Weekend Plans: Egg hunts, train rides, science fest, Bookmarked, more

Here’s your weekend family fun! As always, check WRAL.com's Out & About calendar for more ideas.

We have lots of Easter egg hunts at Raleigh parks, the annual Raleigh Easter event, in Cary, Apex, Durham, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Durham and beyond. Check our Easter events database for details. And then there is the Dino Egg Hunt at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Registration is required for the Dino Egg Hunt, which runs this weekend and next weekend where kids can hunt for eggs and dinosaurs.

The N.C. Science Festival wraps up on Sunday with events all weekend. They include the UNC Science Expo in Chapel Hill and the Science of Trains at New Hope Valley Railway in southwestern Wake County, which includes train rides.

The N.C, Museum of Art in Raleigh is opening a couple of new exhibits this weekend, including one featuring the children’s book illustrations of Raul Colon. To celebrate, the museum will host a free family event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Activities include art-making; traditional Mexican music and dance; family tours of the beautiful Museum Park in English and Spanish; a scavenger hunt; community mural painting; and free admissions to special exhibitions.

I'll mention it because it happens on Friday: Farm Animal Days runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday to Friday, at Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory just south of Raleigh. This is free and fantastic for preschoolers to young grade schoolers. They'll get up close looks at farm animals and free Howling Cow ice cream. 

The Wizard of Oz is on stage at the Durham Performing Arts Center from Tuesday through Sunday. Children under 5 aren’t allowed at most DPAC shows, including this one.

Bookmarked! 2014, the annual reading festival, is 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, at the Cary Performance Green in downtown Cary. The event features stories and other activities for kids. It benefits three Cary organizations that serve kids - the Lucy Daniels Center, Dorcas Ministries and the Cary Creative (reuse) Center.

Wake Forest’s annual Carnival for the Kids is in the parking lot of the Wake Forest Home Depot, 11915 Retail Dr. The carnival with rides, games and food runs through Sunday. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., weekdays, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday. Unlimited ride wristbands are $20.

Carolina will hold its annual spring football game at Kenan Stadium on Saturday. Admission is free. Pregame activities start at 11 a.m. at the Bell Tower Park with music, food, inflatables, face painting and more. An autograph session with UNC players is 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Bell Tower Park. 

Harris Lake County Park in southwestern Wake County hosts its fifth annual Longleaf Festival to celebrate the pine tree. The free festival includes hayrides to the park’s 60-acre restoration longleaf forest; exhibits; animals; trucks for kids to explore; food vendors; an interactive hike; games; crafts; and more. It’s 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.

Carrboro Open Streets is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. They’ll close down Weaver Street to cars and open it up to people. The event includes rock climbing, yoga in the street, a bike loop for kids and more. All events are free.

The State Capitol will be occupied during a Civil War Living History Event from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. A Civil War era troop encampment on the lawn and character interpretations will recall the April 1865 occupation of the State Capitol by troops of Union General William T. Sherman. Guides will lead tours at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Reservations for tours are recommended. Call 919-733-4994. Admission is free.

And Northgate Mall in Durham will offer a full day of free musical performances from local piano students. The Playathon is organized by the Durham Music Teachers Association. It’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, in the mall’s Macy’s Court. It’s free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated to help cover scholarships.