Happy weekend! Here’s your weekly list of family-friendly weekend activities. As always, check
WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more ideas, including outdoor ice skating in Durham and Raleigh.
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will hold its Astronomy Days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, at the downtown Raleigh museum. My
WRAL.com blogging colleague Tony Rice has a lot of information about this free annual event, which includes demonstrations, presentations and lots of great interactive activities.
I know a lot of Go Ask Mom readers will be at the giant
Kids Exchange consignment sale at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Public shopping hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, when some items are half off. You’ll find all sorts of deals on clothing, toys and gear for kids. It’s the first of many consignment sales in the coming weeks.
The
Fairgrounds also has a couple other kid-friendly activities:
The Toy Train Sale and Swap Meet with more than 100 vendors is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. Admission is $6 and free for kids under 13 with a paying adult. You’ll see all manner of Lionel, K-Line and other toy train parts. Kids Club activities include hands-on layouts and train races.
And the DogGoneFast Flyball Club Flyball Tournament is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday. Admission is free to watch the competition which involves dogs jumping hurdles and stepping on a spring loaded box which shoots out a tennis ball. According to a description on the Fairground’s website, the dog must catch the ball and run back over the four hurdles. Then the next dog goes.
Smallcakes Durham, a cupcakery with gourmet cupcakes that's part of a national chain, is holding an open house from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday. They'll have face painting, balloon animals, raffles and games. The shop is at 4711 Hope Valley Rd., Suite 4D, Durham.
The
N.C. Museum of Art in west Raleigh holds one of its Family Fun Saturday programs. From 10 a.m. to noon, kids and their parents can learn more about the museum’s Dutch collection and then make their own art inspired by what they've learned. The cost is $5 and $3 for museum members.
In Durham, the
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University will hold a free family day from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday. Activities include an art project inspired by the great children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand.” Ferdinand book readings are scheduled for 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Flamenco performances are set for 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Admission to Miro: The Experience of Seeing is free, but entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors may have to wait in line to enter.
Also in Durham is the
city’s Winter Food Truck Rodeo with more than 45 food trucks ready to serve you. From noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, at Durham Central Park, there also will be live music and children’s activities courtesy of the Duke Lemur Center. It's also a chance to check out the
park's new Mount Merrill.
