January 17th -23rd Triangle 2019

by Pam & Michael Davison

Whether you are into the crisp cold air of winter or are waiting for the warm winds of spring to come, there is everything from marches & parades to guided hikes and bird watching to make for a great long weekend!

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Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr Day and there are several observances here in the Triangle.

At the Cary Arts Center Friday evening, Dreamfest presents the Affordable Housing in Wake County Symposium.

Cary's MLK, Jr. Dreamfest continues Saturday morning with Remembering Leaders of the Dream with storyteller Willa Brigham, Saturday afternoon with the film "Wilmington on Fire" and Saturday evening with an evening of song and music featuring the Pleasant Grove Church Gospel Choir, harpist Winifred Garrett, and the North Carolina Central University Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Sunday, Dreamfest in Cary presents Al: My Brother, a documentary about the life of white civil rights activist and attorney Alan McSurely. Monday, Cary's Dreamfest closes out with a Day of Service. Join them to help prepare the soil at their 20-acre urban agriculture and historic site.

UNCMLK2019 on the Campus of UNC in Chapel Hill will host events free events Tuesday and Thursday. He Was a Poem, He Was a Song on Tuesday will explore Dr. King's legacy through music, dance and spoken word. The 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture and Awards Ceremony on Thursday will feature Ben Jealous, former president and CEO of the NAACP.

They will be celebrating with a Book Harvest's Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration in Downtown Durham Monday.

Garner's Annual MLK Celebration will be Sunday at the Garner Performing Arts Center.

Downtown Raleigh will host a Memorial March on Monday morning as a peaceful and somber way to show appreciation for the contributions of the historic Civil Rights Movement.

There will be a Martin Luther King Jr. Day March through Downtown Hillsborough Friday morning.

Marbles Kids Museum will be open Monday and you are invited to join them for Community Heroes Day and meet real community heroes like a paramedic, teacher and a police officer. You can also help them pack food for Backpack Buddies and make blankets with Project Linus

Umstead State Park will be hosting a MLK Day of Service Cleanup Monday.

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Museums & More

The Mill as Muse Art and Photography Contest is coming up. Get your paintbrushes and cameras ready and try to capture the best images of Yates Mill and the surrounding park, then plan to enter this year's contest. Both the youth and adult entries are due by February 1st.

This Thursday's Science Cafe at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature Exploration of Exoplanets with Shawn Bayle, a Solar System Ambassador from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center invites kids to join them on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays for Super Fun Saturday, a morning of free arts & crafts for children.

Love the Summer Luau Friday evening at the Peach Road Community Center. Enjoy a "summer" night at Peach Road Neighborhood Center to get into the luau spirit and play summer games.

Along with Meet Your Museum Tours and Weekend Family Friendly Tours at the North Carolina Museum of Art every weekend, this Friday and Saturday the Museum is hosting Iris After Dark. The Saturday version will feature 6 food trucks and music by Ed Stephenson.

Join Charles and Sarah Wines, Renaissance musicians, for a family concert Sunday at the Sarah P Duke Gardens. From shawms, to recorders and even an early bagpipe, you will get a full experience of sound and music from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Celebrate Winter

The fun starts during the day Friday with a Bird Bonanza at Crowder Park, Hoo-Hoo, Who's There? at Harris Lake County Park and Nuts About Squirrels on the American Tobacco Trail.

Friday night, Leigh Farm Park hosts the Piedmont Wildlife Center's Owl Prowl. Join them for a nocturnal hike.

Occoneechee Mountain invites you to take a Geology Hike with a real geologist to explore the pyrophyllite quarry Saturday afternoon. Come back Sunday for a Ridge To River hike from the scenic overlook, across the ridge, and down to the Eno River below.

Take a January History Hike Saturday at Historic Oak View County Park through the old farmstead.

The Trail Sisters program is aimed at bringing women of all backgrounds together for companionship and exploring the outdoors. Join them for a hike at Jordan Lake Saturday morning.

Bundle up and head over to Blue Jay Point County Park Saturday evening for a Night Prowl.

The whole family is invited to go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt Saturday at Durant Nature Park.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation will be exploring the Wild Winter Woodland Sunday and learn how to use a winter twig key to identify native trees.

In case the weather does move in, you are invited to attend Craft Me Up inside by the by the fireplace Sunday at Falls Lake.

Bring the kids to Harris Lake County Park Monday for some Winter Fun at a Nature Lab.

Also Monday, they will be looking for some Monday Morning Birds early at Eno River State Park and playing Nature Games at Blue Jay Point County Park.

More at the Fairgrounds

This weekend the 98th North State Toy & Hobby Show comes to the the Scott Building with over 70 exhibitors.

The Carolina Coin and Stamp Show will feature coins, postcards and stamps, currency (U.S., foreign, ancient, gold & silver) both Saturday and Sunday.