Weekend Plans: Porsche exhibit, Broadway shows, moon viewing, more

Here’s what’s happening this weekend in the family fun department. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar, which lists a bunch of church festivals this weekend, and our Halloween and Fall Fun database for more ideas.

The N.C. Museum of Art will open its new major exhibit, Porsche by Design, on Saturday. The exhibit explores the history and design of the cars from the 1930s to today. As part of the exhibit, the museum will be holding car meet ups and other special events for families and adults. I am really excited to see this exhibit in person. Check my earlier post for more information.

We have the chance to see two major Broadway shows right in our backyard - Beauty & the Beast at the Durham Performing Arts Center and CATS at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh. Tickets may be limited, at this point, for both shows. Both shows run through Oct. 13.

The weekend welcomes three of the region’s big charity walks and runs. The Triangle Run/Walk for Autism is Saturday in Raleigh. Click here to read more about a local mom, whose son has autism and who will be participating. The Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Socieity is 5:30 p.m., Saturday, in downtown Raleigh. And the 25th annual Thad and Alice Eure Walk for Hope is Sunday in Raleigh.

We have several consignment sales across the region this week. Click here to read my earlier post for information. They include a sale featuring just clothing, accessories and more for women. At a Raleigh consignment store, Knightdale-based Fleming Clothing will host a tent sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at Babiology on Fairview Road in Raleigh's Five Points. 

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a teen cafe on Friday evening. It’s free. No pre-registration is required. Read my earlier post for details.

This is the weekend for the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Chatham County. The four-day event features music, dance, art and more. This major festival, where you can actually camp overnight, offers a lot for the family crowd, including hands-on crafts and programming. There's also a kids crafts bazaar where kids under 15 can sell their creations. Check the festival’s kids and family page for a full list of all of the activities they have. Kids 12 and under get free admission.

Downtown Cary will host a family-friendly comedy night in the downtown performance green at the corner of Kildaire Farm Road and Academy Street. It's 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday. The event features clean comedian John Floyd. Bring a picnic and chairs. Sweet T. will be on site with cupcakes, brownies and other treats.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden and Kidzu Children’s Museum will host Discovering Magic in the Garden from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Build homes for gnomes and fairies, listen to a local storyteller, play games and take part in other activities. It’s designed for kids and their adults, who are encouraged to don their most magical costumes. The fee is $10 per child. It’s for ages 4 and up with their adult. Pre-registration is required for this one. Click here to learn more and to sign up.

Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden in Raleigh will host a fall festival Saturday and Sunday. It includes, among many other activities, pony rides for kids 10 and under from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, and noon to 3 p.m., Sunday.

Efforts to open a Museum of Durham History will get a big boost when organizers celebrate the grand opening of the new Durham History Hub, 500 W. Main St., on Saturday. The day begins at 10 a.m. with a Durham History Parade, followed by a ribbon cutting. From noon to 5 p.m., they’ll have music, a butter-churning demonstration and other family activities. The new hub includes a dress-up corner for kids.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will host presentations and a viewing in celebration of International Observe the Moon Night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday. It’s free. The event begins with some short presentations in the Daily Planet Cafe followed by a chance at 7 p.m. to head up to the top of the parking deck just south of the Daily Planet Cafe at the corner of McDowell and Edenton streets. There, museum astronomers and members of the Raleigh Astronomy Club will be on hand to help visitors view the moon through telescopes.

And Raleigh will host a major food truck rodeo from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, along Fayetteville street and several side streets. Read my earlier post for tips if you go with your kids.