Weekend Plans: Carolina Mudcats, train rides, N.C. Science Festival, more

Lots to do this weekend! Pop over to our Spring Break Guide, which lists some weekend activities. They include shows at Morehead Planetarium, a festival at JC Raulston Arboretum, Marbles’ Spring Break Blast, the new Dinosaurs exhibit at the N.C. Zoo and opening weekend for the Carolina Mudcats.

And there’s more. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for other activities, including details about the Full Frame Film Festival in Durham.

Friday is the first Friday of the month, making it First Friday in downtown Raleigh. Check my earlier post for family-friendly fun and deals at local galleries, museums and restaurants. To add to that earlier post: The Chick-fil-A at Cameron Village will have a special First Friday event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, with live music, the Chick-fil-A cow, milkshake samples and art from Be Marvelous, Love, including a visit from the artist.

The N.C. Science Festival kicks off Friday with events across the state. That includes star parties at Marbles, Jordan Lake, Eno River State Park, Duke and elsewhere; a Raleigh Rockin Walkin Tour, exploring the rocks around downtown Raleigh on Friday; a Family Science Fair at Marbles on Saturday and much more. Check out this earlier post for all the details about events this weekend and many more that take place through April 21. A lot of fun, mostly free activities.

Also part of the science festival, New Hope Valley Railway in southwest Wake County will open for the season with rides on its steam and diesel locomotives. Visitors also can tour the Railway Post Office car and other outdoor exhibits. The railway will be demonstrating how diesel locomotives work and the science behind steam locomotive boilers and engines, according to the festival's website. It all starts at 10 a.m., Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for kids to ride the diesel train and $12 for adults and $8 for kids to ride the steam engine. It’s free to check out the exhibits and demonstrations.

Wake County’s Crowder Park will host the 14th annual Frog Fest. The free event celebrates frogs and water quality in Wake County. It’s 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, at the park, 4709 Ten Ten Rd., Apex. A free shuttle will take you from the off-site parking at Middle Creek High School to Crowder.

Spectators are welcome to witness the 19th annual Umstead 100-Mile Endurance Run at Camp Lapihio between U.S. 70 in Raleigh and I-40 in Cary. More than 250 runners will compete in the 100-mile race on Saturday starting at 6 a.m. Runners must run a 12.5-mile loop eight times. The race has a 30-hour cut-off time. I'm told this is a sight to see. There is limited parking near the main aid station at Camp Lapahio. You can also park in visitor lots and hike a short distance to places along the running route, according to a press release. For the details, check the race's website.

Durham’s Great Human Race, a 5K that supports a variety of local nonprofit groups, is Saturday at Northgate Mall.

In Chatham County, ClydeFEST offers a day of music, food trucks, hands-on art and children’s games from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $3 for kids under 12 and $7 for adults. It’s in Bynum, which is about half way between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.

Western Wake Farmers’ Market starts up its summer hours this weekend. They’ll be open from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. I’m told the market has a lot of new and returning vendors - 50 total! Check out this recipe for loaded spinach salad, which they shared last week.

And BSC Kids at Broad Street Cafe in Durham will feature the music of Curtis Eller at 4:30 p.m., Sunday. These free concerts are fun and very popular!