Weekend Plans Easter Edition: Egg hunts, garden activities, regatta

If you’re wondering how to entertain out-of-town guests or just the kids, check our spring break guide and Easter events database with lots of egg hunts. WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar has more activities too.

JC Raulston Arboretum’s spring egg hunt is a fun, informal way to explore the N.C. State arboretum in Raleigh. You’re not looking for plastic eggs filled with candy. Instead, you search for giant painted wooden eggs and learn about the plants and garden that you’re walking through. It’s free and offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.

“Sleeping Beauty” opens Friday at the Raleigh Little Theatre with shows on select days through April 12. Paired with a trip through the neighboring rose garden, this might just make for a perfect Easter weekend outing.

The Triangle Tango Regatta featuring college sailors from Duke, UNC and N.C. State, the host team, wil be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, at Lake Wheeler Park in Raleigh. This is the only major college regatta held in the Triangle and the venue at Lake Wheeler offers great viewing on shore and on the water for families who might like to see a sailing regatta, N.C. State's coach tells me. (He would also love to see some Wolfpack fans out there, too!). It's free and definitely would be a unique way to spend a day.

Duke Gardens in Durham has a couple of family activities on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to noon, the garden’s Exploration Station will offer free, drop-in activities in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. For ages 3 to 6 with their adult, there’s a nature storytime from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday. It’s free. Check at the front desk to find out where they are meeting.

Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor will hold its 47th annual spring festival this weekend and next weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and April 11 and April 12. The free event features pottery, wood turning and glass blowing demonstrations; kiln openings and firings; and Raku firings. The gallery also will have plants for sale, live music and food trucks. A raffle will benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. I'll have more about the festival on Friday, but my girls really enjoyed watching a glass blowing demonstration last week.

Raleigh’s annual Lebanese Festival is noon to 7 p.m., Saturday, on City Plaza along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. The festival, with free admission, includes performances, dancing, food vendors, the Easter bunny and an egg hunt.

Some farmers’ markets are opening or expanding their hours for the season. They include the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, which will be open for two more hours on Saturday mornings starting this weekend. Peak season hours are 7 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. Starting at 7 a.m., this Saturday (and until supplies run out), the market will be giving away free baked goods samples in the gazebo during its Rise & Shine Celebration.

The N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh will offer its free family tours at 10:30 a.m., both Saturday and Sunday. At noon on Saturday, the museum’s free pop-up art cart will offer a chance for museum goers to make their own fantastical paper hats inspired by animals. All ages are welcome.