School's Out: Veterans Day events include parade, new exhibits at Marbles, history museum

Watch the N.C. Veterans Day Parade on Friday morning, then head over to the N.C. Museum of History and Marbles Kids Museum to see their new exhibits.

Posted 1:30 a.m. Nov 9, 2011 — Updated 1:30 a.m. Nov 9, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

School is out on Friday for Veterans Day. And this year, my kids and I will be taking some time Friday morning to attend the annual N.C. Veterans Day Parade in downtown Raleigh.

The parade starts at the intersection of Fayetteville and Davie streets at 9:30 a.m. Friday. It's over by around 11 a.m. for a wreath laying ceremony on the north side of the State Capitol grounds. Parade participants include everybody from local veteran's groups and JROTC programs to scout groups and marching bands. It's a great way to start a discussion with your kids about Veterans Day and why we mark it.

If you're downtown, there are a couple of other new exhibits worth checking out too.

The N.C. Museum of History, which you can stand right next to to watch the parade, unveiled the second half of its major new exhibit "The Story of North Carolina" over the weekend. The exhibit traces 14,000 years of the state's history and includes plenty of hands-on activities to keep kids entertained. Admission to the museum is free.

You can now grab lunch at the museum too. This fall, Pharaoh's @ the Museum opened to feature diner fare. You can order everything from hot dogs and chicken salad to salads and milkshakes from your sparkly red "pleather" booth.

Also downtown, Marbles Kids Museum will open a new version of its Power2Play exhibit. The favorite Center Ice synthetic hockey rink will remain, but with a new announcer's booth and mini-jumbotron. There will be Center Court with a supersized basketball net and hoops at different heights and a safe play zone for younger kids. The exhibit also will still include a soccer play area, healthy kitchen and dance studio.

Opening day of Power2Play begins with some special activities after the Veterans Day Parade. Marbles will feature mascots, special guests and marquis activities from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday. Activities are free with admission, which is $5 per person.

If you're not in Raleigh, historic sites across the state are planning special Veterans Day events. They include the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex in Fayetteville, and Tryon Palace in New Bern. Click here for information about these and other events.

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