Weekend Plans: Astronomy Days, African American Cultural Celebration, Chinese New Year, more

Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences hosts Astronomy Days on Saturday and Sunday. The free event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. The weekend features special guests, presentations and lots of hands-on activities designed for all ages.

And, on Saturday, just across the plaza from the science museum, the N.C. Museum of History's 16th annual African American Cultural Celebration. It’s 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, at the downtown Raleigh museum. The festival features more than 75 musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors and more, according to a press release. Admission and parking are free.

And there's a Chinese New Year Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Kids 6 and under are free. The carnival-style festival features cultural performances, food, activities for kids and more.

And the Chapel Hill LIGHTUP Lantern Festival is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, at University Place in Chapel Hill. Hosted by the Chinese School of Chapel Hill, the festival features lantern decorating with local artists, interactive art and craft creations, a dragon dance workshop, Peking Opera, a Chinese orchestra and other live performances, old fashion Chinese games, and authentic Chinese foods throughout the day. It ends with a lantern light-up and parade at dusk. 

Ice Raleigh, the downtown Raleigh ice rink, closes Sunday for the season.

And Frozen Over, the special pop-up exhibit at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, also closes Sunday.

Raleigh Little Theatre will present Soar! The Hero Pigeons of WW1 at Southeast Regional Library, 908 7th Ave., Garner. The free show is 3 p.m., Saturday, and features teen actors from Raleigh Little Theatre’s Storytellers to Go program. The story commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States entering WWI on April 6, 1917, by retelling the true story of Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon who became a war hero. The story is told from the pigeons' perspectives and is appropriate for ages five and older.

We have a consignment sale! Take Two Kidsignment Sale is 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at North Raleigh Church of Christ on Falls of Neuse Road.

Part of Cary’s family music series, the Triangle Wind Ensemble will perform “Music in Motion” at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave. Tickets are $8. Designed for all ages, the Ensemble’s “Music in Motion” will have you swaying to its lilt, marching to the beat, clapping your hands with joy and dancing in the aisles, according to a description. The whole family will love this “moving” experience.

Cupcakes and princesses! Smallcakes in Cary will host Princess Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. There will be photo ops with Elsa, face painting, arts and crafts and, of course, cupcakes.

And on Friday, part of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences’ Final Friday series, the museum will host a screening of the classic 80s flick, “Spaceballs.” There will be food and science stations from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the movie and commentary. The Final Friday series are best for ages 12 and way up. Tickets are $5.