Weekend Plans: Maker Faire, Kid Grid opens, food truck rodeo, polo

In the meantime, here’s your weekend family fun. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more activities.

It’s the first Friday in June, making it First Friday in downtown Raleigh. Check out our monthly post for family activities and meal deals.

Marbles Kids Museum officially opens its new $1 million Kid Grid exhibit. The exhibit, a pretend power grid, is on the second floor across from Power 2 Play. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Admission to Kid Grid is free with admission to Marbles, which is $5 per person. I'll have much more about the exhibit on the site on Thursday night. To celebrate the opening, kids will be creating their own city as part of special opening weekend activities.

The N.C. Symphony’s Summerfest series will feature the music of John Williams, the amazingly talented composer who has written the music for movies such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Superman and Schindler's List. The concert starts at 7 p.m., Friday, at Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary. Get there early to have your picture taken with Star Wars characters. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Picnics welcome. Kids 12 and under are free. Tickets start at $33 plus fees.

Maker Faire North Carolina is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for kids ages 4 to 12. This annual event, now in a bigger space, is all about making and creating and doing. You can learn everything from how to pick a lock or solder to how to weave. There are lots of great activities here for kids and families. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this event from Go Ask Mom readers.

Historic Oak View County Park will host a Folk Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. The day includes storytimes for kids at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and games, along with live music, crafts, exhibitors and a lecture about African Americans and women in the rural south. Admission is free.

Mezza Luna Lavender Farm, a new you-pick lavender farm on New Hope Church Road in Apex, is offering preview days now through about June 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children’s activities include face painting and crafts, farm tours, pick-your-own opportunities and lots of items with lavender for sale.

Celebrate Fuquay-Varina begins Friday evening with live music and continues all day Saturday, when you’ll find children’s games, rides, inflatables and more. 

The annual Dog Days of June is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at Fred G. Bond Metro Park in Cary. The event includes a canine Frisbee disc competition; local dog rescue groups; a dog wash and more. This is fun for dog owners, dog lovers and families considering a dog. Admission is free. Leashed dogs welcome.

Downtown Raleigh will host one of its major food truck rodeos from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. Food trucks will cover 11 city blocks. My tip: Get there early, especially if you're with kids. Like get there before it even opens to scope out your orders and get in line.

The first Triangle Charity Polo Classic is noon to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, at MacNair’s Country Acres, 4321 Tryon Rd. in Raleigh The Triangle Area Polo Club will compete against the Atlanta Regional Polo Center in a benefit match to support Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center, a Triangle organization that assists family and professional caregivers in obtaining relevant, timely, and comprehensive information. Tickets can be purchased in advanced of the event for $15 per person online or at the gate for $20. Children under 10 are free. General admission parking is $10. Visitors are welcome to pack a picnic lunch or buy food from on-site food trucks.