Weekend plans: GLOW, Mommie, E.T., Father's Day and more

GLOW: Living Lights opens at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh on Saturday. The show runs through Sept. 12 and is the first-ever museum exhibition to explore the phenomenon of bioluminescence. {In other words, what makes lighting bugs and other creatures light up). Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for students and seniors; $4 for children ages 5‐11. And check out the museum's illustration contest. All entrants will receive one free children's admission to GLOW.

It's time for Hog Days in Hillsborough. The annual festival runs 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Hillsborough and includes lots of barbecue, along with contests, arts and crafts, an area for kids and more.

The Music on the Porch series in downtown Raleigh's Seaboard Station continues Friday and will feature the great kids band Mommie, which includes Doug MacMillan of The Connells. Mommie starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by MikeMickXer at 7:15 p.m.

Watch Madagascar from the 50-yard line of Carter-Finley Stadium during the Junior Wolfpack Club's Fun Night. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday and includes games, jump houses, face painting, autograph sessions and more. At 6:45 p.m., the movie will be played on the big screen. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner. It's $5 per person for Junior Wolfpack Club members and their immediate family. Or $8 per person for non-members and guests. It's free for kids 2 and under. Mr. and Mrs. Wuf will be there!

Carolina Parent's annual Baby Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness at 8300 Health Park in Raleigh. The event will be a chance for parents - new, expectant or prospective - a chance to learn about local businesses that provide all kinds of baby and pregnancy-related products and services.

North Hill's Plein Air Art Festival runs Saturday and Sunday in Raleigh. The event includes an inflatable, crafts and other activities for kids along with live music, art and more.

Noah's Landing, the non-profit zoo in Coats, will host The Father's Day Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The weekend includes kid-friendly activities and free admission for dads with one child's admission. Families can tour the Harnett County zoo, learn all about its 60 species and try some crafts and games. Stuffed animals will be checked out at the Teddy Bear Clinic. There will be bluegrass music Saturday morning, along with owls and hawks from the Wildlife Rescue Center in Sanford all weekend. Admission is $8. Noah's Landing is about 45 minutes east of Raleigh.

Kids can get up close with all kinds of musical instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh. Kids can touch, feel and play a variety of musical instruments, including woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion. Local musicians will be available to help visitors make a sound and answer questions. No registration necessary. It's 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Nasher Museum of Art in Durham will open its doors for free from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday during its Family Day. Families can explore the exhibits and art with hands-on activities. Local storyteller and musician Ron Jones is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Activities are designed for kids ages 3 to 12 with accompanying adults.

Marbles Kids Museum rolls out its Dig & Build with Dad event Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can celebrate dad with activities throughout the museum. A digger and bulldozer will be there. Kids can make dad a tie. Or they can build a structure together.

And Lazy Sundays Cinema at the Clayton Center in Clayton starts this Sunday with a viewing of E.T. at 3 p.m. This year's series focuses on movies featuring fearless kids. Admission is $2.50 or $10 for the entire series, which also includes Spirited Away and The Incredibles. I'm adding this series to our free and cheap summer movies list.