January usually brings the after-holiday blues. But kids and families will find lots of fun events – a Three Kings parade, a sci-fi retro movie night, Magic School Bus weather fun, a holiday-themed recycled art exhibit, candle-making and edible art activities – all coming up in Raleigh, Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill in the next few days.

It's First Friday at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, when you can watch fabulous, fantastic retro movies for free. On Friday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m., join in the search as "First Spaceship on Venus" takes off from the big screen at the natural science museum in downtown Raleigh.

If you still haven't seen the historic Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit, at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, better hurry! The exhibit of the oldest biblical manuscripts, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with last tickets sold at 7 p.m.), but will be gone after Jan. 4. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.naturalsciences.org.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, Cary hosts a parade that begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by activities at the Cary Senior Center,at 120 Maury O'Dell Place in Cary's Bond Park, to celebrate Dia de los Reyes, (Three Kings Day), a holiday celebration when the Magi visit and bring joy to children in the community. The public is invited to the free event that will feature traditional "Rosca de Reyes" bread and other holiday foods from various Latin American countries and traditional songs. For more information, call (919) 460-4963.

If your kid loves science, don't miss the "Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm," through Jan. 25 at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. Based on an award-winning book and TV series, the exhibit features 33 hands-on activities that lets kids become meteorologists, interpreting and reporting on the weather. Details at www.marbleskidsmuseum.org.

The Carolina Inn is still elaborately decorated for the holidays based on the traditional song The Twelve Days of Christmas through Jan. 4. Visit www.carolinainn.com.

In Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is featuring Holiday Springs and Sprockets through Jan. 5. Artist Steve Gerberich transforms old-fashioned kitchen appliances, machine parts and pop culture collectibles into holiday-themed mechanical sculptures. Visit www.lifeandscience.org.

The North Carolina Museum of History has fun event for kids ages 3 to 5 (accompanied by an adult) on Tuesdays, Jan. 6 or Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. "Time for Tots: Lighting the Past" lets kids see and touch items that people used to light their homes in the past, then dip their own candle to take home. To register, call 919-807-7992.

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, the N.C. Museum of History presents "History Corner: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice," from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kids ages 5 to 9 (accompanied by an adult) will discover how gingerbread came to North Carolina and what makes it a special treat. They’ll listen to a story and make an edible craft. Presented with Cameron Village Regional Library. To register, call 919-807-7992.