Weekend Plans: Darwin Day, Butterfly Bash, bird count, consignment sale and more

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

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences celebrates Charles Darwin during Darwin Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. The event takes over the museum and includes opportunities to meet with scientists, check out displays and ask questions. It’s free.

Marbles Kids Museum is planning a Butterfly Bash on Saturday. Buy a ticket for the 10 a.m. showing of Flight of the Butterflies 3D (which I highly recommend). After the show, stay for some hands-on activities and play about butterflies. IMAX movie ticket prices start at $7.

The Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual four-day event, runs Friday through Monday. Wake County parks will offer a bunch of activities at its parks so bird watchers can count birds and report their results online to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. There are opportunities here for all ages and skill levels. Check Wake park’s website for information about all of the events. Note that some, but not all, require pre-registration.

The giant Kids Everywear consignment sale at the Morrisville Outlet Mall continues this Friday through Sunday with deep discounts on Saturday and Sunday. In Dunn, Go Bananas is open to the public on Friday and Saturday with some items half off on Saturday afternoon.

Cary’s Marvelous Music Family Series will feature the Triangle Wind Ensemble’s performance of “A Musical Menagerie: A Young Person’s Guide to Woodwinds, Brass and Other Exotic Beasts of the Band.” The interactive concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, at the Cary Arts Center, will explore instrument families and the basics of melody, harmony and rhythm. The show is best for ages six and up. Tickets are $5 per person. That’s a great price.

UPDATE: This event was canceled because of the weather. Also at the Cary Arts Center, the town’s annual African-American Cultural Celebration starts at 3 p.m., Saturday. The event celebrates African-American heritage and history with live performances, a craft and nonprofit fair and children’s activity. It is free and open to the public.

The second Play 4Kay on Hillsborough Street, a series of fundraisers and activities to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, is this month. It includes the Walk 4Kay, which is 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, on Hillsborough Street. The event is free and donations are accepted. The walk starts at Two Guys Pizza, the sponsor, and moves to Raleigh Little Theatre and the N.C. State campus.

And the annual Hoops 4 Hope women's basketball game at N.C. State is at 2:30 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $5 for kid and $10 for adults. Proceeds benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. They're playing Georgia Tech at Reynolds Coliseum. Breast cancer survivors, who are registered for the event, will be invited on the court at halftime for special recognition.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host one of its free skywatching sessions from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, at Jordan Lake as long as the weather cooperates. You should be able to see Mercury. Check Morehead’s website for directions and more information. Also … on Thursday, Morehead in Chapel Hill will show Carolina Skies: Valentine Edition. The show is recommended for adults and older teens. Tickets are $7.25 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Shows are 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Flying Hippo will perform at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, as part of Broad Street Cafe’s kids series. The free show at the Durham cafe features music, poetry, art, drama, dance, story telling and improv.

A reminder: Yo Gabba Gabba’s latest live show hits the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh on Monday. Shows are 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Looks like lots of tickets have sold already for both shows.