Weekend Plans: New exhibits, improv, rodeo, more

Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more ideas. Whatever you do, just keep an eye on the skies. The word "snow" is in the forecast.

In Durham, the Museum of Life and Science has recently opened its new Sound Garden, an outdoor, do-it-yourself musical exhibit. For young children, its popular Frozen Over exhibit, with all kinds of winter-themed fun is back through the end of the month. Both exhibits are free with admission to the museum.

World’s Toughest Rodeo stops at the PNC Arena for one show at 7:30 p.m., Saturday. Ticket holders can enjoy not just the actual show, but a free pre-show event on the dirt floor. Doors for that open at 6 p.m. We have a ticket deal that runs through 11:59 p.m., Friday. UPDATE: Because of the winter storm, this event was postponed until March 4. Tickets for the originally scheduled date will be honored at the new date. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled event get a refund at their original point of purchase beginning 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9.

Transactors Improv: For Families! is 6 p.m., Saturday, at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Tickets are $10 and $6 for kids. These shows are especially fun for grade schooler kids and up. Performers take suggestions from the audience and act out hilarious skits.

Weather permitting, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host one of its regular free skywatching sessions from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, at Jordan Lake. Morehead’s website has more information and is updated if the event is canceled.

We have a couple of holiday hold outs … The Chinese Lantern Festival continues at Booth Amphitheater in Cary, featuring nearly two dozen colorful lighted displays. And downtown Raleigh’s outdoor ice rink on City Plaza also remains open.

The Town of Cary will host a Three Kings Day parade and celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, in downtown Cary. There will be dancing, music, food and a parade featuring members of different Latino cultures. Three Kings Day is traditionally the day when children in Spanish-speaking countries get gifts from the Three Kings or Wise Men.

Northgate Mall in Durham will host one of its regular free activities for kids this weekend. At 12:30 p.m., Saturday, kids can practice their science, technology, engineering and math skills during STEMville Saturday of Science.

UNC-Chapel Hill's women's basketball team has a 2 p.m., Sunday, game against Virginia at Carmichael Arena. At any of our local ACC schools, it's tricky to get tickets for men's games, but the women's games are a lot of fun too. My family usually attends a game or two at one of the three during the season. Tickets are $10 and just $4 for groups of 10 or more. Duke and N.C. State's women's teams are out of town this weekend. (And I'm pretty sure my degree from Virginia requires me to end this listing with Wahoowa!).

And the Conservators Center’s annual Tree Toss is Saturday (and Jan. 21). You’ll see the center’s big cats go crazy for the Christmas trees placed in their enclosures. The center is in the Burlington area. Tickets are $24 for adults and $18 for kids ages 3 to 11.