Weekend plans: Shopping, puppets, kindergarten countdown, more

So I expect that I'll see some of you out at the mall scoring some tax-free deals this weekend. North Carolina's tax-free holiday runs from Friday to Sunday. For details on what's tax free and more, check my earlier post.

The Paperhand Puppet Intervention's summer show this year, "Islands Unknown," begins this Friday and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 11. Paperhand Puppet is known for their giant productions and even bigger puppets (the picture above is of one of the group's puppets during First Night on New Year's Eve in Raleigh). This is the 11th year for the studio's major summer production, which starts at Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill and moves to the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11. Shows start at 7 p.m. Local musicians perform during a pre-show starting at 6:20 p.m. For all ages. Tickets are $12 for adults; $8 for kids 4 to 14.

The Nearly New Clothing Exchange continues through Sunday at 6421 Hilburn Dr. in the former Linens-n-Things off Glenwood Avenue. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The long-running sale is one of many children's consignment sales across the region. You'll find deals on clothing, toys, equipment and gear for kids. See the Go Ask Mom consignment sale database for the full list of sales (there are a bunch next week).

Durham County School System's Countdown to Kindergarten is from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. The free event will help get rising kindergartners in Durham County and their families ready for the big day. A similar event for Wake County students is scheduled at Marbles Kids Museum on Aug. 21. Read my earlier post for more on both events.

Singer and storyteller Trish Miller will perform a special children's concert on the deck overlooking Bass Lake in Holly Springs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. The free Bass Lake Concert Series runs on the first Friday of the month from April to October. Bring a chair, a picnic and enjoy the music, which toddlers and preschoolers especially enjoy.

Two local La Leche League groups will be hosting special events this weekend in honor of World Breastfeeding Week. The Cary A.M. group will hold a potluck brunch at 9 a.m. Saturday at Harris Lake County Park in New Hill. The Wake Forest Saturday group will host a family fun fest at PlayNation in Morrisville from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Both are open to the public. You do not need to be a member to attend.

There are two opportunities for free yoga classes in Durham on Saturday. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Doris Duke Center at Duke Gardens, Lululemon, the yoga apparel chain, will sponsor a free class. Children are invited to participate. And at the same time, the free Yoga in the Park, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Durham Central Park, continues. The program is open to the public every Saturday during the summer. Bring a towel, blanket and water. Yoga in the Park continues weekly through Sept. 4.

Durham's Latino Festival is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr. The free event includes dancing, music, soccer, food and more.

It's Kid's Day from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Raleigh City Museum. The downtown Raleigh museum will focus on the history of play with hands-on activities with toys from the past. The program will explore how toys have changed over time; how they were made and used; and what might be in the future for toys. There will be some historic games to play and a buzz saw, a popular noisemaker, to take home. Admission is free.

Kids Fest at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh continues this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The free event includes performances by Flow Circus and Sam the Magic Man, big inflatable slides, a trackless train, face painting, games, prizes and more. Kids Fest is on the second and fourth Sunday of the month through September, plus Aug. 29.