N.C. Symphony performs 'Peter and the Wolf' this weekend

I wanted to highlight a great family event this weekend - the N.C. Symphony's NCS Kids series will present "Peter and the Wolf."

I grew up listening to this classic piece by Sergei Prokofiev where the characters in the story have musical instrument and themes associated with it - the bird is the flute, Peter is represented by the string instruments and so on. And I'm so excited to go this weekend with my own daughter and father, who encouraged all that listening back in the day.

The 11 a.m. performance is sold out. But I'm told there are still plenty of tickets available for the 4 p.m. show Saturday at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh's Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts. The "Peter and the Wolf" performance will include colorful costumes, dance and theater with the help of the Triangle Youth Ballet and the North Carolina Theatre. The hour-long concert also will include works inspired by classic storybook characters, including Huckleberry Finn and Cinderella.

If you go, get there up to an hour early before each concert so kids can try out instruments in the symphony's popular Instrument Zoo. A team of face painters also will be on hand from Ebony Child.