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Weekend Plans Mother's Day Edition: Garden walks, theater for families, more

Happy Mother's Day weekend! Make special plans for a day out with mom here.

Posted Updated
Taking a moment to smell the flowers
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Happy Mother's Day weekend!

The weather is shaping up to be a perfect one for strolls at the park and all of the region's gardens with mom (perhaps after a big brunch). I'll have more about the N.C. Botanical Garden on Friday. I also recommend visits to the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, Duke Garden and the Raleigh Rose Garden.
You can also check Go Ask Mom's reviews of parks and playgrounds if a picnic is on the schedule this weekend. And it's still strawberry season. Search our list of pick-your-own farms here.
For Mother's Day events, read my earlier post to learn about everything from a brunch at the Raleigh Rose Garden to a special program at Noah's Landing zoo in Coats to activities at Marbles Kids Museum (which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) and many more. Just note that some of the activities require pre-registration and may already be full.

Here's is the rest of your weekend family fun:

Prairie Ridge Ecostation, part of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in west Raleigh, will have a special Gnomes and Fairies Spring UP on the Prairie event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. It's free and does not require registration. Check my earlier post for details.
Raleigh Little Theatre continues its production of Dear Edwina Junior, part of its youth series. The show runs through May 20 at the theater near Cameron Village in Raleigh. The musical for young people and adults is written in the style of "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." It tells the story of 13-year-old Edwina Spoonapple, who decides she and her friends will put on a show. Tickets are $15 for adults and teens and $10 for kids 12 and under. Shows are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and include some matinees.
North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre also continues "The Wind in the Willows." The non-profit community theater with classes, summer camps and more will present the classic children's tale featuring Mr. Toad, Rat, Badger and Mole through May 20. Tickets are between $10 and $15.
SmartMomma in north Raleigh will mark Mother's Day weekend with a Ju-Ju-Be trunk show, sale and mother's appreciation event on Saturday.
Transactors Improv will present its "Taffy: Transactors for Families," at 11 a.m., Saturday, at Common Ground Theatre in Durham. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for kids. Kids under 2 are free. This is a great family show featuring actors who improvise their way through more than a half dozen scenes, taking suggestions from the crowd. The show is 45 minutes, a perfect length for younger kids too.
Conjugate This, a Spanish immersion camp, will hold an open house from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2100 Noble Rd., Raleigh. The camp offers programs for rising kindergartners to rising sixth graders. No previous language instruction is required.
Duke Gardens will have its nature ranger cart out from 10 a.m. to noon Friday with free, drop-in activities.
In addition to its Mother's Day activities, Marbles Kids Museum also will have a preview of the upcoming American Dance Festival on Saturday. Designed for young dancers, the 45-minute workshop explores the basic elements of dance. It's taught by dance instructor Diego Carrasco Schoch. For kids 6 and under, it's at 11 a.m. For kids 7 and up, it's at 1 p.m. It's free with admission to Marbles though slots are limited. Participation is based on a first come, first served basis.
Raleigh Little Theatre Players to Go! student ensemble will present a free performance of "The Stone in the Road," 3 p.m., Saturday, at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh. The hour-long production is designed for all ages. Another performance is scheduled for 2 p.m., May 19, at Wendell Community Library.
Olive Chapel Elementary School in Apex will hold its Artapalooza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, at the school at the corner of Kelly and Olive Chapel roads. The event includes more than 20 craft tables for young kids, raffle baskets, face painting, a cake walk, carnival games and more. Every child in the school will have artwork on the wall. Food will be available for purchase. Only kids ages 3 to 12 pay to get in. Tickets are $8 for one, $15 for two and no more than $20 per family. Proceeds support the Olive Chapel Elementary Technology Drive.
Western Wake Farmers Market will host a Berry Day from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. You'll find recipes and samples centered around berries (particularly strawberries), along with live music and face painting for kids. The market is on Morrisville Carpenter Road between Davis Drive and N.C. 55 in the Carpenter Village development. This is a fun, low-key place to get some fresh, local food.
Wake Forest's Six Sundays in Spring continues with a concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, at E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Rd. Reggae band The Healing Force will perform after Phatbread, which plays tribute music to vintage rock with drum circle interaction.

I hope everybody has a wonderful Mother's Day!

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