N.C. Science Festival launches with statewide star parties Friday

The N.C. Science Festival, a statewide collection of science events, programs and activities, kicks off this weekend.

The festival is a fantastic way for parents to expose kids to science of all kinds - everything from star gazing to the science behind what makes trains work to geology, chemistry and much more. In many cases, the activities are free or inexpensive.

Triangle parks and museums will host many of the events, including some of the statewide star parties that are scheduled for Friday evening. Venues include the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, Marbles and its IMAX theater, Morehead Observatory in Chapel Hill and Jordan Lake in Apex.

The region also will host science expos. They include the Triangle BEST (Biotechnology, Engineering, Science and Technology) Fest on Saturday at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. The third annual Science Expo at UNC-Chapel Hill will take place on April 13. That event includes demonstrations, hands-on activities, lab tours, exhibits and science talks from professors and students at UNC-Chapel Hill, according to a press release.

A main event is a visit from Alton Brown, host of the Food Network's "Good Eats" and other shows. He will be at the Durham Performing Arts Center on April 18 for the festival.