Stay for the crazy antics of Steve Martin in the film, Bowfinger.

Step into the Graham Building, Dorton Arena and Exposition Center Thursday through Sunday at the NC State Fairgrounds for the NC International Auto Expo!

Also at the Fairgrounds, the Coastal Paws Cat Show will be at the Holshouser Building Saturday and Sunday.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy, annual event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Several of our Triangle parks are participating this week with special programs and hikes.

Lake Crabtree County Park will celebrate the 21st Annual Great Backyard Bird Count with daily Bird Walks. Join park staff each morning Friday through Monday to learn field ID techniques and collect data in a variety of habitats. Also on Saturday, stop by the Park Office for a variety of bird-related games, activities and crafts as you learn how you can help the Birds in your Neighborhood.

Friday night, Crowder County Park invites you to an Owl Prowl. On Saturday at Crowder Park, you can help them with an Afternoon Backyard Bird Count. Early Birders can take a Bird Scavenger Hunt Monday morning but, if you want to sleep in, you can join them later to Create Your Own Bird out of craft materials.

Take a GBBC Bird Walk along the American Tobacco Trail to the Beaver Creek Bridge Friday morning.

You can view a free slideshow of the Birds of Yates Mill Pond Friday through Monday at the Park Center. On Friday, come learn about Bluebirds and build your own nest box. Saturday morning come to Historic Yates Mill County Park for Breakfast with the Birds. Enjoy doughnuts with a cup of shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee or hot chocolate for the kids, before leisurely walking the trails with a park naturalist to identify and count the birds. Come back Sunday for an Afternoon Backyard Bird Count. Stop by anytime Monday to check out their Discovery Table about our National Birds.

Get an Introduction to Bird Watching at Harris Lake County Park Friday afternoon. Take a Wonderful Woodcocks and Wagon Ride Saturday into a remote area of the park in search of woodpeckers. Harris Lake will host Morning Bird Walks both Saturday and Monday mornings. Close out the weekend Sunday with a Heart Healthy Bird Walk. Learn about the Raptors of Harris Lake on Monday afternoon.

Blue Jay Point decided that "counting is for the birds" this year and want to celebrate the Great Backyard Bird Count by playing fun and active outdoor games to learn about bird behavior Monday at their Bird Olympics.

Count the Birds Saturday at Marla Dorrel Park. Enjoy refreshments after the count as they tally the results.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation hosts a Bird Walk and some Basic Bird Identification Skill Building Saturday afternoon.

Durant Nature Park joins the Great Backyard Bird Count Saturday afternoon with a bird walk, some hot chocolate and the chance to make your own bird feeder.

More Indoor Fun

Join the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough for the annual Living History Day to commemorate Hillsborough's Revolutionary history. Reenactors and activities will be set up throughout the day Saturday at several locations throughout Hillsborough.

Calling all Globetrotters to a Family Fun Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Enjoy hands-on art activities, stories from far-away places, scavenger hunts in the galleries as they go Around the World.

The Winter Market is back to the Holly Springs Cultural Center Saturday.

It's a Super Fun Saturday at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Saturday. Kids are invited to come have some super fun with free arts & crafts.

Wilmington-based milliner/hatmaker Wutkowski creates and restores everything from simple toppers to gorgeous chapeaus. Visit their exhibit The Shape of Fashion in the lobby, then watch her demonstrate the lost art of hand-making a hat, from start to finish on Saturday at the North Carolina Museum of History.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' featured exhibit, Mazes & Brain Games, puts your brain the test. Wind your way through interactive galleries of mind-bending challenges, tease your brain at the brain teaser tables, build a 3D marble maze, bust out a beat in the music maze, and multiply yourself in the infinity mirror. Admission to the Museum is free but, there is a fee to the exhibit.

Duke Homestead will present the film Investigating Tobaccoland USA on both Thursday and Saturday. Join Durham Cinematheque's Tom Whiteside for the film which portrays tobacco farming and manufacturing in Durham. Bull City Street Food will be on-site for lunch.

Happenings at the Parks

Leave it to Beaver Friday afternoon at Eno River State Park. Learn about animal adaptations, pertaining to the "Nature's Architect," the beaver.

Kids are invited to come learn about America's Farmer Presidents Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons at Historic Oak View County Park.

Something's Fishy in the Eno Saturday morning. Kids are invited to learn all about what fish live in the Eno River and the adaptations they have that help them survive.

Join them at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve Saturday evening for a fun evening of constellation cookie decorating, star stories and a starry craft. Once the sky is dark you'll bundle up to head outside for some Stargazing.

Join LIGHTUP to celebrate cultural diversity and Chinese New Year in Chapel Hill Saturday. The event will feature a Lantern Parade, create your own lantern booths, a Dragon Dance workshop, activity booths and exhibits, Chinese cultural performances, workshops and games, authentic Chinese food and a silent auction.

Join a Falls Lake Park Ranger on Sunday to learn about outdoor ethics so that you can minimize your impact on the environment and Leave No Trace.

Sunday's Winter Hike on the Eno will be a 5 mile trek along the Rocky Creek Backcountry.